It was Monday, December 19. Emily Lindner, Rick Lindner, and Erica Hannan, the leaders of TruNorth Consulting, were in our EOS® annual retreat and planning session. While contemplating what they wanted to accomplish with their business in the next three years, Emily’s and Rick’s phones rang out an emergency signal. It was a mandatory evacuation notice for their housing area because of the Sunshine Canyon wildfire in Boulder County, Colorado.
Within a minute, they were out my office door and headed home to get their two boys, pets, and vital treasured possessions! It was a whirlwind, and I was relieved to hear later that day that the Lindners and their home were safe. The photo was taken moments before they exited our office.
The incident brought me back to how I felt last year when I evacuated my home because of the massive Marshall Fire that swept through Boulder County. It was one of the most scary things I’d ever experienced!
I remember the day, December 30, 2021. As I drove away, I stopped to look back at my home, tears filling my eyes. I didn’t know if the home I built and lived in for 23 years would be there when I returned.
The fire burned 1,084 homes to the ground, and I was extremely fortunate that mine and those around me were unharmed. When I returned home, the enormous gratitude I felt brought tears to my eyes once again—only this time they were happy tears.
We’ve all heard the enormous physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits of living in gratitude. Harvard Medical School says:
“Gratitude is a thankful appreciation for what an individual receives, whether tangible or intangible. With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives. In the process, people usually recognize that the source of that goodness lies at least partially outside themselves. As a result, being grateful also helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals—whether to other people, nature, or a higher power.
“In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”
Please consider transforming your fear into gratitude and don’t wait or be afraid to express your gratitude and love for someone or something you value. You never know when it might be too late.
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