Yesterday, as I was preparing for the Passover dinner, the holiday of freedom, I was also following the news. Sirens and missile attacks were happening at the same time in Israel. As my family and friends were preparing for the holiday, they were also running in and out of shelters.
It made me reflect on what we take for granted.
Safety, until it is no longer there.
Freedom, until it is taken away.
Democracy, until it feels threatened.
Health, until something shifts.
And the people we care about, until we feel their absence.
And it made me pause and think about what truly matters.
This kind of reflection has become an important practice in my life. Taking the time to get clear on what really matters. What deserves my focus, my attention, my energy, and my appreciation.
So, I found myself asking:
What am I taking for granted?
If this were gone, how much would it impact me?
That question has a way of bringing things into sharp focus.
The next question is what we do with that clarity.
How do we show, in simple and tangible ways, that these things matter?
What simple action can we take now to show it?
For me, the answer was immediate.
I chose to start with gratitude and express my appreciation where it matters most.
This week, as we celebrate 33 years of marriage, I am starting with my husband, Bart. I am choosing to tell him how much I love and appreciate him, and how thankful I am to have him as my partner in life.
Not just to feel it, but to say it.
To recognize what we have built together and what it means to me.
Because the things that matter most should not be left unsaid or unnoticed.
What in your life would leave the biggest gap if it were gone, and how are you honoring it right now?
In the photo, Bart and I enjoying Milford Sound in New Zealand last month.
