Gratitude For People In Your Life

Gratitude is an expression for which I am grateful. Today I would like to give gratitude for a significant friend who illuminates my life. We met over 20 years ago at a dream discussion class.

He had recently graduated from drama school in England and came to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of conquering Hollywood one role at a time. His Shakespearean parlance gave me goosebumps as he rehearsed his monologues.

After going back and forth to England, he decided to move here permanently 17 years ago. After a short stint at the YMCA, he found a new apartment. He packed his belongings into my car and we stopped to get a fast food meal.

When we came out of the restaurant, my car had been stolen. All of his possessions, including a large amount of cash he had to open a bank account that day were gone. I lost a lot less than he did, but I still felt bad for him - he lost everything.

This incidence delayed his acting dreams by years. He felt bad that I no longer had a car to get to work. Fortunately he had paid his landlord three months in advance. His new place was close to where I worked at the time and he offered it to me.

I refused, stating that I couldn’t impose on him. He kept offering, I kept refusing. Finally, I gave in and did it. He didn’t impose on me and I didn’t impose on him. We coexisted harmoniously together.

He worked two jobs, one day shift and one graveyard shift at a 24 hour florist to try and make up for his loss. After almost cutting his finger off on the stem cutter, he had finally had enough.

He began to question whether he should be in L.A. or in England. Though we had grown close, I couldn’t stand in his way or his happiness. I didn’t want him to go, but I didn’t want him to struggle.

I wanted him to be happy and he just wanted me to be happy. The pursuit of dreams has many twists, turns and disappointments and he sacrificed his dreams for mine. He knew that I found solace in writing and he didn’t want anything to get in the way of that.

He struggled for a while, trying to get back on track and there were times when he thought he wouldn’t make it, but through the miracle of God, we made it through those times.

A year later, for my birthday, he presented me with a brand new computer which were a fortune at that time. I am eternally grateful for him. He is an amazing person with a heart of gold who proves that God is among us, giving us love when we don’t expect it.

Obstacles are detours, not failures, they are only failures if you stop going. Be open and grateful to new experiences in your life, they can lead you to new places within your heart and spirit.

What or who are you grateful for?