The little things in life that are meant to teach us. This weekend one little thing taught me a few lessons. Let me explain. This is the second year I collected monarch butterfly eggs from my garden. Last year I raised 18 butterflies, some of which I tagged to track. This year, I was actually in my garden when the monarch was laying her eggs and got to witness it first hand. I saw each leaf she landed on and was able to collect 25 eggs. I was so excited. This year was going to be better than last year.

Well, things didn’t go as planned. This year was NOT better than last year. I wound up with 6 larvae surviving to chrysalis stage. I have to admit – each time I pass the habitat, a little part of me would feel really disappointed at the fact that this year was not as bountiful as last. Of course I blame myself for the losses – maybe I was less attentive this year, less patient, who knows. No one knows why things happen the way they do. We just have to be grateful for what we have. The truth is, butterfly larvae have a very low survival rate. So anyone I was able to save is a positive.

This weekend I got to thinking: why am I upset or disappointed about what I don’t have? Why am I focused on the larvae I don’t have as opposed to the chrysalides I DO have? I just need to be grateful. Grateful for the 6 surviving ones, grateful for the opportunity to experience nature in this way and grateful for the joy it brings. Gratitude changes things. So today I choose gratitude! Gratitude for the little things. How can I claim to be a glass half full type, if I’m focusing on the negative.

Are you a glass half full or glass half empty type? What are you focusing on in your life? Today, choose the positive. Choose gratitude! God bless you!