Many of you realize that on your darkest days it can sometimes be that simple gratitude is but the only thing that creates light.
This is more powerful than you might realize, but only if you’ve been through extreme hardships will you really understand what I mean.
And if you are running a business, you can’t let your dark days derail you for long. But thankfully, work can often be cathartic.
The power of gratitude was one of the primary themes in a series of personal development mastermind sessions that my dear friend Jan Knutson and I did a couple of years ago.
Sadly, I found out two nights ago that she had passed away ten days prior. I had not spoken with her for a few months.
I was shocked and completely taken aback.
We had spent the better part of two years working very closely together in more than one business venture.
I’ve not been the same since that news, but I know somehow I’m going to get back on track given time to recover from the shock.
Firstly, I am grateful for having known such a wonderful spirit.
A Blessing and a Loss to Us All
Jan was a truly unique, gifted, energetic and inspirational woman. One I wish everyone could have known and learned from as I did.
She was one of the best networkers I ever knew, rising to the top of her companies over the years, and putting four children through college on her network marketing income.
This was even AFTER being deserted by her husband when their kids were all under four years old, and while she was still in recovery from a debilitating car accident.
She survived this accident to walk and see again after many doctors told her she’d never be able to do either of those things.
She succeeded at these things under adversities that would make most people give up.
She created absolutely beautiful artwork of all kinds, paintings, patchwork coats and quilts, hand woven baskets, jewelry, batik to name a few.
She called herself an “ageless Norwegian” and never gave away her age, but had the laugh and heart of a child.
Sadly she left this world far too early, but she touched many while she was here.
So with this sad news I found myself in a deep funk, only able to reflect on having known her and made contact with a few people who also had not heard the news.
It makes me reflect on all that I learned from her and how I hope to impact others in much the same way.
How to Best Remember Our Loved Ones
If there is anyone in your life who has had a similar impact on you, reach out to them for life is always as it seems, too short.
If you think YOU can make a difference to anyone, then DO it. It’s up to you to be a success so that you can help others do the same.
And be grateful for those around you, who have brightened your life, if even for a moment.
Be grateful when you are at your worst, for it is this gratitude that will lift you back up and put you back where you belong.
And to my dear friend Jan, may the angels rejoice in your presence as we have.
In loving memory of Janice Knutson, Rest in Peace my friend!
Vicki, what a beautiful posts dedicated to her memory! I am so sorry for your loss and pray for you, and Ms. Knutson’s family during this difficult time.
Thank you so much Christine, as you know we are blessed with the presence of so many in our lives as entrepreneurs in this business, and how we cherish those relationships!
It’s especially important to honor such a loss of someone who impacted our lives with a perpetuation of our service to others, and carrying on to do as they would have done.
Thank you Christine for being such a special person, in my life as well as in the lives of others!
Vicki
I am very sorry for your loss, and that name sounds familiar maybe she was in a company you and I were both in? Anyway I really resonated with your feelings of gratitude. Often, and a bit unfortunately, we don’t really tap into our gratitude until we have lost something or someone that is important to us.
I especially realized how important the attitude of gratitude was to me when I lost my mother. I definitely had gratitude that I had the opportunity to care for her for four years. Now that might seem a funny thing to say, but when I cared for her at first, I don’t like to admit it, but I did it rather begrudgingly.
Then as time progressed I started to enjoy it, (and unbeknownst to me at the time) I began to develop some characteristics that were necessary for a successful business. So there are many reasons I am grateful today. And when things are not going the best, I can almost always find that it goes back to my forgetting to be grateful!
Thank you Lynda, yes Jan might be familiar to you as a member of the Vitamark team for a while with me. She was even mentioned by Michael on one of the calls and spoke up on a few occasions. And she will be dearly missed.
I am sorry for the loss of your own mother recently too, I know it has hardly been any time since her passing as well, and how big a role gratitude can play in helping our grieving process. My own mother’s passing was extremely difficult as I cared for her as well. I was extremely grateful for the time we had together in those last months.
So let’s continue propagating those thoughts of gratitude, as it’s crucial for eveyone to have a healthy attitude and approach to life and business!
Thanks for being an important friend in this life of mine!
Vicki
Sorry for your loss, Vicki. Jan sounds like she was an incredible woman. Overcoming that many obstacles is absolutely amazing. Hopefully, her legacy can live on through her kids, through you, and through the people she helped.
Chuck
Thanks very much Chuck, she was indeed a force to be reckoned with. And she has no choice but to live on, with many that she influenced in her life!
I appreciate your commenting, thanks again!
Vicki