It’s that time of year when everyone tells us to be grateful, give thanks and show appreciation. Sometimes when we are feeling down, stressed, overwhelmed, or short on time this can feel daunting and forced. It is very hard to feel gratitude when negative emotions are running the show. However, allowing ourselves to find glimmers of hope, moments of joy, or simple appreciations can completely shift our attitude, emotional experience, and outlook.

It has been just over a year since I returned from my maternity leave after the birth of my son. When I thought about that, I decided to take some time to reflect on my journey over this last year to get to where I am today and how I have changed as a mom, therapist, partner, and friend.