Chapter 1: The Gift of Perspective

Gratitude is often found in the most unexpected places. As Mark Casey wisely noted, “Gratitude, things and people to be grateful for can be found all around you; all we have to do is become aware that they exist, then open our minds and hearts to it. Seek it out and you will find it.”

This reflection, penned on January 7, 2021, shortly after the holiday season, serves as a reminder of how even the smallest experiences can be transformed into valuable lessons. My journey with what I’ve termed the “Broken Christmas Tree Lights” has taught me to appreciate the significance behind these seemingly trivial setbacks.

I received an unopened Christmas tree from the Dublin Simon Community, along with a set of previously used lights. Eagerly, I assembled the tree and plugged in the lights, only to discover they refused to illuminate. After trying multiple outlets, I faced the frustrating reality: they were defective.

I laid the lights on the floor, forming a large circle, and meticulously examined each wire for damage, but found none. Even after replacing the fuse with a new one, the lights remained unresponsive.

Sitting there, surrounded by the circle of lights, I pondered what might be preventing their glow. They had passed quality control, and their intended purpose was to shine and spread joy. It struck me that this situation mirrored my own life — a circuit with a beginning and an end, where each bulb represented an emotional experience, both good and bad. At that moment, my own “life line” felt dimmed and broken.