Gratitude — Sean Griech, PT, DPT, PhD, OCS, COMT
Sean Griech is an assistant professor in the doctor of physical therapy department.
Let the world turn upside down, let everything be in darkness, in smoke, in uproar – God is with us.”
– St. Francis de Sales (from Letters to Persons in the World, VI, 12)
As we enter November and approach the season of Thanksgiving, most of us take time to stop and appreciate all of the people and blessings in our lives. We often celebrate with an over-the-top feast, indulging in delicious food and enjoying the company of one another.
But…2020…amirite!?! There is no getting past it: 2020 has been full of challenges, not the least of which has been the current pandemic. The pandemic has affected us all differently, but it has affected us ALL in some way. In early spring we found ourselves thrust into “a new normal.” There was no blueprint to guide us, so we all pivoted. We pivoted into a virtual world. Graduates lost the opportunity to share in what should have been one of the proudest moments of their lives. Teachers became overnight virtual learning experts. Healthcare workers were stressed and stretched to the max, and parents tried to hold everything together and shield their children from the uncertain future.
On a personal note, I experienced this pandemic from each of these perspectives. I completed my Ph.D. during the pandemic, but never got to experience my gradation or hooding. I was teaching full time in our Doctor of Physical Therapy program here at DeSales and with a weekend of prep pivoted a traditionally hands-on curriculum to online. Both myself and my wife are healthcare workers and had to balance between keeping our family safe and fulfilling our duties.
I am the parent of three kids and expanded my job as dad to a side job of middle school teacher and child psychologist. But despite this, I have found gratitude. I have found it in the small blessings that are easy to overlook with so much chaos around us. I made a decision that, just like the DeSales University core value of gratitude, I would be thankful for the amazing grace of God that creates us and provides us with the countless gifts of family, faith, community, talents, work, and love.
I reframed this experience to recognize that I had been given an incredible gift to refocus priorities and spend more time with my family than I ever would be able to under normal circumstances, taking time to realize that instead of concerning myself with what was missed, lost, or taken away; I would focus on what I was given, new opportunities, and enriching relationships. In fact, the neuroscience literature has shown that gratitude is the most effective practice for stimulating feelings of happiness.
So, as we enter the holiday season, let’s take time to practice gratitude, because some day we will no doubt return to the busy hustle and bustle of pre-COVID times. Despite the undeniable pain and sorrow associated with this time of pandemic, I know that I will also look back on this time fondly, knowing that I am grateful for the small everyday gifts that God has given me.
Sean Griech is an assistant professor in the doctor of physical therapy department.