Pathfinder vs. Porche

Webster's Dictionary defines gratitude as: "(adjective) 1a-appreciative of benefits received."; 2b: "pleasing by reason of comfort supplied of discomfort alleviated." Interestingly, the words benefit and comfort are associated with the definitions of grateful. As if to say to be grateful, one cannot lack benefit and comfort.  If we truly identify gratitude as an encompassing descriptive state of being, is there room for it even in the darkest days and deepest pits? Can gratitude and despair coincide? Can we truly be grateful for the life we live, the challenges in front of us, the fires we walk through, without comfort and knowing there is a benefit to us as we walk through it? Is gratefulness independent of suffering? I don't believe it is. However, this is where many of us feel hopeless. When we're at the lowest of lows, the darkest of days. It feels beyond suffocating, and there's barely any room for any other state of being. I'm not talking about toxic positivity here. This only does more harm than good. I'm talking about a deep, intense ability to experience comfort (or the alleviation of discomfort) and benefit amid despair. Deep gratitude at a somatic level can be challenging to experience in the depths of suffering, but it is possible. It brings us a deeper understanding and awareness of humanity and its experiences. We are ending this year. The year 2023 has come and gone, and maybe it's been a year of rejoicing, a year of suffering, or likely a mix of both. Navigating despair and gratitude does not have to fall on your shoulders alone. If you're experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency right now, reach out to your nearest emergency department or reach out to 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline). There is support for you. I am grateful for you and the fight you continue to endure in both despair and joyful times.