Guest Post: Bret Freedman

Everyone meet Bret. Bret is one of my all-time favorite people.  She is an old old friend and I'm honestly not sure what I'd do without her.  Whether it's true or not, here's what I tell people: Bret knows everything about everything.  So...I figured I'd share her.  Once a month Bret's agreed to be a guest blogger right here on Love Life and Lollipops!!!  Yay for us!

Here's a picture of Bret.  Bret, I know this isn't your favorite picture, but it's just such a Bret face!  I love it.

Here's what she's got to say this month:

On Gratitude

What’s interesting about me? Not much. That said, I’ve been talking a lot about how grateful I am – it feels like a fairly new concept for me. So let’s talk about that.

Like many people, the recession hit me and my family hard. I’ve had to give up a lot. It started in grad school (the economy tanked in the middle of my first semester) when work was scarce and paying internships virtually disappeared –First, I gave up obvious things– the ridiculously expensive haircuts, vacations, cab rides before 11pm. Later, I gave up bigger things, including having a home. That was by far the hardest, and unfortunately it hasn’t stopped there. But you get the point.

I am surprised, with everything I give up, after a little grieving, sometimes some crying or shouting, what I feel most is grateful.  With every ‘thing’ I give up, I’m amazed at how much I still have, how lucky I truly am and how good that feels. Really, really good.

Sometimes it’s little things – street parking in Manhattan or sunshine on a day off.  Other times it’s bigger things –family who took me in, amazing, special, brilliant friends, or every single freelance job that helps keep my head above water. Don’t get me wrong, I hope things get easier, but not if I don’t take the gratitude with me.