Gratitude Saved Me from a Nightmare

Gratitude saved me from a nightmare. I was in Oxford, England, at a lovely inn. After an evening in town, I went to bed around midnight leaving the window open for fresh air. At 3:30 am, I was awoken by a loud mockingbird at the window. Being completely irritated, I decided that I’d have to shut my window. I turned on my light and looked at my pillow. 

There was a bug. I grabbed my phone and googled it. It was a bedbug. That’s where the possible nightmare started.

I jumped out of bed and was in shock. Quickly I looked through my sheets and saw five more bedbugs. I didn’t see any bites on myself, but I knew I was entering an absolute emotional nightmare or I could choose a different path. I choose a different path.

How did I not enter this nightmare? I Faced the situation head-on with gratitude. I started to thank the mockingbird over and over my head. I went through everything that I was grateful for at the moment. I was grateful that I only slept for 3 and 1/2 hours in that bed. I was grateful I had a small backpack, not a large suitcase. I was grateful that the mockingbird woke me up. I was grateful to have access to a shower, which I jumped into as quickly as possible. I was grateful that I knew I had a choice and the skills to avoid the emotional meltdown.

After showering, I grabbed my stuff and went down to the lobby. No one was there. It only being 4:30 in the morning I knew I just had to wait. So I meditated on gratitude. I wanted to maintain my sense of balance and appreciation for my vacation. I knew by acknowledging and appreciating the things I was grateful for; I activated positive emotions in my brain. These emotions counteract the stress responses and help me regulate the release of stress hormones, such as cortisol. I just repeated the gratitude statements until 7:00, when I could talk to the innkeeper.

Was I upset? Yes. But I knew nobody did this to me. The innkeeper was horrified. They refunded all my money and gave me directions to an industrial dryer—more reasons to be grateful. I was able to easily walk to and throw everything I owned in the dryer. My shoes, backpack, and clothes were put in the dryer on high for 40 minutes. This was the only way to ensure I would not take the bugs or eggs home with me.

I threw away the clothes I was wearing and changed into my clothes that were now toasty. I jumped on a bus, went to London, and enjoyed the Chelsea Flower Show. (Even on 3 and a half  hours of sleep.)

Gratitude allowed me to beware of my situation without being overwhelmed by my fight, flight, and freeze response. I was able to Face the situation; I used the tool of gratitude to Focus on a solution instead of getting lost in the problem. With a calm-centered mindset, I was free to direct my energy and mind where needed and did not enter blame, shame, worry, or anger. With the Stress Shifter Skills of Facing, Focusing, and Freeing, I could walk into the Flow of my vacation. 

I was so grateful that I was able to enjoy my day. After the Chelsea Flower Show, I went and washed my clothes one more time. Using the method of Facing, Focusing with gratitude, Freeing, and Flowing I did not live a nightmare of anger, chaos, or sadness. , I remembered a gratitude can enhance my resilience by reminding me of the resources and support I have in my life.

Have you ever used gratitude as a tool that shifted a stressful moment? Please share your story with us below.

We are GRATEFUL.