Trigger Warning: This story mentions a difficult pregnancy, premature birth, and hospitalization. Please read with care.
The hardest period in Iranovy’s life began when she became a mother. Her pregnancy was difficult, and her daughter was born prematurely, weighing only 800 grams. The situation was very serious for both of them. Her daughter spent three months in the hospital recovering.
During that time, Iranovy could not be with her daughter in the way she wanted because she also had to focus on her own recovery. She told herself that she had to stay strong and hold on to hope. She wanted to protect her mindset and remain hopeful during her hospital visits because she felt that her presence mattered to her baby. Alongside the fear and uncertainty, she also held on to thankfulness as her daughter began to recover. When her daughter turned one, Iranovy felt incredibly thankful to see how much she had grown and how far she had come. Today, her daughter is a healthy teenager and is doing well.
“It doesn’t have to be something huge for you to say thank you, because I believe it is a powerful word. Small, but powerful.”
~ Iranovy
Saying thank you has become part of Iranovy’s daily routine. She begins her day by saying the words “thank you” several times throughout the morning. For her, thankfulness is not just something she feels. It is something she intentionally practices throughout her day. When she faces a hard situation, she tries to find a more helpful perspective. If she gets a flat tire, she reminds herself that it was only a flat tire, not an accident, and that no one was hurt. If she gets sick, she reminds herself to rest and give herself time to recover.
She also has a morning ritual in front of her mirror. She puts three phrases on sticky notes and reads them before leaving the house. As part of the routine, she dances and does a superwoman pose. While getting dressed, she plays a playlist focused on gratitude and positive affirmations. She brings the same approach to traffic. Instead of staying frustrated, she plays her favorite song on her phone and dances in her car. She also finds joy in small things, especially squirrels. She often sees up to five in a day while walking in the park, which makes her smile and feel thankful for the moment.
Professionally, Iranovy works as a Business Administrator and also as a Life & Ikigai Coach, bringing the same way of looking at things into her work with clients. When someone complains about the rain, she reminds them that the grass is cooler, the birds can drink water, kids can go outside and play, and they might see a rainbow afterward. She is also trying to teach her teenage daughter the same habit of noticing and giving thanks for the little things, even if her daughter thinks it is silly right now.
“You always have a choice about the perspective you want to have in your life.”
~ Iranovy
Over the years, Iranovy has built a gratitude practice that has become an important part of her life. She has also been using the Gratitude app for more than five years as part of her routine. She journals every day, and if she misses a day, she starts again the next day. She enjoys reading daily affirmations and thoughtful reflections and often shares the ones that resonate with her on WhatsApp or Instagram. Through these habits, she has become more aware of how she can change the way she looks at things. That awareness has also brought her a lot of joy, helping her appreciate what she already has while continuing to work toward her future goals.
“Don’t wait to enjoy life. Focus on enjoying the present moment and make time for the things you love that bring you joy.”
~ Iranovy
Iranovy continues to embrace who she is and the life she is living. Her biggest piece of advice to anyone going through a hard time is to make time for the things that bring them happiness. She believes people often miss out on the little things because they are too focused on the future. She feels that while people often say you only live once, the truth is that you live every single day. For her, staying thankful and protecting her energy help her enjoy life as much as possible in the present.
This is Iranovy’s story, shared in her own words and curated with care to preserve its truest form. I’d love to hear your story too. Write to me at preeti@gratefulness.me 💌
Every story is a reminder to notice the good that already exists.
Recent Comments