Express Your Gratitude On National Parents Day
National Parents’ Day was established in 1994 with the intent to recognize, uplift and support the role of parents. On this day, we are encouraged to spend time with our parents or visit with someone that has been a parent to us. One of the positive elements about social media is that we are all able to share and express our feelings of gratitude through words and images. “Gratitude” is a word that is tossed around online a lot, and one that I think should only be used when one is truly being genuine and authentic. When one actually feels grateful, one is in touch with being honest and sincere along with being uplifted to the highest level of thankfulness.
When you start to see all the #NationalParentsDay social media posts come across your news feed, I hope it ignites a genuine spark within your heart for your own parents or that special someone that has been a parent to you. Why? Well, they deserve the recognition and the praise of gratitude. Posting something special onto social media about your parents is nice, but what would be even more powerful would be picking up the phone, or perhaps actually carving out one on one time with them. As we all know, time is precious especially when you take a minute to step back and realize that there are people close to you that no longer have their parents.
That is why on #NationalParentsDay I will be honoring my relationship with my parents, Vince and Mary Kay and my husband’s parents, Vince and Mary Carol. The four of them have given my husband, Nick and I much more than love, they have shown us that they are proud – proud to be parents of gay sons, and proud to be parents of sons that have made it their mission to speak up in a world that can be harsh. I think we can we all agree that knowing that your parents are proud of the person you are is one of the greatest gifts in the world. It is something that Nick and I don’t take for granted, especially when we are aware there are parents our there that ignore, disown and disapprove of their kids. Can you imagine growing up in a house where you wake up everyday knowing your parents disapprove of the way God made you? It breaks my heart for not just the child having to go through such trauma, but also for the parents who can’t do their most important job – to love unconditionally.
I know that the majority of you reading this article are grateful for your parents or someone that has been parent-like to you. Cheers to you and the goodness that resonates within your soul. Before you officially celebrate #NationalParentsDay, I encourage you to read the following points before you post:
1.) Express Yourself
Beautifully written words can make the biggest impact on a person. Take a moment to think about what you want to articulate, and how you can not only express your gratitude, but perhaps inspire others as well. Everyone has a story to tell and a lesson to teach.
2.) A Good Picture Is Worth A Million Words
Who does not love a good throwback photo? If you plan to post a picture of you and your parents, find an image that captures a time that you can all smile about. Photo albums are now a thing of the past, so do your best to go back and find the most magical moment.
3.) Parent-ish Definitely Counts
Not everyone has a close relationship with their parents. Life can be complicated.
However, if there is someone in your life that has been a consistent guiding light or guardian such as an aunt, uncle, grandparent, or mentor then share your gratitude for them out loud and proud!
4.) Roads Of Reflection Lead To Gratitude
I am believer that having gratitude can help bring light over our most challenging of moments. You may know the quote, “The struggle ends when gratitude appears.” Well, let’s get real – being a parent is hard as hell, and I am not even a parent (yet!).
If you have a hard time seeing eye to eye with your parents, I suggest you take time to mediate on just the good things they have done for you over the years. That good thing may just be one of the very most important things they did for you such as – giving you life.
5.) Make Time
One of the most wonderful gifts you can give to your parents is spending time with them. Whether it is on FaceTime or in person, do your best to connect with your parents where there are no interruptions and tell them how much they mean to you.
I close this article with praise to all the different kinds of parents in the world, and anyone that will be recognizing their own parents on their social media platforms. If your parents have done their part to make you feel proud, I think we owe it to our parents to let them know how proud we are of them as well.
Matt Jacobi-Caprio is a writer and has been a voice of truth on various world topics such as women’s rights, religion, mental health, bullying and equality. His current mission is to get more men to stand with women so that they can work together to make equality more of a reality. Jacobi was inspired to be an advocate for women’s rights since the birth of his two nieces. He vowed to bring light to the topic of female empowerment, so they could grow up in a world that is filled with equal opportunity and rights that support them to be leaders, bosses, and – yes, fighters. Freedom fighters, equality fighters, and human rights fighters.
The Sunday Paper is the paper of record for individuals who want to be Architects of Change, lead meaningful lives and Move Humanity Forward. To get inspiring and informative content like this essay delivered to your inbox each Sunday morning for free, click here to subscribe.
