Are you feeling sad? Have your days been difficult to get through? Sometimes there can be an overloading amount of negativity around us, whether it be from social media, television, movies or people around us.
In the United States alone, according to a survey done in 2014, around 42.5 million adults (or 18.2% of the total adult population) suffer from some form of mental illness, such as depression, bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. That means that 1 in 5 American adults suffer from mental illness.
One way to combat depression and “rewire” our brains to regulate our negative thoughts, emotions and reactions is for us to share three things that we are grateful for at the end of each day.
I have created a list of 20 moments in life that are worth living for. Hopefully, this list will help those struggling with finding happiness in their lives.
#1: Meeting a new dog.
#2: Laughing so hard your side hurts.
#3: Sipping hot chocolate in winter.
#4: Giving gifts to loved ones.
#5: Visiting a loved one.
#6: Watching a sunset/sunrise.
#7: Being surrounded by nature.
#8: Watching Christmas lights.
#9: Helping someone in need.
#10: Thinking of new stories to write.
#11: Traveling somewhere new.
#12: Making new friends.
#13: Getting a massage.
#14: Hugging a loved one.
#15: Finding a new favorite movie.
#16: Reading a really good book.
#17: Listening to music.
#18: Receiving letters in the mail.
#19: Completing a project that you spent a lot of time on.
#20: Smiling so hard your face hurts.
I hope this list helped make you smile. If you or someone you know is struggling with a mental illness, check out the https://www.nami.org/, which is the website for the National Alliance on Mental Alliance, or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which is 1-800-273-8255. Remember: You are not alone. Life is precious, and it's important that we remember that every day.