When was the last time you were grateful? Was it when something happened in your favor? Was it when you passed that exam you were worried about? Was it when you found your wallet you thought you had lost at bar night? Why is it we are only grateful when something out of the ordinary happens? Shouldn’t we be grateful everyday of our lives?

Be obsessively grateful.

Think of all the things in your life that you have to be grateful for. The moment you start to become grateful for your life, is the moment the Universe starts to listen. So be grateful for your family, and your friends. For the time spent with them and the laughs shared. For people that make you feel at home, even when your mailing address is four hours away. Be grateful for your professor that sees untapped potential in you, and for the professor that makes you work ten times harder than you have before. Be grateful for the friends made over flashcards, and the ones made over shared tears. Be grateful for the man at Dunkin who makes your coffee with three sugars, even when you only order two. For wet kisses from a pet who loves you unconditionally, and for those that pick up the phone at 3 a.m.

Be grateful for the little things too. Like hot tea for your morning walk to class, for cozy sweaters, and even cozier blankets. For music that understands you, and connects us all. For places you’ve been to, and ones you only imagine. Be grateful for sunflowers and daisies, for books you can escape to, and leaves that fall. Be grateful for changing seasons and changes in heart, for the smell of rain and burning timber. Be grateful for shoulders to lean on and hands to help you up, for reassuring smiles and gentle touches. For the man who cut you off on the freeway and saved you from missing your turn, for the person that broke your heart but led you to the one that could fix it. For the friends that never knew what that word meant, but helped guide you to those with open arms. For the grumpy customer that taught you how to hold your tongue and for the one that taught you how to laugh through the tears.

Be grateful for pain because it helped to shape you into the person you are today. For all the experiences you’ve had, and for all the ones yet to be, and for the peace of mind that tomorrow will come. For the sunsets, and the sunrises, for the heartbreak and for the love. For being this lost and this found, for being this confused and this strong. For being broken, yet whole and for being here. Be grateful for being alive in this moment, at this minute of this hour on this day, be grateful for time and all it brings.

But most importantly be grateful for being grateful, because the moment you choose gratitude, is the moment your life becomes whole.

All the good vibes.