We all go through our everyday lives, just going through the motions. How often do we stop to admire the things and people in our lives that matter most? How often do we recognize just how important they are to our mental and physical health? Below is a list of 22 different things I found myself to be grateful for, and many may apply to you as well.
1. Your health
Both physically and emotionally -- Something you should recognize each and every day is your breath. How does it feel when you take a few moments each day for yourself?
2. Your family
Whether they are nearby or far away, whether you have a close relationship or not, for the most part, our families are our connections to our past and they help us to build a bridge towards our future. Appreciate them.
3. Your pets
You may or may not have a pet, but regardless, animals are things we should always practice gratitude towards. They love us when we are less than loveable, and they are there for snuggles and silly selfies.
4. Your freedom
While everyone has different beliefs about the government and our current president, that does not take away from the fact that we are free to be who we want to be, and to say what we want to say, something that others do not have the blessing to do.
5. Food
Food, whatever it may be, assists in nourishing your body and creates an environment in which your body can thrive. Appreciate it, and recognize the importance of what you put into your body.
6. Education
Many people do not have access to the education that I was gifted with as a child. Take today to recognize how lucky you are to have gotten an education, because many people do not have that opportunity.
7. Nature
No matter what is going on in your life, nature is something you can always fall back on. Finding the beauty in every season and every type of weather is essential in the fight against your seasonal depression and anxiety.
8. Clean drinking water
Something many people, even some in the United States, are not blessed with. Clean drinking water and bathing water is of the utmost importance to our health, and it is not something we should take for granted.
9. Vacations
Reminiscing on warmer days may seem upsetting with this brisk winter approaching, but it can actually help to remind you of the happiness you had experienced in the past summer.
10. Music
Something that will always be relevant (or so I hope). Music offers a foundation for the way we view the world, and helps us to feel understood even on the darkest of days.
11. The past
The past has shaped you into the person you are today, and regardless of whether you view the past in a negative way or not, it is still something to appreciate -- it has moved you one step closer to your goals.
12. The present
There is no day like today, meaning that there is no time like the present to get started on your goals. Be grateful for the breaths you take and the air you breathe and the ability to be alive and well at this very moment.
13. The future
While seemingly obvious, the future is something we should admire due to the fact that we have so much potential left in us, much of which we don't even know of yet.
14. Desserts
More specifically... cookie dough.
15. Your hands
For allowing you to experience the world through a sense of touch, one of the most vibrant and exciting senses
16. Your friends
For being a shoulder to cry on and for never leaving your side
17. Your significant other (or lack thereof)
Significant others offer us reflections of who we are and who we have yet to become. Whether you are actively in a relationship or not, you can practice gratitude for the ways that our love interests have affected us in positive ways. If you cannot think of positive ways that they have affected you, you may benefit from focusing on the things that they taught you about what you want and what you deserve out of a relationship.
18. Strangers
Have you ever noticed that receiving a gentle smile or someone holding the door for you tends to brighten up your day, even if it is seemingly insignificant in the midst of everything? Appreciate those little acts of kindness.
19. Your bed
A place where you can rejuvenate, regenerate, and relax after a long day of school or work.
20. Your job
For giving you a source of income so that you can support yourself and your family to the best of your ability.
21. Your smile
Look in the mirror and think of something funny, or someone who makes you smile from ear to ear. Recognize just how beautiful and amazing you are when you are in your natural element.
22. YOU
Be grateful for you and for the love and light you bring to this world and to the people around you.
While I recognize that many of the things on this list may not be relevant to you specifically, it may benefit you to create your own list. I challenge you to keep a gratitude journal, or just a simple list on your phone of things each day that brings happiness to your life, both physically and emotionally. This will ensure that every day you practice gratitude, and the recognition of the things that matter most to you. These often serve as a great reminder on a hard day that the world is not always as dark as it may seem in the moment.
