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10 Simple Things To Be Grateful For

Fighting greed with gratitude this Christmas season

Kristin Engelking

Nov 28, 2016

Influencers of Oregon

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As Christmas season officially begins now that Thanksgiving is over, I can already feel it happening. I can feel my heart drifting toward materialism as I make my Christmas wishlist and think about all of the gifts that I would love to receive. I love gifts. I love giving them, I love getting them. But sometimes I get greedy. And often, the best antidote for greed is gratitude. I need to consciously remember the MANY things I have to be thankful for. Things that are so familiar to me, things I haven't had to be without, things that many people in the world live without every single day.

I've heard it said, "Gratitude turns what we have into enough." If you are having a hard time finding things to be thankful for this season, I'm creating a list that I'm hoping will spur on a sort of contagious gratitude.

1. Clean drinking water

2. Food.

And not JUST food for sustenance, but also the ability to go buy food at the grocery store and the luxury to purchase certain foods just because they "sound good."

3. A home

4. Electricity

To heat my home, make my water warm when I need it, turn on lights, and cook food.

5. Clothing

The luxury of opening my closet or drawers and asking, "What should I wear?" because I have multiple options.

6. A washer and dryer.

7. A toilet that flushes

8. Two cars

Not just one car, but two cars, for the "convenience."

9. People

Family that I love. Friends that I love. A church family that I love. A husband and a daughter.

10. Life

Breath. Heartbeat. And beyond that. . . Sight. Hearing. Functioning arms and legs. Heart. Brain. Fingers. Toes. Bones. Muscles.

These are the things I want to come back to on a daily basis. In the moments where my brain starts swirling with my wishlist, when my heart starts to bubble over with discontentment, these are the things I want to remember. The things I no longer want to take for granted. They are not small things, they are incredible, luxurious gifts to be massively thankful for.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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10 Simple Things To Be Grateful For

Fighting greed with gratitude this Christmas season

1. Clean drinking water

2. Food.

3. A home

4. Electricity

5. Clothing

6. A washer and dryer.

7. A toilet that flushes

8. Two cars

9. People

10. Life

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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