The pace of this world pressures us greatly; we’re asked to achieve more while doing so at a faster rate. Children are pressured to receive perfect scores on tests while also being involved in 500 extracurricular activities, college students are urged to figure out their lives in a span of four years, and adults are expected to keep up with the rigor of work while maintaining a strong family life. Society has placed such an emphasis on “making it” that we have all become so concerned with our own agenda. Which would be fine, except we often forget what is truly important in life. We can still aspire and have our own goals while also recognizing what the world has to offer. We would all be a whole lot happier if we slowed down a little and took some time to appreciate the beauty in our daily lives. The following is a list of things that I believe deserve more attention.
1. Waking up in the morning. The act of waking up is something that seems routine to us; it’s just another part of the day we don’t think about. We assume when we go to bed at night that we will receive another day, that waking up is guaranteed. However, waking up should never go unnoticed. Waking up in the morning is such an amazing thing because it marks the opening of another day, and of course, every day is a present.
2. The cleaning staff. Most of you reading this are college students. I know this may seem like a weird thing to be thankful for, however it’s actually something that deserves much appreciation. Every day we wake up and walk out of our dorm rooms and the hallways and bathrooms are clean. We then walk to class or the library, which are additionally kept just as nicely. Not only are facilities taken care of, but also the grounds we walk everyday are kept exceptionally well (cough cough, Union). We should be grateful for the people that work so hard to maintain our schools so well.
3. Laughing. We laugh all the time, whether a TV show or a friend’s story gets a chuckle out of us. Again, with the act of waking up, laughing seems like another part of our day. However, the instant mood lift we receive from laughing should never be underestimated.
4. Ten minutes with an animal. I didn’t realize how relaxing spending time with an animal is until I got to college. Being with an animal for any duration of time is so amazing because they help us slow down. Animals do not experience the excessive pressure of deadlines or expectations; they have no awareness of the pace of the world around them. Spending time with an animal allows us to unwind and just be with another living thing.
5. Giving without expecting anything in return. We give and expect to receive. The first example that comes to my mind is Christmas, where we give our loved ones gifts and receive some in return. Even with birthdays, we give presents and expect to receive them on our own special day. Giving and not receiving anything in return is a rare gesture that is foreign to us. We should practice altruism more and additionally embrace it because we are all living in the same world together; we should be kind and take care of one another.
6. Food. Personally, I am very passionate about food. The rush I get when I see the waiter coming with my food is unlike any other feeling. Not only do I enjoy stuffing my face, but I also love cooking and baking. However, I find that I need to express more gratitude toward food. Yes, I love making and eating it, but I, along with most of us, need to realize how lucky we are to have the accessibility of food. We need to express gratitude for merely having the option to eat, while so many others do not.
7. Someone saying, “You made my day.” Although a great compliment, this phrase nonetheless goes unnoticed most of the time. I’m not sure why (maybe because of the frequency of us saying it), but when someone informs another that he/she made his/her day, we tend to brush it off by flashing a quick smile. However, this comment has such meaning behind it! Knowing that you brightened someone’s day should provoke such a gratifying feeling; you did something that really affected someone positively! Be proud of that and appreciate that you made someone else feel good.
8. A kind stranger. Whether a stranger opens the door for you or strikes up conversation with you, there is something so endearing about having someone express kindness to you that you do not know. It’s so refreshing to see that some people treat others with the respect and benevolence that we all deserve.
9. Growing up. I know that growing up usually has a bad connotation. We dislike growing up; having responsibilities and figuring out life can absolutely be scary. However, we should embrace this process. Yes, growing up is uncomfortable, but there cannot be any progress without growth. Growing up allows us to become the person we’re supposed to be.
10. The stage of life we’re currently in. Although growing up is something we should be grateful for, we should equally appreciate the current stage of life we’re in. Whether you’re a college student, a businessman, a grandma, or a two year old, we should appreciate whatever chapter of life we’re currently experiencing. Each stage of life is beautiful and offers us lessons, so we should take in each part of life with open arms.
