It's funny how we always take small, seemingly insignificant, everyday things for granted. For some reason every generation stops appreciating things more and more. It could be because we misconstrue privileges as rights. It can be something big, such as a relationship to something small, like having the luxury of being able to choose your water temperature. We fail to take into account that what is average and normal to one person may be a totally different story for another.
1. Health
One day you're just chilling in bed, feeling great and binge watching Netflix when BAM you wake up the next morning with a killer headache and fever from Hell. Sure, it's just a virus and you can down some DayQuil but for other people getting back on track isn't that easy. There's people with serious diseases that keep them hospitalized and unable to take part in normal day to day activities. You start to miss the days when your sinuses weren't congested and you start to realize that you take being healthy for granted.
2. Pets
Animals are the coolest. They're basically furry and or scaly little humans with their own personalities. All they want to do is love and protect you and straight up be the best friend you've always wanted. The sad thing is that we forget that our pets rely on us for survival. Your fish isn't going to get his own food, homie. We need to keep in mind that although our pets play a big role in our lives, for them we're their whole life. Please watch The Secret Life of Pets, cry and then go love your child again.
3. Education
I'll be the first to say that school can be boring. I know we've all thought it, how is memorizing the Pythagorean Theorem going to help us succeed in life? Well, it might not but your education is a vital privilege that a lot of us take for granted. In some countries women aren't allowed to go to school, children are forced into labor, and others don't know how to read or write. Even now in the United States there is a large amount of youths who do not have the option of college or a higher education. Your parents may not have even had the blessing to advance their studies. Let's put an end to being angsty young adults and take advantage of our opportunities.
4. Food
"There's starving children in China, eat your vegetables." Is a famous quote reiterated by parents everywhere. Honestly, I don't even know where that started but whatever the origin is it's partly true. Whether it's China or just down the street, there's people who go to sleep without having anything to eat. Sometimes we snuff our noses to leftovers and crave Chipotle but it shouldn't be that way. Food is food and yeah, at times the food may not be your exact craving but it's more than what others have in a day. We all tear up a little when we remember Chick-Fil-A isn't open on Sundays but that's just how the cookie crumbles. Eat yo' damn ramen cup and be grateful.
5. People
Personally, I think this is a big one. You never really know how special someone is until they're gone. I don't know why we choose to hurt certain individuals to the point where they up and walk away, but it happens and it happens too often. Whether the person is a significant other or a platonic friend the pain of losing them is still the same and we all go through it. In the words of Passenger, "only know you've been high when you're feeling low, only hate the road when you're missing home, only know you love her when you let her go". I propose that we start to appreciate the people that love and care for us, and this can be done by letting them know just how much they mean to you.
The list goes on and on about what and who we take for granted. Acknowledging these things are just the first step, next comes action. Of course there will be days when you forget to let someone know that you love them or you throw a fit because the Subway man forgot to toast your bun but it's life and we're only human. Just don't make being an oblivious jerk a habit. Really take time to count your blessings, be grateful for them and make it a point to show just how much you appreciate these said blessings.
