In honor of Thanksgiving, I would encourage everyone to make a list of things they are thankful for. Gratitude has been scientifically proven to boost happiness, build social bonds, improve mental and physical health, and even help you sleep better and longer.
When thinking about things to be thankful for, it can be easier to just start listing all your material possessions. Personally, I wanted to challenge myself by thinking of more basic things that I often take for granted. Here are eight simple and often overlooked things that I am grateful for:
1. My favorite chapstick
I don't know about you, but I like to pick favorites when it comes to chapstick. Right now, I wouldn't leave home without my trusted Burt's Bees.
2. Public libraries
Growing up, I loved going to the library every week over summer. It's where I found some of my favorite books and where I developed my love for reading and learning.
3. Blue skies
Being from southern California, bright blue, cloudless skies remind me of home. There's something comforting about it that I can't quite explain.
4. Rainy days
At the same time, being from southern California can also make you appreciate the less-than-sunny days. Rainy days have always been strangely energizing for me.
5. Medicine
Modern medicine never ceases to amaze me. I can't help but think of all my friends and family who might not still be alive if it weren't for science's very recent advancements.
6. Music
Music is so powerful in relieving stress and bringing people together. It has helped me in the most difficult of times and brought me so much joy in others.
7. New England autumns
Where I'm from, the leaves change from green to brown. Fall in New England has been such a beautiful experience. From the colorful trees to the weather to cute sweaters to the abundance of apple cider, autumn in the Northeast is simply beyond compare.
8. The Internet
More than anything, I am grateful for the Internet. It has made so much information accessible to an unprecedented number of people, making it a great equalizer in terms of education and knowledge that in past generations was only available to the elite few. Ideas can travel faster and more easily than ever before. Because of the Internet, I can video chat with my family 3,000 miles away. I can learn infinitely many things about infinitely many topics. It's kind of a big deal.
