Gratefulness is hard. No one would dare contest that point. All life is inherently selfish! Our primal instincts tell us to fend for ourselves, put in minimal effort, and disregard the well-being of others. This world tells us to always strive for bigger and better. It is all too easy to give in to those tendencies, especially in times of hardship. But some of the happiest times in my life were when I put my self-serving mindest aside and asked God to make me truly thankful for the people, places and things in my life at that moment.
Lately, I have found myself sliding down the spiral of ungratefulness once again, so I compiled a list of things I (and others) can meditate on to inspire a spirit of gratitude. I understand that these do not apply to everyone, and not all of them apply to me, but they can always be replaced with something that does. Get creative!
1. Jesus' gift of salvation
2. Freedom and safety granted me by my country
3. Clean, weather-appropriate clothing
4. A roof over my head
5. Heating/cooling systems
6. Financial stability
7. Two married parents who love each other and their children
8. My siblings
9. My bed
10. Access to clean water
11. Owning a physical copy of the Bible
12. My best friend
13. Graduating high school
14. Pursuing higher education
15. Electronic devices and access to connectivity
16. A relatively healthy body
17. My talents, passions, and spiritual gifts
18. Happy, beautiful memories
19. Electricity in my home
20. My car
21. Access to food that nourishes my body
22. Hot tea/coffee
23. My favorite movie
24. Sunny days
25. Rainy days (for acoustic music and contemplation)
26. Sleeping in
27. The ability to read and write
28. The ability to speak English
29. Alone time
30. Laughter
31. My church family
32. Hugs and kisses
33. Access to hot water
34. My shower
35. Oxygen
36. Pets
37. Employment
38. Love
39. Lessons learned
40. Access to books
41. Traditions and values
42. The ability to change
43. The feeling of clean sheets (esp. on freshly shaved and moisturized legs)
44. Access to period products
45. Health insurance
46. Life itself
47. My heroes
48. Teachers who care
49. Singing
50. Dancing
51. Art
52. Imagination
53. Extended family
54. Music
55. Nature
56. Chocolate
57. Hopes, dreams, and aspirations
58. The ability to chase said hopes, dreams, and aspirations
59. Facetime/Skype
60. Surprises
61. Modern medicine
62. Winning
63. Good hair days
64. Free stuff
65. Individuality
66. The four seasons
67. Forgiveness
68. My passport
69. My driver's license
70. Generosity
71. Life after death
72. Spouse/significant other
73. Access to indoor plumbing
74. Grocery stores
75. The beach
76. My favorite city
77. The postal service
May everyone find something in this small list to cling to in times of hopeless and doubt.
“Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for."
—Zig Ziglar
