Every now and then, I find myself sitting back and reflecting – whether I’m in my car, at my desk in my room, or even standing in the playground waiting to pick my niece up from school. In those quiet moments, it hits me that I am lucky and blessed to be where I am, to have what I have, and, above all else, to be grateful for life.
Every day we wake up is a blessing – one that others, sadly, are not fortunate enough to receive. We take so much in this world for granted: food, shelter, clothing, a bed, money, and even a job. This list honestly goes on.
I have to admit, growing up, I wasn’t grateful for much – I mean… were any of us? It’s not something I’m proud of. When you’re young, you can’t fully fathom what you have or how lucky you truly are. Instead, you focus on what you don’t have and compare yourself to others, slowly resenting the very things that are already yours.
Something I remember deeply from my childhood was being around 11 or 12 and feeling left out of conversations with friends about TV shows – simply because we didn’t have the channels everyone else did.
I remember speaking to my brother about it, and what he said stayed with me ever since. I still remember it clearly now. He explained that our parents had a mortgage to pay, and that sacrifices had to be made for the long term.
I can’t even lie – what he actually said was simpler, and more real: “We own our house. Were lucky. Be grateful. Most people don’t.”
What he said stuck with me, but being young, I didn’t fully understand it at the time. Now, as an adult, I truly get it.
The older I get, the more grateful I am for every little thing in my life – I have to be. Life is far too short not to appreciate what I have and the people around me. I’m even grateful for the things I no longer have, and the people who are no longer in my life, because every experience has shaped me into the person I am today.
I try my best to see the positive in everything and every situation. Of course, I’m human – sometimes I react in the moment – but sooner rather than later, I remind myself that it’s all part of life and make a conscious choice not to stress over things I can’t control.
To be grateful means being able to acknowledge and understand that the things we have shouldn’t be taken for granted – and neither should the people in our lives.
Have you had a bad day? At least you’re alive today.
Are you in a lot of pain? At least you have the ability to feel.
Not happy with your food choice? At least you have something to eat.
I’ve learned this lesson mostly through my health. There have been days when simply getting out of bed felt like an achievement, when energy was limited, and pain was constant. Those days forced me to slow down and really appreciate the things I once moved through without a second thought – my body, my breath, my ability to keep going.
No matter what you have going on in life, there is always someone out there wishing for what you already have – no matter how bad things feel in that moment, even on the days it feels like you have very little.
These days, I don’t wait for life to slow me down before I appreciate it – I try to do that in real time. Gratitude isn’t about ignoring the hard days; it’s about recognising that even on them, I’m still here. My health, my experiences, the people I’ve loved, and even the ones I’ve lost have all shaped the man I am today. I’m learning to take nothing for granted, to stress less, feel more and be present while I can – because life is fragile, and waking up is never guaranteed.
Be grateful.