Be Grateful For What You Have

Have you ever found yourself saying, I’ll be happy when I have this or when that happens? I’m sure you have said or thought about it; no shame or guilt about it.

Life moves quickly, and a lot of the time, it may feel like we can barely keep up, which also often leads us to forget to appreciate what we have and have accomplished.

The year of 2020 and 2021 has been marked by the global pandemic that continues to take many lives away. But also, this pandemic showed us what is essential and what is not essential. 

See also: I’m Suspecting that This Is The End

When I was much younger, like 8 or 9 years old, I was a picky eater. I would not eat anything green like vegetables. My mom used to be patient about my picky habit until one day that I agreed to eat Cassava leaf stew, but then I changed my mind when mom served my sisters and me. I looked at the plate, and I said, mom, I’m not eating that.

Oh boy, my mom got mad and said, look at me, I’m not cooking anything else “you either eat that or you go to bed starving because there are a lot of kids out there who are dying of starvation because they don’t have what to eat and you’re here acting like your father owns a supermarket.”

I ended up eating cassava leaf stew that evening, and I learned to appreciate and never play that game never again. Lol

“For me, this pandemic taught me not only to appreciate others but also to express my gratitude.”

The notion of being grateful for small things, whether material or not, teaches us to appreciate what we have and perhaps acknowledge how lucky or special we are. For me, this pandemic taught me to appreciate others and express my gratitude toward them.

The more time you take to think about all the things you have to be thankful for, the less stressed you become. Worrying is a part of life, but gratefulness is also part of who we are, and we need to practice more frequently, like brushing teeth every day.

For those of us who had the blessing to get up the bed every day, we should be grateful for good health, for our families, for the healthcare professionals, for nature, and for the fact that we are alive today.

Stop doing whatever you are doing for a minute and ask yourself, what am I grateful for?

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