It happened again. Another massacre in America. It is so sad. I have a friend who was in the crowd at the concert in Las Vegas Sunday night. She describes it as you would expect, horrifying. One moment she was enjoying the concert, then next, she was being hoisted over a fence, literally, dodging bullets. There is nothing more horrifying than running for your life.
While I respect everyone’s beliefs, I believe we need have stricter gun control laws and restrictions on automatic weapons. I just don’t see a need for civilians to own such weapons. This post, however, is about understanding the horror and helping all of us be more grateful. I also believe that if we live a life full of gratitude, we will be more loving and compassionate. And that, just maybe, will get us to a place where we don’t want to kill each other.
Here are 5 reasons we should all be grateful:
Your breath.
That’s right, it’s simple. Go ahead, take a deep breath, see how it feels. Pretty great, huh? Something to be grateful for, isn’t it? That’s all it takes, is one breath to change your attitude and then the world.
Your senses.
We know all about sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch. We need to be grateful for those senses. Feel the wind on your arms, taste the nuances in the flavoring in your food, smell the odors of spring flowers on your hike. Or yes, the nasty urine smell in some NYC subway stations. It all adds to the richness of the experience of life. In addition, our sixth sense, sometimes referred to as our intuition. It too can help us live a fuller life. We can use it to help lead us through life. Our instincts know, follow them and trust.
The ability to reason.
We have opposable thumbs and the ability to reason. Those are two characteristics that make us human beings. Everyday, we should honor the fact that we can reason. We can be grateful for the fact that we’re not a “bump on a log,” as my grandmother used to say. Every moment is an opportunity to live fully. Take it or leave it. I’m hoping you take it.
Your spouse, family, & friends.
When you wake up in the morning, most likely you are near someone you love. If not, most of us have people who love us and people whom we love. Love is an incredibly powerful thing. Love and support is even more powerful. Love we get from our family and friends; support we get from anywhere. Both together help lift us up during hard times. It’s that support from your loved ones that we can be grateful for. Nothing can be done on our own, we need that support and love to thrive. Don’t take it lightly.
Creativity & Adventure.
This is one of my favorites because we get to create our lives, to a degree, of course. But, we can decide where we want to go on vacation or how far we want to hike, or what movie to see. Really, the sky is the limit. Once you set your mind to something, there is a good chance that you will achieve that goal. Just the power of creativity is something to be grateful for, but then the adventure to go and do what you thought up in your head makes it so much sweeter!
Now here are 3 things you can do to stay grateful:
Write a Gratitude Journal.
Again, another simple thing, but it does take discipline. At the end of the day write down 3 things you are grateful for. Get into the habit of being grateful and you will begin to unconsciously seek out events that will make you grateful. You’ll see the change, I promise.
Remember the less fortunate ones.
This is a big deal. It seems we all have a side hustle, or three. We’re all busy with life, work, kids, relationships, etc. And we’re all moving forward. It’s a fantastic thing, but we must keep our mind’s open to the big picture. More than 3 Billion people live on less than $2.50 per day. Most of our dreams, goals, and wishes, aren’t even in the same atmosphere for people who are struggling to get their next meal. When you realize that you become more grateful for what you have.
Serve others.
This is the grand daddy of gratitude. All you have to do is serve other human beings. That’s right, feed the hungry, clothe the needy. Volunteer at your local Boys & Girls club or your local homeless shelter. When you get out of your own troubles, you begin to feel much better. It’s not about comparing, the giving itself is the gift. Do more of it whenever you can. The holidays are coming up and it’s time to tap into that giving spirit. You will feel better and the people receiving your gifts sure will too!
Of course, if you have trouble being grateful for the sunrise and you need some help, I’m always here to guide you along. Find me @teddymcdonald. And remember, life really is grand!
Originally published on the author’s website.