Being thankful

Manners are something instilled in us as children from the moment we open our eyes. We are taught to appreciate the things done for us and given to us. One of the greatest ways we can show our respect is by recognizing the efforts or gifts given to us by others through our gratitude. Our thankfulness is how we show we appreciate the thoughts, love, and considerations of family, friends, and peers. In light of this, we learn to be grateful for things we are given, whether they are gifts you can hold or less tangible things, like effort or action. It’s difficult to consider how we can be grateful when it seems like we have nothing but learning to be thankful for the things we have is a skill as valuable as being thankful for the things we are given.

Life has a habit of going its own way, not our way. When you turn on the news and see the constant and unrelenting flow of misery and sadness, it’s hard to look around and be grateful for the world as it is. Yet, at the end of the day we still have homes, families, friends, and so much more. Even when some of those things may be out of order, there is always something to be grateful for. It feels like, until we reach a certain ripe age, we don’t appreciate our health like we should. We start to lose friends to sicknesses and realize that, “this could be me.” It’s around that time that we start to pay attention to the little details and want to get back into shape.

Instead of getting sucked into the endless stream of negativity; take a minute to exclude yourself from the world at large. Look at the things and people around you. Be grateful for them and think about what you can do to display that gratitude and appreciate them more. Life doesn’t have to be spent in service of wanting what’s hot on the shelves, especially when you could be on your knees with absolutely nothing.