It’s that time of year: time to start counting our blessings. Holiday season is upon us, with Thanksgiving tomorrow (for U.S. folks) and winter holidays on the horizon.
I think gratitude is a healthy thing. It’s so easy to get mired down in what’s wrong, what’s hard, what’s stressful… and forget all the things that are good in our lives. Sometimes, stopping to take stock can be a real eye-opener. It’s a great chance to let the good things shine for a while.
I happened to be at the doctor’s office today — my first appointment at a new office. Medical history time! But as I was going through the list of my family members and what health issues they’ve faced (or are facing), I started to feel extremely thankful.
Am I the healthiest person in the world? Far from it. I’m overweight, I have depression, I have some strong allergies, I have cavity-prone teeth. But I’m not facing some of the major health issues that my parents and grandparents have faced. My blood pressure is awesome (the guy who took it kept saying he’d gladly trade mine for his). Despite my weight issues and family history, I don’t have diabetes or pre-diabetes. I don’t have the cancer my grandfather (colon) or grandmother (skin) battled.
The nice thing about gratitude is that it starts to snowball. Some days, it’s hard to think of one good thing, much less a list. But today? The gratitude keeps getting bigger. I’m grateful that I had the chance to know three out of four grandparents — they were healthy enough to live to see me graduate college, and then some. I’ve never had to stay in a hospital for more than a few hours. I have two dogs who make sure I get up and take walks in the fresh air every single day.
And if you’re having a day when it’s hard to think of just one good thing? Start with the basics. Do you have a roof over your head and food to eat? Do you have people you can call “friend” or “family”? Did you wake up for another day, another chance at the world?
Be grateful.