Have you ever noticed that when you pay attention and stay grateful for the little things in your life, most things seem to go well? As some of you know, since November 1st I’ve been participating in a gratitude challenge where every single day I write down ten-things–of-thankful (TToT) and post them on the SMART Living FB page. Now that I’m around 2/3rds through the challenge, it’s becoming obvious that most of what I list are little and routine pieces of my day. Gradually I’ve come to realize that when we recognize (with gratitude) those little things that happen each and every day, we just might be keeping them from becoming big things that lead to unhappiness.
For example, just about every morning I wake up after a good night’s sleep and journal. If I start writing my list then I automatically list how glad I am for a good night’s sleep and how great I’m feeling because of it. But that’s kind of boring, right? I, or any of you who are also doing a gratitude list, might overlook it or take it for granted. Because how many times can you say that same thing? Still, if you tossed and turned all night long, and that happens day-after-day, you have a really big problem on your hands. Sure it might be more interesting to complain or whine about not getting sleep, but highlighting a good night with gratitude surely leads to greater happiness.
Another related element to that scenario is how listing everything we have to be grateful for sounds a little bit like bragging. Last year during my SMART Living gratitude challenge I wrote about the “Five Myths Of a Thankful Life” which you can read about here. I think it is good to remind ourselves of those five myths on a regular basis. But one that I didn’t mention was the idea of how being too grateful sounds egotistical. Let’s face it, not everyone is that interested in hearing the good things that happen to others. On the other hand, if I tell you of a challenge that I’m having and listed ten of those in one day, many of you would take the online casinos time to comment and encourage me. While that can be sweet and compassionate, I truly believe that we serve each other equally as well (or more) when we help others celebrate the good.
With that in mind, here is my list of Ten-Things-of-Thankful (TToT) for today where I include a bunch of the “little” things that many of us routinely enjoy but may take for granted. They are:
- Waking up from a good night’s sleep. Of course when I was younger this didn’t carry the same weight on my gratitude meter. But for those of us who have been around awhile, this is really important and deserves to be recognized every day with gratitude.
- Fresh drinking water. I’ve mentioned this one before but I am continually reminded of the tremendous gift this is to most of us. Imagine if you can what it would be like to NOT have water available as we need it—that would indeed be a big problem.
- Having the ability to get out of bed, and walk and move around at will. Consider for a moment how disruptive it would be to have the loss of that ability from pain or accident, and remember to be grateful.
- My eyes. Last week one of my eyes became incredibly itchy and red. Eventually I found out that it was an allergic reaction and took steps to heal the problem. But believe me, it also helped me realize that I just assume I can see and navigate my world every day. Without our eyes, and the every day use of our sight, our world would change dramatically.
- A roof over my head. Most of us have a home to go to and a place to sleep at night. Regardless of whether we are completely happy with our home, I never want to take for granted the value and peace of mind that this adds to my life every single day.
- That we can go to our refrigerator or cupboard and there is something to eat. While I realize that this isn’t true for everyone, most of us do not struggle for food. Obviously without nourishing food every day a person has BIG problems.
- Waking up with someone you love who loves you. Of course there are lots of other loving relationships like friends, family and four-legged pets who add tremendous value to our lives.
- Air. Air that we can breathe. All you have to do is look at photos of some of the cities in China and know that being able to breathe relatively clean air should NEVER be taken for granted.
- That things can and will change. Most of the time, most of us try to keep things exactly as they are. Yet without change we could never experience anything new. We could never grow and become. Our Universe exists because change is a constant and I’m grateful.
- The future. If I’m honest I seldom remember to be grateful that I have a future. I know several payid australian casino people who are struggling with health issues that challenge their future and they know it. While none of us knows for sure how long we will be around, thankfully most of us have lots of time left to live, experience and express our gifts.
Since taking on my third gratitude challenge this month there have been a couple of times when I wondered why on Earth I was doing it. Does it matter? Does anyone else really care? Is it really necessary to make a big deal of being thankful for the things in our life that are mostly little and routine? But isn’t life more or less a series of millions of little moments and things that add up to a life? Perhaps then one of the SMARTest things we can do is to take the time to focus on and be grateful for all those little things in our lives over and over again, to keep them from becoming big things that we’d all like to avoid.
I discovered your blog today and am truly enjoying the posts. Very inspiring, keep up the good work! It’s very easy to take for granted the small things in life such as just brushing your teeth and seeing the world’s beauty.
Hi Agric! Welcome to SMART Living and thank you for your comment. I am happy to know that I’ve given you some inspiration AND especially reminded you of all the many things most of us can be thankful for in this world. ~Kathy
HI, I couldn’t agree more, there are so many things that we can be grateful for each day. Life is beautiful, life is a blessing, lets all be thankful and always feel blessed. Thanks for sharing such beautiful reminders.
Hi Kathy! Agree with you! There is so much to be thankful for. And there are so many things that we just take for granted. But we realize the value and importance of these little things when we lose them. It truly makes sense to be grateful and mindful of even the smallest and little things around us.. like you rightly mentioned, the air, the water, a good night sleep, the food, our loved ones….
Thank you for sharing and good to meet you too 🙂 ?
Hi Shilpa! Welcome to my blog and THANK YOU for sharing your thoughts on gratitude. ~Kathy
Your timing is impecable as usual Kathy. Never really thought about being grateful for the future and being able to breath clean air and eat basically anything I want. We are so blessed.
Hi Gary! I’m glad my timing was good for you! I’m sure these ideas weren’t aren’t new at all but like most of us, we all could use some reminders. We are indeed blessed. ~Kathy
I love each one of your little things, Kathy. The little things mean so much more when we stop to think about it. We take so many things for granted that others do without.
Hi Helene! Thanks for taking the time to let me know that you agree about the little things. Have an amazing Thanksgiving! ~Kathy
Dear Kathy, I had such a sense of deja vu as I read your post today. About a decade ago, I started writing a gratitude list every day, starting from the time I woke up. Those were tough times when my Mom’s health problems became frequent – she had chronic issues and never knowing when we might have to rush to hospital made us appreciate every little thing – starting with the happiness of waking up in our own bed. And not having a perfect life helped – because we were grateful for the peace we had now. So, I’d say that it is absolutely fine to be repetitive about what we are thankful for 🙂 You are absolutely right about that good night’s sleep – ask anyone who has health issues!
Kathy, thank you for visiting my blog. Looking forward to being in touch.
Hugs!
Hi Vidya! Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing the gratitude. And good for you for having done your own gratitude practice when you especially needed it. I think we’d both agree that it is impossible for any of us to be too grateful. ~Kathy
Love this post – it’s so very important to be grateful for everything in our lives, especially the little things! Great list…great reminder for sure
Hi Carolann! Thank you so much for coming by and sharing your gratitude. I don’t think any of us can have too much of it and that we can ALL benefit from reminders. ~Kathy
A good night sleep is something to be thankful for. I know firsthand, but I also think you are so right. Sharing thankful things is not bragging. I think if done correctly thankfulness can point others to the One who provides it all. Water and air are precious comodities that we take for granted here in the US. I watched this video at Allume on women who had to trek miles daily through hot sand to the nearest well caring buckets and any containers they could find to get their water. The quality of that water was also very poor. It was sad to watch, but it made me even more thankful for the clean and clear water I am able to get out of a faucet in my home. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Mary! Thank you so much stopping by SMART Living and sharing the gratitude. And I’m glad you agree with me that we have much to be thankful for–especially all the little things like water, air and a good nights sleep. And yes, I think I saw that same video about the woman who had to walk miles to get drinking water and then carry it home to their families. Let’s keep remembering how blessed we are! ~Kathy
Oh how I wish, Kathy! We’re only here until noon Saturday. This whole having-a-real-job thing is cramping my style. 🙂
Next time I come in, I’m going to plan a trip to HQ in Irvine. Hoping I’ll be able to sneak in a quick visit with yin, too!
Hey Nancy…it will be great when it finally makes it into your schedule! Don’t make yourself crazy and keep moving1!!
Nope. I never take a good night’s sleep for granted. I’ve had a few this past week, and it was so nice not to go to work and stifle yawns.
Hi Cyn K! Thanks for stopping by SMART Living and sharing your gratitude. Good for you that you’ve had a couple of good night’s sleep…may you get even more this coming week and have an amazing Thanksgiving. We can ever be to thankful! ~Kathy
Kathy, you know I’d never stopped to think about how listing the things we’re grateful for could possibly come off as braggy – but, you know what, I must have subconsciously felt that way on some level, because I know I do a lot of editing and filtering when I do share things I’m thankful for.
Right now, I’m thankful for free wifi at Panera near my condo in Vegas. 🙂 After 3.5 hours of sleep Friday morning (arrived very late and hit the bed at 2:00 am Thurs night), I realized Cox had cut off my internet, phone and cable. I had a full day of Eastern time zone meetings to attend, starting at 6am local time in Vegas. There was some pretty crazy scrambling and a whole lot more money spent on Canadian mobile roaming charges than I care to think about at the moment, but sitting here, Sunday evening, I’m thankful that I had the opportunity to take on two challenging hikes yesterday and today, and that I will have my Internet and phone situation sorted out by midday tomorrow. And in the meantime, as long as I buy some coffee, I can borrow the free wifi at my local Starbucks, Panera, etc. 🙂 Lemonade from lemons!
Cheers,
nancy
Hey Nancy! Yay for free wifi when we need it. 🙂 Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it!) we ALL tend to remember more things when they are (momentarily) taken away from us. Wifi that works like it is supposed to–when we want it! Cable TV when it’s supposed to! Our bodies and muscles, when we need them. All LITTLE THINGS until we don’t have them. Enjoy your coffee AND free wifi…and remember, there is free wifi here in Palm Springs too! 🙂 ~Kathy
I think there is a difference between expressing gratitude and bragging. Bragging conveys a sense of entitlement; gratitude recognizes the contributions of others. I love your statement about serving others through celebrating the good. It reminds me of a quote by Jeffrey Holland: “envy is a mistake that just keeps on giving. Obviously we suffer a little when some misfortune befalls us, but envy requires us to suffer all good fortune that befalls everyone we know! What a bright prospect that is—downing another quart of pickle juice every time anyone around you has a happy moment!” I’d rather not drink pickle juice! 🙂
Hi Kristi! I’ve never heard that quote by Jeffery Holland but I LOVE the idea of “..downing another quart of pickle juice every time anyone around you has a happy moment!” I’m with you…I definitely rather not drink that juice. I truly wish everyone around the world as good AND better than the things I experience. I completely agree that there is more than enough for all of us to experience a happy life. Thanks for your thoughts on this! ~Kathy
You’re right, it can sound like bragging…then again, all of us have something to brag about and be thankful for, no matter how small, so it’s right that we do it! I am thankful that you linked up with us!
Hi Michelle! Wouldn’t it be great if we all celebrated each others good ALL THE TIME? If all I could talk about with all my friends was the things I was happy and grateful for in my life I would spend all my time looking at those things and gathering them up for when we got together. Thank you for the link of TToT and gratitude! Let’s keep sharing it! ~Kathy
Very nice listation
… one of the coolest things about ‘the-bloghop-that-Lizzi-built’ is the broad variety of views on the topic of gratitude and things (in our lives) that we are grateful for. This not only allows for a certain accessibility to bloggers from different circumstances, but it offers a wider context for the appreciation of the (gratitude) expressed in our grat lists.
there’s a funny thing about identification, we can see read a blog written by a person from half the globe away, and yet when they say (as you did), “lots of other loving relationships like friends, family and four-legged pets who add tremendous value to our lives.” the distance (that we sometimes think of first) somehow vanishes…. we know that there is something in common. and that is only the beginning! If I identify with you and you describe going through a bad experience and ‘coming out the other side’, I gain from that, not ‘learn’ (in the sense of knowing how you got throughout it), but recognize that you did get through it and perhaps when I approach a negative….remembering that someone else survived, helps.
cool
Hi Clark! You’re so right. Seeing all the different ways that people approach gratitude is so very helpful and interesting. It IS as unique as we all are. Yet it helps bring us together no matter where in the world we might be. I am VERY grateful for some of the diversity I have on my site! (and yeah, I count you in that too 🙂 !!!) Thanks for dropping by. ~Kathy
I really believe that expressing gratitude for the “small” things is just as important – maybe even more so – than just recognizing the bigger things. The small things are too easy to take for granted.
Hey Laural! Nice to hear from you…I’m so glad you think about gratitude the same way I do. If we remember the little things those big things will be a piece of cake! ~Kathy
Love little things lists. There are some days that it is a little thing that can turn my mood around.
Hi Beccalyn! Thank YOU for stopping by SMART Living and sharing the gratitude! May we both always remember that those little things are just waiting for us to remember them. ~Kathy
It’s perspective, isn’t it? They’re only small if we’re blessed with an abundance of them. As you quite rightly say – to those who are without them, the items in your list are HUGE (well, some more than others) and all very worthwhile to remember how important they are.
Hi Lizzi! You are so right–they are only small if we are blessed with them–that’s a great way to remember them. I do believe that most of us reading this blog have most of them covered on a regular basis but you never know for sure. It is my prayer to all that read this blog post that they have them ALL in abundance and merely take the time to recognize that this Thanksgiving week. Thanks for coming by and Happy Thanksgiving….now what the heck are “Lebkuchen?” ~Kathy
What we look for, we will find. Over the last 75 weeks of the TToT, I’ve seen it happen so many times. It’s amazing what looking for the small, good things can do for a sour mood. The more we search for good, the more we will find it, and that results in much happier people.
There have been few weeks when people have big, gigantic things for which to be thankful. These lists are full of small, ordinary things for which to be grateful. It makes me happy to read them. Plus, it is in the little things that we really get to know people. Glad you are joining in!
Hi Christine! Thank you for stopping by SMART Living and sharing the gratitude! Wow…75 weeks. I can believe that you would witness an amazing amount of change and as you say, “The more we search for good, the more we will find it, and that results in much happier people.” And yes, I know the big gigantic things sound GREAT–but when we can be happy for the little things I think our world goes so much better. Thanks for the welcome! ~Kathy
Great list! I have found that the extraordinary is very often found in the ordinary. That’s the beautiful thing about gratitude. People reach for the big stuff when it’s been the little stuff all the time.
Hi Sandy. Yes! I love the reminder that we can find “the extraordinary is very often found in the ordinary.” Thanks for including that in the conversation. ~Kathy
Thank you for the reminder to appreciate the simplest things that we take for granted like air, H2O and that special bunk mate. A good nights sleep, though, is something I never take for granted because it is never a given for me.
Hi Pat! Nice to hear from you! Thank you for adding to this conversation and reminding me (and us all) that not everyone gets to be grateful for all of these every day. Hopefully you have plenty of other items on your list that help tip the scale! ~Kathy
I am so happy to read, and totally agree with you that there are so many little things that we can be grateful for; I appreciate the services that we get from the person, who brings in milk for our family; for the newspaper that comes in the early hours; for the power supply (which was a problem for us-we used to have severe power cuts, and could not work on computers in summer)for the gas connection to help us cook, for the grinders and the washing machine… all that I use it to make my life easier, saving time and energy to be able to focus at my work; even for this computer which has brought in so many inspiring persons in my life…… thanks for inspiring me.. there is so much to learn from everyone around.
Hi G Angela! Thank you so much for your thoughts on this–especially coming from India because you have a special and unique perspective that helps us all remember we are in this together and as you say, “there is so much to learn from everyone around.” That’s cool that people still bring milk to your home…I don’t think anywhere here in the u.S. still does that. It does bring back fond memories. And thank you for including “energy” as something we routinely use and forget what a HUGE blessing it is! In fact, if the power (or internet) goes out of more than 5 minutes many of us start grumbling! 🙂 Instead, I’m going to try and remember if it does go out to start being grateful that it exists in the first place. Thank you so much for that important reminder!!! ~Kathy
Hi Kathy,
That was beautiful 🙂
Let me first congratulate you on the wonderful new look of your blog – so much wider, brighter, and better – great going!
Coming to the post, yes, we have SO many things to be grateful for, our family, friends, nature, pets, things around us…and the list is never ending. I wish people would practice being grateful all year through and not just during Thanksgiving because it’s so important to express your gratitude always, isn’t it?
Thanks for sharing. Have a nice weekend 🙂
Hi Harleena! Thanks for noticing my new “look”. I did think it was time for a freshening. And thanks for confirming that it is easier to read too.
Yes I so agree that it is good to remember how very important it is to be grateful every single day. But if I’m honest I do forget myself on occasion. That’s why I do a challenge every November. It helps bring me back and really focus on all the good in my life. Thanks (as always) for stopping by! ~Kathy
Air, water, being able to get up each day and move around. It’s amazing how we take such GIFTS
for granted. Such a lovely piece, Kathy. Thank you, Beth Havey
Hi Beth! I’m glad these resonated with you too. And thank you for your kind words. May you (and all of us) have a wonderful Thanksgiving based upon the real sentiment of the holiday. ~Kathy
all of those little things are truly part of a much larger picture… they do add up… health for example…no small thing but made up of a good night sleep, seeing, being able to drink clean water etc….
Hi Zoe! Thank you for confirming to me that nearly all of us value and appreciate the same things. The trick for me of course is remembering that, over and over again. Thankfully my challenge is helping–along with the blog hop! ~Kathy
Hi Kathy,
Little things do matter and we realise their importance when they are missing. Ask a poverty stricken, hungry person how blissful it is to have food stocked in our refrigerator and we take it for granted!
Inspired from your challenge, I have written a poem, which I am to upload tomorrow! Thanks.
Hi Balroop! I definitely agree with you too. Isn’t it amazing that something that is so important to us gets overlooked or taken for granted. I suppose that in our busy world it would take a lot of time to focus on things we do every single day all the time–but the cost of that is unawareness of what is so vital to a good life. I can’t wait to read your poem Balroop. I will come by your site tomorrow and check it out! Could you come back and leave a link with comment luv? That way everyone could find it easily. Thank you! ~Kathy
Learning to be grateful for the little things became more ingrained in me during and after our Peace Corps Service. Living with fewer “comforts” and more obvious challenges, I really became a more thankful person. I hope I never drift away from that new perspective… Anyway, I’ve been doing the TToT with you this month (have forgotten a couple times but not too many!) and I have also found that I keep coming back to some of the same things every day. For example, each list I’ve made has included some thing that keeps me warm (very important these days!).
Hi Michelle! Good for you for learning such a GREAT lesson at such a young age. And I’m SO-O-O glad to hear you’ve been doing your TToT every day too. It has been challenging for me but like the “Chronicallysickmanicmother’s comment below….it is really helping me “search” for the good in each day and break it into the detail of it. It is so easy to lump a day altogether but making a list makes me more aware of those details. Thanks for joining me!!!! ~Kathy
The small things really do tend to be the big things. We are naturally inclined to go with the miserable crappy stuff that happens. It took me a few weeks but now I search constantly for the good in the day. The way the clouds are so puffy or light and fluffy or painted on. The way the sunlight filters through the trees onto the field the kids are playing on. A good night sleep is nothing to sniffle at.
YES! Thanks for stopping by from the TToT Linkup! As you say a good night’s sleep is NOTHING to sniffle at….and don’t you find that the more you “practice” gratitude and doing your lists, the more you become aware of those little things? Because of my gratitude challenge I’m doing what you say, ” I search constantly for the good in the day.” How can that be anything but good? ~Kathy
Kathy this is a great list! I agree with you sincerely that the little things mean everything. Eye injuries, body injuries, insomnia can all lead to much unhappiness but being grateful when there are no injuries or insomnia is much appreciated. Of course the biggest gratitude I have is the future. I don’t take that for granted!
Hi Haralee! Thank you. I hope that these 10 things are all on your list (and every single person who reads this post!) ~Kathy
We are indeed lucky and wonderful list! It makes you take pause to imagine similar lists made by others less fortunate. Instead of 10 they may be lucky to have just a few little things to be grateful for. However long our list it makes sense to appreciate what we have and take nothing for granted. 🙂
Hi Dave! Yes aren’t we fortunate to be able to say that these 10 things are routine? And even if we couldn’t include all 10 of them, just being able to include a majority is a good thing I don’t want to take for granted. ~Kathy
We truly have so much to be grateful for! Now I am grateful for my legs to take me on a nice walk so I can enjoy the crisp air!
Hi Jodi! YES! And it’s good to remember the little things right? I hope you had a fantastic walk with good air to breathe! ~Kathy