1. The Basics
It’s hard to remember to be grateful for simple things. Things like having a bed to sleep in, food to eat, clothes to wear, and a tub to bathe in. Not only do we have these necessities, but they are probably personalized to our liking. We spent more time than we’d like to admit picking out our comforter and sheets. Our food, although at times scarce (because college), is delicious and nutritious. We have clean, cold water. Our clothes are washed and probably reflect our personal style. We shower more for relaxation than actually cleansing. Almost half the world lives in poverty where they cannot count on these simple pleasures. Count your blessings because you truly are blessed.
2. Education
School is tough. It stresses us out, makes us cry, and forces us to lose sleep. However, we cannot forget how lucky we are to attend college. Malala Yousafzai was shot for the cause of education, and continues to fight for it. In the US, we are very lucky. Some of us have had to fight for our education, either through paying for it on our own or through proving people wrong who said we couldn’t do it. Some of us are lucky enough to have our parents support us financially through college. Whatever your story is, never forget that your education will take you places.
3. Loved Ones
We all have people in our life whom we love. They understand our personality, our humor, and our pet peeves. Some of us might have an extensive amount of loved ones, while some of us might have just one person. Even if you have just one person to love, consider yourself blessed. Appreciate those who are there, and be there for them in return. At the end of the day, the most important part of life is the people in it.
4. Health
If you have your health, you are blessed. If you can get out of bed every morning, be thankful. There are people who have ailments that keep them hospitalized. Your health is so easy to take for granted because it has always been there. Sure, you may have caught the flu or the cold a few times, but you are healthy enough to recover. You can dance, sing, hike, laugh, jump, and run like the wind.
5. The Future
There are so many years of life ahead of us. As a twenty-something aged person, our lives are just getting started. Who knows what lies ahead? Everything that seems important to us right now – our jobs, our classes, our relationships – is so small in the grand scheme of things. We can become anything.