Being Grateful...

It really is very easy to complain about how unfair life is, because it is actually. Some days I catch myself sighing more than I should. I complain without even meaning to. It could be about something small, like the heat, or maybe something big, like how some things aren’t turning out like I hoped. Before I realize it, I’ve spent most of my day thinking about things that’s wrong.

Those moments where even getting out of the bed feel like a chore. You know the days I mean, when everything seems to go wrong almost at once and you’re sitting there wondering if life is just playing games with you, the expectations, deadlines, silence from people you hoped would reach out and the pain of thinking about things you thought would have changed by now but haven’t. in the middle of all that, it becomes so easy to complain, so natural to focus on what’s not there. But still, complaining doesn’t make us entirely ungrateful, we are just tired.

But recently, I’ve been reminding myself to pause. And it’s not because life suddenly is easier but because not everything is bad and we shouldn’t just be focused on the not-so-good part of life, and sometimes the only way to survive the storm in life is to anchor yourself to what’s still good. So here I am, choosing to reflect on a few of those good things. They might appear but they are the things I’m grateful for in life.

I’m grateful for life itself
It may seem obvious, like yeah everyone’s grateful for life but there are still mornings where I’m already exhausted before getting out of the bed for the day. Yet in that exhaustion, I’m grateful that I woke up, that I’m alive. Life is a struggle but they are few opportunities for second chances. Every breath I take shows that my story is still unfolding, even if the chapter feels uncertain.
There are people who didn’t get that chance today so while I’m here, still breathing and growing, I want to be grateful about it

For the people around me
Now, not everyone in my life now is perfect, and yeah some relationship has done me more harm than good, but even in that, I’ve been blessed to have people who show up for me in quiet and consistent ways. I don’t have a big or perfect circle and maybe I don’t always express it well but I’m grateful for the people who are present in my life. The people who make time for me in their busy days are important and the people I enjoy talking to after a long day, they ask how I’m doing and truly care to know. Whether they’re families, friends or just someone close, their presence matters to me more than they may think.
Honestly, that support is enough to keep me going

I’m grateful for the little joys
There’s something comforting about some soft moments and things in life. A book that makes me cry, a song I can play repeatedly without getting tired, and the way laugher sometimes surprises me during a tough day. Browsing through old pictures and finding some where I feel happy the moment I see them, is a plus too. These small moments of joy can last longer than some of the problems we face in life. They don’t solve everything but they help me remember that not everything is falling apart.

We often overlook the good because we’re hoping for something greater. However, those small things may be what’s holding us together. And when I start to focus on the small things, the hard things get easier. Not gone but bearable. Gratitude shouldn’t only be present when everything is going the way we hope.

We do not necessarily have to ignore the rough parts of life. We may have room in our lives for the good as well. No matter how crazy things get, there is always something worthy of us holding onto. I’m going to focus on gratitude. Life is unfair and things don’t always go our way, but we still have many reasons to be thankful. I’m grateful for the breath in my lungs, the people who care about me and the little things that make life meaningful.

Thanks for reading

Images are mine