As I choose to write on this topic, the timing seems almost perfect. Today is a momentous day for me as I complete a certain time of overcoming an extremely difficult situation in my life. I shall elaborate on this event at a future time but for now, I can be utmost sure that being grateful has created miracles in my life.
“Be grateful” seems like such a banal advice available for free, like cheap freebies offered with a packet of chips or biscuits. When I heard it for the first time, many years ago, I was like -“Yeah, right. I should be grateful for a life that totally sucks”! Many of you might have reacted the same way, no surprises here.
“What is there to be grateful for?” you ask and not wrongly as we are hardly aware of our blessings. The first, as they say, is to be grateful for being alive. To wake up in the morning , open your eyes and experience a brand new day. This sounds so cliched. “What is so great about this statement?” you may ask.Even though every soul on this planet takes life for granted, on a per second basis, it is not a blanket privilege for anybody to enjoy.
Let facts do the talking – 55.3 million people die each year, 151,600 people die each day and 6,316 people die each hour. Whoa! Don’t these figures blow your mind? It does freak out mine.
“Any day above ground is a good day. Before you complain about anything, be thankful for your life and the things that are still going well.”
― Germany Kent
Once, I was watching an interview of a Bollywood actor and he said the most wonderful thing-“The world exists for me because I opened my eyes”.
This is such an important line to remember. By now, I think, all of us no matter in which place or situation in life agree that we must be grateful for at least one thing in our lives.
“Celebrate every new day you are alive to witness, because being among the living is a blessing that often disappoints some of the people who deserve it the most.”
― Edmond Mbiaka
No matter who you are , I am sure that you are striving to make your life better and to be better. Everybody wants to be the best version of their own selves and want to experience life in its most glorious form-whether they are aware about it or not.
If there is one good change you want to bring about in your life, and only one habit you want to cultivate, start practicing gratitude. One day it will all make sense- the good and the bad. It will all add up to the life you are meant to live.
When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love. –Marcus Aurelius
Tomorrow when we wake up, let’s say, “Thank You”! to the Universe, God, Almighty, name it whatever you want. For we know, we survived!
