Being grateful for what we have and who we are, as an individual, is a reward in its own right; but of course, there are many more such things. Which is why, MissionSelf decided to put together a list of 101 things a person can be thankful for in his/her life.
“Some people are always grumbling that roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses.”
― Alphonse Karr
Why do we complicate life more than it already is? We miss somebody, but never have the courage to pick up the phone and call them. A certain someone is always on our mind, but we never muster enough courage to make our feelings heard. It is essential to know that we only get one life; so why do we insist on making it tougher than it needs to be? Thinking that we will some day have that ‘one day’ to accomplish it all. But we forget one simple fact―the day is now and here waiting for us to grab it.
Life is too short to hold on to grudges and spending precious time thinking about things that can’t be changed. So let go of all your worries, and find it in your heart the strength to live for the people and things that do make you feel warm and fuzzy inside. Be thankful for all the things you have accomplished in life, and the people with whom you wish to spend it with.
Things to be Thankful for in Life
You don’t have to wait till Thanksgiving to be able to appreciate and vocalize about the people and things you are thankful for in life. Just live one day at a time, and make a note of all the big and small things that you may encounter. The list in no particular order.
Be thankful for …
Being nurtured and pampered by a mother who always saw the good in you.
Getting protected and disciplined by a father who gave everything he could for you to be everything you are right now.
Having siblings who not only fight with you and tease and taunt you, but will always be there to protect you.
Finding someone to love, who doesn’t necessarily have to love you back, but does anyway.
Having friends in your life who always make you feel at home.
Letting you see the colors of life, hear the trickle of rain, feel the breeze of the wind, smell beautiful flowers, and taste different flavors.
Having good health so that you may work hard today to make a better future.
Knowing that even if you are disappointed and sad at the moment, a day will come when it will all be behind you.
Receiving unconditional love from your parents, close friends, partner/spouse, and pet(s).
Being able to learn the ways of the world from your teachers.
Having the freedom to choose a religion so that you can worship whomever and however you want.
Experiencing the different seasons and knowing in our hearts that things are meant to change.
Getting the opportunity to receive education and make a name for yourself.
Possessing the ability to read and write, and have a sense to understand the world.
Having a loving home to come back to.
Being able to smile and be happy or else the world would be a sad place.
Being able to wake up every morning feeling safe.
Having the time to accomplish all the things we want; at times, we feel that there’s isn’t enough of it.
Having clean water to drink and fresh air to breathe.
Making mistakes, and learning to develop the wisdom to make good decisions and choices in the future.
Technology as it has made our lives easier and more efficient.
The joy of music as it touches the soul.
The magic of art for it inspires and uplifts our mood.
Finding in your heart to forgive someone.
Being forgiven.
God’s grace.
Realizing that happy is one of the most wonderful feelings in the world.
Hearing laughter in your house.
Believing that ‘I am enough just the way I am’.
The kindness of strangers.
Books as they can take you to a different world.
Taking photographs of family and friends.
Coming back to seeing those photographs after a long time.
Having daytime and nighttime dreams.
Watching a good movie and feeling moved.
Instantly changing your mood through dancing.
Coming across something that inspires you.
Work-free, stress-free weekends.
Filling an empty journal with your thoughts.
Being enthusiastic about life, and not waiting for it to pass you by.
The first sip of freshly-brewed coffee in the morning.
Waking up to the smell of Sunday morning breakfast.
Having lunch/dinner cooked by your mom or nanny.
Eating delicious, freshly-baked cupcakes.
Smells that remind you of your childhood.
Finding a recipe in a cookbook or online that looks divine.
Making that recipe and finding out it really is amazing.
Sipping lemonade on the porch during a warm summer afternoon.
Enjoying a wonderful meal with your best friend.
Sitting around a bonfire, and eating roasted marshmallows.
The rain.
Witnessing the beauty of a rainbow.
Watching sunlight coming through the clouds after the rain.
Watching the sunset.
Waking up to the sunlight (not being woken up by the alarm).
Taking a long, romantic walk with your significant other.
Growing older with your significant other.
Giving your kids a kiss before bedtime.
Waking up to laughter, happiness, and joy in your house.
Having the freedom to live the life you want.
Receiving a handwritten letter.
Receiving a dozen red roses when you’re having a bad day at work.
Meeting a friend you haven’t spoken to in a long time.
Bumping into your crush in the hallway, making eye contact, and then have him/her smile at you.
Having butterflies in your stomach every time you think about him/her.
Receiving compliments for your work.
Wanting to get up every morning and go to work.
Facing challenges as they come as they always make you a better person.
Putting plans into motion.
Making an effort to find peace within yourself.
Going on a road trip with friends.
Getting lost.
Traveling and exploring new places.
Meeting new people.
Having fun at the beach.
Hiking in the mountains.
Getting engrossed in a hobby.
Having the ability to learn new things.
Learning a new skill.
Having good memories from your childhood, and getting lost in them.
Taking a selfie.
Eating popcorn with real butter, and not feeling guilty.
The feeling you get when you open a book for the first time.
Living life vicariously through the characters in a book.
Being able to escape the pressures of the world, even if it is for a little while.
Taking time to meditate.
Going for a run/jog and feeling amazing afterwards.
Taking a hot/cold shower and feeling rejuvenated.
Going to bed on time.
Finding a favorite old thing.
Being a part of something bigger than yourself.
Living in a world where women like Malala Yousafzai, Lizzie Velasquez, Jennifer Lawrence, Oprah Winfrey, J.K. Rowling, and many others, are an inspiration to women across the globe.
Suddenly understanding something you never understood before.
Going on Google to find answers to anything and everything you want to know.
Buying something you’ve always wanted.
Having family meals at least once a week.
Knowing you’ve made someone happy.
Watching people who are a bad influence walk out of your life.
Having that one person accept you for who you are.
Sharing your opinions and making them heard.
Cuddling your favorite blanket (toy, person, or pet) while you take a nap.
Admittedly, we all face challenging times that can sometimes drain us physically and mentally. But the secret is to keep pushing forward, and being grateful for the positive things in life. If you wish to include your own list of thought-provoking, insightful, or funny things to be thankful for, do leave us a comment below.