Count Your Blessings
Image courtesy of aussiegall
Yesterday, the oh-so-wonderful and ever-so-confusing April Fool’s Day, I came across a fake interview with a CEO about executive bonuses. Although the interview was not real, it got me thinking about other people I have seen who have attitudes very similar to the one of this fake CEO. Too many people in this world are completely unappreciative of what they have. They do not realize just how blessed they are.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against someone working hard and making a lot of money. People should be rewarded for their talents and efforts. However, it really bothers me when people are not grateful for what they have. Many people work hard their whole lives and never come close to being wealthy. If you are one of the lucky ones who does manage to achieve wealth, you should be thankful for it and unselfish with it.
As I pondered this topic, I started to think about all of the things I am grateful for. Many of them are quite simple, but they are things that make me happy. I would encourage each of you to write down all of the things you are thankful for. You will be surprised to see just how blessed you are. If you have been very blessed in your life, consider using some of your resources (time, talents, monetary resources, etc.) to help bless the lives of others. Here are some of the things I am grateful for:
1) My Family. I have been very blessed in my life to always have the support and companionship of a loving family. I have wonderful parents, three super fun sisters, a funny and energetic brother, loving aunts and uncles, great in-laws, many other extended family members, and, of course, an amazing husband whom I love more than anything in the world. I may not have a lot of money, but I certainly consider myself wealthy. True happiness lies in the quality of relationships you have, not in the number of possessions that you own.
2) My Friends. Friends make the world a fun place to live in. I have had many great friends in my life, and, although I don’t spend as much time with them now that I am married, I am grateful for having had the chance to meet them and share a part of my life with them.
3) My Religion. Without my religion in my life, I do not know where I would be today. I would probably be at a different school with different people, different ideas, and a different life. I am grateful that I grew up with strong values that have kept me out of trouble. I am so happy with my life right now, and I know that my religion has played a strong role in creating this life.
4) My Education. I am very grateful for the opportunity I have had to go to good schools my entire life. I am now at Brigham Young University and I am so happy for the opportunities I have had here. I have been able to learn so many things and meet so many people. Surprisingly, college has taught me far more about myself than it has taught me about any subject area.
5) My Job. What can I say? I like my job. I work part time in the Chemistry Business Office at BYU and it really is quite nice. It is a comfortable environment and it is easy for me to find things to do. I also have great coworkers and a great boss!
6) My Trailer House in Kansas. Now, this one might seem a little silly. Who could possibly be grateful for a trailer house? Don’t you want to live in a $2 million home? Well, I most certainly am grateful for it. Here at school, we live in a one-bedroom one-bathroom apartment. Although we really like our apartment, our trailer house seems huge compared to it. There, we have three bedrooms and two bathrooms. We also have a decently large kitchen and living room. We have a huge yard with a garden and a large triple tree row with fruit trees that forms a half circle around the house. We even installed an in-ground sprinkler system for yard. Best of all, we do not have to pay rent on the house. My husband’s parents own it and are letting us live there as long as we need it. Without having to pay rent, we will be better able to build our own house there someday. Really, we have got it made.
7) My Computer. I love my computer (and my husband’s). I am on it for hours every day. Without it, I would feel completely disconnected from the world. I love watching television shows on it with my husband. I love reading what other people have to say. I am very grateful to be lucky enough to own one.
There are so many more things I am grateful for. I am grateful for everything that I have and for all of the experiences that I have had. Life is too short to spend constantly wanting more. It is good to make goals and strive to better yourself, but you can still enjoy where you are at right now. What things are you grateful for? How can you share your blessings with others? Share your thoughts with us!
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WOW–What a great article! It is so important that we try our best to live in the moment and not be constantly saying: WHEN–When I get this, when the time comes, when I have enough money, when I have enough time–STOP SAYING WHEN and start saying NOW–and enjoy everything you already have! And by the way, the biggest blessing I have is definitely my family–especially my husband and wonderful children!!
I’m glad my april fool’s joke brought about such thankful thoughts!