Having recently traveled out of the country has made me blindingly aware of how many things I need to be more grateful for in my life, and I'm talking about the smallest things-things I have never thought to be grateful for before.
water
I never realized how blessed I am to have clean water to drink, to shower in, to cook with, to wash with. Access to this water is so easy too! I simply have to go to any of THREE sinks in my house to have clean water, any time of day or night-I have the option of having varying temperatures of water as well. I even have water hooked into machines in my house that will wash my dishes or clothes for me. Wow. So blessed!
toilet paper
Okay, this has to have a few clarifications; I am grateful for soft toilet paper that I can flush down a toilet. I am grateful that I don't have to carry my own toilet paper with me wherever I go, or pay for it when I have to go. ( : I can buy numerous brands of soft toilet paper at most local stores. I am so blessed.
sanitation
I can go to local grocery stores and expect the groceries I buy there to be clean. I don't have to worry too much about scouring everything I consume. I can also put all of the waste I generate into a plastic can and someone will come by once a week and take it all away-I don't have to try to find a place to store it or dispose of it on my own. I can even choose to recycle and someone will come by and take that away from me too. I am blessed.
health
This is something that I think I take for granted the most. I have access to doctors who can help me deal with something as serious as cancer or as simple as burning a wart off of my foot. Any ailment I have, there is some sort of specialist that I can go see to get help.
I have always been a somewhat healthy person because of how active I choose to be and how I choose to eat. It has always been my choice to be healthy. Never have I thought about my health not being a choice. Recently, I haven't had much of a choice when it comes to my health, and it has been humbling to see how blessed I have been to have such good health in my life thus far. I am blessed.
opportunity
The things I am most grateful for in life lately are the opportunities I have. I can choose to be whatever I want to be in life, do whatever I want to do, live wherever I want to live, and really make it happen. I can afford an education. I can afford a roof over my head. I can afford a car AND a motorcycle. I can afford to eat three times a day. I can afford to work only five days a week, nine months a year. I can afford a cell phone and the internet. I can afford clothing for myself. I am so blessed.
In the past, I have looked at what I don't have and longed for it. Lately, I look at what I do have and feel much gratitude for it. I am so blessed.
3 comments:
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It's a good reminder, especially this weekend. It's easy to forget all the freedoms we take for granted living in this well established, sanitary, democratic country.
Where did you go? Sounds like my experience coming home from Argentina. That's why I have such a hard time with Christmas. I can't feel good about spoiling my kids a bit until I do something for someone less fortunate. You never forget.
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