We all get older and with age comes more responsibility, worry and fear.
Fear comes in many forms, fear of aging, fear of ill health, fear of death, fear of failure, fear of loss.
Worry is the same, we worry about big things and small things and about things we have no control over.
Spending a lot of time and energy worrying and being fearful doesn’t leave much room for anything else.
Practicing gratitude makes me feel better, it makes me feel happier and it makes room for the magic and synchronicities of life.
When I feel happier I don’t worry so much, I don’t give a ... damn.
There is so much to be grateful for but when we are caught up in worry and fear and function on autopilot it’s easy to take life for granted.
Whilst I’m writing this our house is having major renovations.
We haven’t had a kitchen for 2 weeks; several walls have been demolished and we have had no lights in half the house.
I forgot to mention the dust, there is dust everywhere, everywhere.
We’ve adapted to the conditions and there is light at the end of the tunnel.
I feel grateful.
Not because I’m getting a new kitchen and living area but because I live in a house, with 4 walls, in a beautiful city that is safe. There are people in war torn countries that live like this all the time, with no end in sight.
I’m grateful to be able to turn the tap on and drink clean water, wash my hands in clean water, wash my clothes, have a shower in clean water everyday, 5 times a day if I want to.
I’m grateful for electricity all day everyday, fast wifii and free wifi to connect to city in Librariacross and outdoor areas.
I’m grateful to walk along the river and in beautiful parks.
Being grateful makes me notice the things we take for a granted, being grateful makes me feel good.
"Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large ammount of gratitude." - A.A Milne
Give it a try.
Name 3 things everyday that you are grateful for, 3 different things everyday for 21 days and see how you feel.
Be grateful for the small things, keep it simple.
Gratitude and happiness is never over rated.
Image courtesy Dawid Zawila - Unsplash