Counting My Blessings
There's a lot to be happy about!
I’ve kept a journal ever since I can remember. It’s always been like therapy to me and I like feeling light inside after I’ve unloaded everything onto paper. Every now and then I’ll run across an old journal and read through all the entries. Here’s a page I found where I had made a list of all the good things in my life and titled it “Counting my blessings.” I think I’m going to keep it out and refer to it whenever I’m feeling down. Here are some things I am thankful to have:
1. Good parents who love me and raised me in a loving home enabling me to do the same for my own family.
2. A beautiful daughter (Saioa wasn’t born yet) who is healthy. (Specifically I had in mind a friend that has a handicapped daughter and the daily challenges that they face.)
3. A wonderful place to live
4. Great friends
5. My health
6. I live in America, where I have rights, freedom and opportunity
7. I live a life that is free from drugs, crime and fear
8. Heating (our heater went out for two days last winter and believe me, this was something I was taking for granted)
9. I can stay home with my daughter and raise her
10. Good things to eat like pizza and chocolate (I know this one sounds funny but I was thinking about all the people in third world countries who can’t even get their hands on clean water and bread)
11. The satisfaction of knowing that my child is happy and safe and being raised in a good environment and surrounded by people who care for her and parents who love her more than anything in the world. A child who smiles and laughs every day and can be innocent and be a child and play, have treats, eat good food, read good books, be comforted when she’s afraid and loved when she’s hurt. A child who will be provided a bright and fair future. (Think of the children in Afghanistan, Africa, Iraq, etc., who don’t have a reason to smile and can’t live like children, whose childhoods have been taken away from them, who have witnessed their parents being murdered, violence is an everyday part of their lives, they are alone during the day, at night and all the time.)
12. This is my biggest blessing: I’m able to provide a good life for my children when too many other children are suffering.
And on a lighter note…
13. Lazy weekend afternoons watching movies with Kevin, napping with Sero and enjoying the comfort of our home.
14. Going for a walk whenever I want
15. Being born in my generation
16. Did I mention heat?
17. Good medical care
18. Education
Do you have days where you have to stop and count your blessings? What are they?
Great list, Mamta! We all have a lot to be thankful for, but in the midst of our busy, hectic lives, it can be easy to forget about those things. Thanks for the reminder to stop and reflect from time to time.
Thanks Theckla, I do find myself getting overwhelmed with “stuff”…every now and then so I really need to read my own list often!
I love how you always seem so positive and optimistic — thanks for the smiles (: