The Benefits of Gratitude

It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of daily life.  There’s a never ending list of items on the to do list.  I’ve got all these commitments and responsibilities.  There is never enough time in the day.  It’s easy to get caught up in this spiral.

Over the past year I’ve made a concerted effort to stop and think about my life.  If I were to draw a line down the middle of a piece of paper and make two lists it would be quite eye opening.  On the left hand side of the paper I list the good things that happened to me today.  On the right hand side of the paper I would write down the bad things that happened to me.  Most days the good list far outnumbers the bad list.

It is quite amazing to think about for a minute.  All the good things that happened.  First I woke up and am alive.  I have good health.  I have a career I love that makes a difference in people’s lives.  I have a wonderful family and loving wife.  I have a roof over my head.  I have clean water to drink everyday.  I have enough food to eat.  I don’t have a headache.

To make this even simpler to imagine.  I look back over the past year and the number of days I was sick can be counted on one hand.  Over the last 365 days I was sick no more than 5 days.  Over the last year 1.3% of the days I was sick.  Of those five days I was sick, it was  a minor illness and I got lots of rest.  The end result was I was refreshed after my sickness.

There are lots of things I take for granted each day.  When I stop and take a moment and reflect on the good I have in my life it puts things in perspective.  Today is a good day.  There is a high probability that tomorrow will be a good day.  There is a ~99% chance that the day after tomorrow will be a good day.

It’s time to stop and take the time to be grateful.