Spoiler Alert: The Simple Stuff
As I was trying to come up with this list, I was having a difficult time determining which five things were the most important to me because the list could go on and on: family, friends, God, my health, home, good food, college, having a car, etc. I just couldn’t decide which ones I was most grateful for.
So as any other human would do when they need an outside opinion, I took to Google, where I came across an article by Shutterfly titled “100 Things to Be Thankful For in Your Life.”
As I was reading through the list, I realized that I was trying so hard to narrow down these big things that I am so grateful for, and in that, I was ignoring all the little things that make my life that much better. So without further ado, I present the top 5 not-so-big things that I am grateful for.
GPS
I will be honest when I tell you that I use GPS for everything. I lack directional comprehension, which means I usually have no idea where I’m going. Trust me when I say it’s best for me and those sharing the road with me that I am a consistent user of GPS.
Now, not only is GPS helpful when I need it, but also when I don’t. Even if I know exactly where I’m going, there’s always this little voice in the back of my head that convinces me that I might take a wrong turn, so it’s best if I just have the GPS to fall back on.
I can admit that I’m a bad driver, so I have very little confidence in myself when it comes to reaching my destination in one piece. Having GPS allows me to eliminate one thing I don’t need to worry about, so I can have my entire focus on the road and where I am in relation to other vehicles.
That feeling after you turn in an assignment
Next, we have the feeling you get when you turn in an assignment… whether you think you did well on it or not. I don’t know if any of you can relate, but when I turn something in, it immediately leaves the category labeled in my brain as “My Problem” and becomes part of outside existence.
Once it is no longer in my peripheral, I am allowed to forget it ever existed until I take a look at the grade I got on it and rethink every part of my life.
This is probably not the best approach to school, but it lifts about half a pound of weight off my shoulders, so I’m not going to argue with the logistics of it.
Socks
I don’t know why, but I absolutely love socks, especially during the colder seasons. I’m a cold-blooded person meaning that the room temperature can be seventy-two degrees, and I will still be snuggled up under a blanket on the couch. Socks serve as a way for me to maintain blood circulation in my feet.
You might see where this is going, but before I get there, I just want to provide a little disclaimer that this topic is about to be very controversial: I wear socks when I sleep. I am fully expecting the no-sock-wearing community to attack me on this one, but let me explain myself.
There is something about slipping some socks on, getting in bed, and then rubbing my feet together like a little bug that makes my sleep experience that much better. You can judge me all you want, but I will continue with this form of comfort.
Things that are free
This next one is something that I am so innately passionate about, and I don’t need to explain why. Every time I see one of those booths with a beautiful spread of merch, you can bet I’m going to have a meaningless conversation with the person running it just so I can get that free stuff.
Whether it’s a pen, T-shirt, or even something useless like a frisbee, you can bet I’m getting my hands on it because it’s FREE. At this point, call me Ariel because I’ve got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty.
No matter the item placed in front of me, I can convince myself that it will be useful, and around fifty percent of the time, it either ends up in the back of my closet where it will never see the light of day again or in the trash where it usually belonged in the first place.
Yes, the big things are important to be thankful for, but make sure you’re also making room for those small everyday things that bring you happiness.
When everything goes the way you want it to
The last things that made it on this list are the days or situations when everything goes the way you want it to. Whether it is the exact scenario you had in your mind or even those days when nothing seems to go wrong, I can’t express how much the thought of one of these times coming along gets me through my day.
The thought that my habit of overthinking might sometimes pay off really brings a light to my day that I didn’t know I needed. In those times when I really need encouragement, like when I stub my toe or trip on the sidewalk, the idea that I might have a perfect day sometime soon allows me to brush them off and keep going.
Conclusion
All in all, being grateful for everything in your life, big or small, is something that can really affect your mood and outlook on the world. Yes, the big things are important to be thankful for, but make sure you’re also making room for those small everyday things that bring you happiness.
If you are having a hard time coming up with positive parts of your life, I encourage you to take a really close look at what’s around you and what you have or even get the help of Google to find a list of things you can be grateful for because it will make all the difference.