As a kid on my father’s farm, I noticed my parent’s chickens would take a gulp of water and lift their heads toward heaven. Out of curiosity, I asked, why? I was told the cute little chickens were giving thanks for their meal.
We take so much for granted. So much that gratitude is the least of our attitude.
Gratitude is more than an attitude; it is an intentional choice we make or don’t.
One can choose to be thankful regardless of the reason. There are countless reasons humanity should be thankful. I used the word humanity because the poor and rich, the sick and the healthy, the young and the old all have reasons to be thankful.
During this Thanksgiving season, I will love to share AZ list of free, but 'money can't buy things' we should be thankful for. They are priceless. Money cannot buy them, but they are free! Thank God!
1- Air we breathe.
I am thankful that the air we breathe is not charged per second, minute, or hour. It is free. Otherwise, some of us cannot afford it. The rich will live forever and the poor will live only on borrowed time.
2- Bird song at dawn.
Nature’s own alarm. They have gone every morning without failing a day. They wake us up to harmony and cadence, telling us we are loved.
3- Cries & Tears.
Be thankful for those tears. Plus, it is ok to cry! Even the most powerful men need a handkerchief. What would life be if we can’t let our emotions out occasionally?
4- Dreams.
Imagine living without dreams. Dreams are the substance of life itself.
5- Earth’s natural wonders.
From Aurora Borealis in the North Pole, sailing stones in the Death Valley, sardine run, solar eclipse, and the rainbow, life is full of beautiful natural phenomenon we should be thankful for. Even if you have not created time to explore them.
6- Friction
Without friction, no motion. Sometimes friction between friends, family members, and couples keeps people moving forward towards developing a stronger bond that many waters cannot dissolve.
7- God.
The ever-present force behind the universe. The keeper of life. The enduring father.
8- Hardship.
Without adversaries, there is no triumph. Most things we go against in life or vice versa strengthen us. That is how God intended us to live.
9- Inspirations.
They say we expire if we don’t get inspired. We should be thankful for those fleeting moments of inspiration. They keep us fresh. They keep things exciting.
10- Jobs & hobbies.
Some things we don’t value until we lose them. Having a job is a good example.
11- Kid in you.
We spend our entire adult life bottling it up! Sometimes it still pops out when you need it most, even if you think otherwise. Be thankful that you can still bring the kid in you out. Even at 70.
12- Life.
Life is a gift. We should be thankful for the gift of life, regardless of the form or shape it comes in. Life in you is a sign that there is more you can accomplish.
13- Moon and Stars.
Without the stars and moon, we have nothing to aspire to. Nothing to shoot as a target. God’s wonderful creation inspires dream. Shouldn’t we be thankful for this extra inspiration?
14- Naps & Sleeps
Sleep is a wonderful gift from God. A splendid opportunity to reboot. Refresh. Restart. Dream.
15- Our Families & friends
No matter how close or far you want to be to yours, family will always be family. So be thankful for yours.
16- Pains
The pains we feel remind us of our humanity.
17- Quiet time
A time away from the hustle and bustle of life. A time when all just appears to be still and peaceful. A time of genuine rest.
18- Rising and setting sun.
We do not pay to see the beautiful sunrise and sunset; it is free. The heavens display as one giant screen. It gets better. Unlike your Samsung mega screen, you don’t have to pay heftily to view.
19- Second chances
In our relationship with people and God, there is always a second chance. We should be thankful for that.
20- Time
We have all been given time. It is a precious gift. It runs out, but while we have time, we should be thankful for this great gift.
21- Uncontrollable laughter.
There is something unique to those moments we get to laugh in a way we exhibit no control over. Positive emotions rush through our whole being.
22- Violet & Roses
Beautiful. Blossoms help us express our feelings. But above all, they teach us resilience. They teach us hope. They help us keep the hope of spring alive. They tell us winter is not fatal. They teach us about seasons in life.
23- Weaknesses & failures.
God designed life in a way that ensured our failures were not terminal. We can learn from them. If our failures were fatal, we fail once and we become outcasts. No longer worthy of success or life. Life would be like a one-shot — take it or exit. We learn from failure, not from success. — Bram Stoker
24- Xmas
I am thankful for Christmas. Billions look forward to this celebration every year. It also offers one good reason to look forward to the winter months. But ultimately, what will life be without the greatest present to humanity — baby Jesus? He came to us for free but was never cheap.
25- You
Do you know there is only one of you in the universe? Be thankful for that, even if you have no other reason to be thankful.
26- Zeal
Zeal is the stuff dreams are made of. Without zeal, we would not pursue our dreams. Without zeal, we will be passionless. Zeal is like the hunger pains that make you get up and chase your dreams, passion, or interest.
Thank you for reading. My list is not exhaustive. Please add other items you think should be on the list in the comment section below. I'd love to hear from you.
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