What are you grateful for? Does gratitude impact your life? The Top 10 Things I’m grateful for!

I have to just say that writing this post made me feel SO good. Really, really good. Being grateful for what you have (or don’t have) and how gratitude can change your life has been a hot topic for a while now, and for good reason. It works.

From personal experience, being grateful and changing my mindset to being aware of the good things I have or have experienced in my life has had a significant impact. I like to think of it as being like a tiny search engine that runs in the background of my conscious, always on the lookout for things to be positive about.

Once you train yourself to focus on the good stuff, it’s not so easy to fixate on the bad things that happen to you. Once you change the shade of your thoughts from dark grey to sunny yellow, you’re not a negative black hole that sucks in the energy from around you, constantly attracting negativity. You start to radiate positive energy, which in turn comes back to you in all kinds of forms.
So let’s look on the bright side, shall we?

I have so many things to be grateful for right now, so here’s my Top 10 for today!

1. Family and friends. Always. My family and friends are so encouraging, supportive and loving. I’m very fortunate to have a very close relationship with both my parents (who just celebrated their 39th wedding anniversary!). I hit the jackpot when it comes to in-laws. My school friends are still my closest friends, after 22 years. I love all these people to bits.
   
2. My husband. This man forces to me to get out of my introverted comfort zone on a daily basis- something I am grateful for because I would otherwise be happy to stay home and bake all day. He forces me to get out, live and experience new things- something that was very difficult for me at first, but I’ve learned to appreciate this. I am a better person because of this guy, undoubtedly, and am so grateful to have him by my side as we try to figure life out together.
   
3. My health. I’ve put my body through a lot and it hasn’t failed me yet. That said, I need to stop pushing my luck and cut back on the sugar. But first, crème brulee.
   
4. STEEMIT! I only joined this month and have since discovered that writing is what I want to do for the rest of my life. I have also connected with some really phenomenal people that have been so helpful and welcoming. Overwhelmingly grateful for this one.
   
5. Hardships and challenges. It’s been a tough two years and I’ve learned to see the value and opportunities for growth when I go through a tough time. Do yourself a favour and google ‘hedonistic adaptation’.
   
6. Freedom/the times we live in. Sure, there are some awful, brutal, unjust things going on in the world right now- no one can deny that. But coming from a country that has been through a lot in terms of oppression and trying to repair the damage it caused, I’m grateful that I have a voice that is not censored. We have a new president. I can walk in the street without fear being bombed. My heart goes out to others that don’t have the freedom that I do.
   
7. My mind. I’m grateful that I was blessed with a questioning mind that isn’t too dumb.
   
8. Animals. We don’t deserve their trust, love and devotion. I hate that so much cruelty is inflicted on these beings that have no voice and can’t defend themselves like humans can. It’s not right.
   
9. The selection of food I have access to and the means to buy whatever I want (in the first half of the month, anyway), when so many go without food at all.
   
10. Books and my love of reading. Thanks Mom- I definitely got this from you! Being an avid reader has impacted my life in a huge way and I think that children should be encouraged to read as much as they can.
    
    What are you grateful for? I’m interested in knowing what good stuff you guys have going on!