What are you thankful for having? So many of us have so many things that we can be grateful for, and some of us don't realize it. There is always something to be thankful about, even if it just has the privilege to live another day. The world is full of beauty and diversity, which makes it an exciting place to live. When people can see the good side of life, they will find themselves happier than ever before.

Practicing gratitude in our daily lives

Thanksgiving Day recently finished, and it's that time of the year again when we get to eat with our friends and family and express gratitude for the things we have in our lives. However, it's not only during Thanksgiving Day that we can practice gratitude. There are many things to be grateful for every day, and it's a good idea to start making it a habit.

Nowadays, it's easier to focus on all the things we don't have due to how social media and the Internet show us advertisements and information about the latest items. This phenomenon triggers the fear of missing out and jealousy of what other people have. Instead, we should find gratitude for our possessions, and some of them are not necessarily material possessions. Being thankful makes people happier, and we become more optimistic and show positive emotions if we can learn to practice daily gratitude. It's not only roasted turkey and good food we can be thankful for having. You can try creating a thankful list and see all the things you can be grateful for having. There are many things to be grateful for in life, and you can start appreciating them too if you have them in your life.

1. Being alive

If you cannot think of anything to be grateful for, the simple fact of being alive is enough reason to be extremely grateful. But, unfortunately, every day, somewhere in the world, somebody dies due to an accident, disease, or worse, being killed by someone. Being alive is a blessing because you are not getting caught in an unpleasant situation that could lead to your death.

It might be challenging for some people to be thankful for being alive if they have a challenging situation in their lives. For example, maybe they have a chronic disease, friends and family are nonexistent, and problems keep piling up especially finances. However, people in situations like these can think of being alive as having the chance to turn around things in their lives. But, unfortunately, not everybody gets the opportunity to be alive, so cherish the life you were given.

2. Good health

Having good health is another thing to be thankful for having. But, unfortunately, not all people are blessed with good health. Some babies are born with defects. Other people acquire some disease early in their life, even in their childhood. Some people exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet, and have a fit body, but they still get hit with a life-threatening disease. Others live in dirty environments and lack clean air, so it is easier to acquire diseases. A healthy body and mind are crucial to carrying out the things we need to do in life. Therefore, we should be thankful if we do not have any life-threatening disease and can recover from minor ailments that we get.

3. Good friends

Having trustworthy people in your social circle is one of the things you can add to your gratitude list. These people are the ones who are ready to support you in times of need without necessarily asking for anything in return. They are the ones who will cheer you for your success. Some people might say they have many friends on their lists, especially on their social media accounts. However, how many of those can you call your true friends? Some people have toxic and abusive people in their lives, and you are blessed if you don't have them in your life. Having someone you can call a best friend, good neighbors, and family members are things we can be thankful for having.

4. Having a job or source of income

When the pandemic hit, many people lost their jobs and source of income. People who retained their jobs indeed must have realized how fortunate they are for still having the means to earn money. No matter how our job sucks, it is still something to be thankful for having the capacity to make money. Without money, we get blocked off from the things necessary for our well-being, such as eating a good meal enough times a day and having the ability to buy something that can give us joy.

5. Freedom of speech

In a world where control of every aspect of our lives is becoming more prevalent, having the ability to speak out our minds without receiving any flak and hatred or, worse, imprisonment is a blessing. There are places in the world where governments don't allow much free speech. Engaging in such activity, especially in the journalism field, can cost your job and reputation. If you live in a place where you can freely voice your opinions, and there are open-minded and understanding people around you who don't immediately retort from what you have said, you can consider yourself blessed.

6. Being able to eat enough times a day

Many people in the world are starving, and even if they are capable of eating something, it's not enough to fill an entire day. Poverty plays a big part in why this is happening. So we can genuinely express thankfulness for eating our favorite food and having new food every time for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.

7. Clean water

Being able to drink clean water is one of the things to be thankful for in your life. According to an article by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 700 million people don't have access to essential water services, and more than 800 million people don't have safe water to drink. Let this thought sink in, and you can be more appreciative of the clean water you can drink.

8. Internet access

Despite how ubiquitous the Internet is and how it is now part of our daily lives, many people in the world don't have access to it. Considering how the Internet opens up many opportunities to improve our lives, people who don't have access to it are being left behind and cut from options they can use to make their lives better. So the next time you feel like swearing on your Internet service provider due to slow Internet speed and connection, you can still be thankful that you can access the Internet.

9. Having a roof over your head

Having your own home is one of the things to be grateful for having. Take a look at this article, and you can see how blessed you are. Not everyone in the world has a house they can safely return to and live in and protect themselves from environmental hazards. Poverty is a significant factor in why many people can't afford to buy a house. Considering how expensive a home is, take a moment to appreciate that you have a place you can return to and where you can spend your long weekends.

Practice gratitude as often as you can

Many things in your everyday life are constantly reminding you of how thankful you can be in your present condition. But, unfortunately, when problems and bad things happen around us, we forget to look at what we still have and focus on what we lack. So, spend time taking a moment to have some deep conversation with yourself and write down the things you can be thankful for having. Practicing gratitude is essential for our spiritual growth as it can help lessen greed and allow us to feel contentment. There are many things to be thankful for, and many of them are small things that we might be taking for granted. Recognizing all the things to be grateful for can help you appreciate your own life better.