Frankly Existential

I wasn’t planning to write a follow-up on this topic, but after much reflection I feel I’ve gained even more insight into gratitude as a remedy for more than just regret. To add to that, I feel that not only is gratitude a remedy for our past, but a driving force for our future. The things we are grateful for are often things we have worked for and must continue to work for. Because of this, they are reasons to stick around, to make an attempt at living in a worthwhile manner. During my recent, unexpected hiatus, I took some time to make a list of things I had taken for granted. While sparing the details, for a time I had all of my belongings taken from me, and no this was not a result of any legal trouble, I am doing fine on that front. This sparked the idea to make this list. I was given a notebook and a pencil and got to work. I encourage all of you to seriously reflect on the same idea. Making this list and expanding on each item showed me just how valuable the simple things are. It helped me to see the beauty in everyday life. The following contents of this post will be centered around simply being grateful for all, not so much about regret. I will share a few items from my own list, and I hope this inspires you to reflect on the things you take for granted and ought to be more grateful for.

Sunlight and Fresh Air

I spent most of my time cooped up inside with restricted access to the outdoors. When we were brought outside we still had little space to wander, which was understandable considering where we were and why we were there. At that point, being let outside at all became a grace to us. There was almost no need for an activity for us to feel good. The feeling of the sun and the deep breaths of the crisp air were enough to show the beauty in simplicity. The desire to do shifts into the desire to be, and just being is enough. Very quickly, the opening of those doors became its own reason to make it to tomorrow, and the moment we returned inside we were met with a meal. Being outside, being able to do nothing more than experience the sun and fresh is enough to rewrite everything you think about the world. Be grateful for the sun and fresh air.

A Shower

The shower is an unappreciated place of healing. The significance of being clean for your mental wellbeing is great. If you’re a morning shower person, think of it as a fresh start to the day. If you are a night shower person, think of it as washing away the day you just completed in preparation for the next. The physical feeling of cleanliness is calming and refreshing. The meditative mindful state you can enter in the shower is perhaps even more calming. The shower is a place for a total reset to prepare for new challenges while washing away the past ones. Be grateful for the shower.

The excess Simplicity of Communication

The mobile phone, especially the smartphone, has made communication almost obligatory with its ease and lack of excuse not to engage. We tend to be annoyed when replies to a text or call take more than a few minutes; when the one we are trying to reach is not equally consumed by their device as we are. Losing that ease of communication has shown me how valuable every word is. This ease of communication is a gift if used properly, a curse if abused. Find value in the things you talk about, and talk about the things you find valuable. Truthfully, the small talk is a waste of time. Nobody cares enough about the weather to ask you about it over checking their weather app. Don’t speak for the sake of speaking. Don’t abuse the gift of communication by using it to hurt others. Be grateful for the ability to communicate with the simplicity we are afforded today, and never take for granted the opportunity to hear someone else’s voice.

A Cup Of Coffee

A more broad metaphor for the simplicities of every day life, the parts that often become routine. The morning cup of coffee, as insignificant as it may seem, is something that many would be driven crazy without. So much so that even some admit they need to be left alone until they have their coffee. Now I wasn’t on the verge of psychosis without it, but boy did I miss any consumption of caffeine. We were offered decaf coffee, no caffeine anywhere to be found. I didn’t even want anything in it, no milk or sugar, just coffee. Its bitterness alone was a more hopeful sensation than going without that cup. Now let us apply this more broadly. Life too can be bitter. The world is often unkind and unjust, but does this mean we are not to live? Of course not. There are far more positives that life grants us. The bitterness of life should not deter us from it, but remind us of the aspects to be grateful for, just as the bitterness of the coffee is not to deter us from the coffee itself. The sweeteners to cover up the bitterness sure make the coffee easier to handle, but we should not only conquer the coffee when it is sweet. Be grateful for the bitterness of life, for it is better than no life at all.

A Good Book

I would argue that reading is the second most productive form of mental stimulation, right behind writing. Whether it be a captivating story or an inspiring nonfiction, never underestimate the power a good book can hold. I had the opportunity to finish a book I was struggling to finish. That not only kept my mind working, but it brought a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction that I could not have gotten in there any other way. A text of any sort is a timeless communication of ideas. A story is something like a productive escapism, to get lost in another world rather than aiming to numb yourself in the current world. Be grateful to read a good book.

Silence

The peaceful quiet provides an ideal environment for self-reflection. Where I was, a quiet space was hard to come by, and intentional isolation was often cause for concern. The noisy setting was distracting, I had little opportunity to think, write, and read. The downtime was pleasant when it was available and I took every opportunity I could to have my own moment. The chance to be by myself and think was a luxury that I had too much of and used poorly. I’ve learned better now. Be grateful for moments of silence.

Intimacy

The simple touch of the one you love fills a unique void that nobody or nothing else could possibly fill. The feeling of holding hands, a hug, a kiss, all of the shows of affection are not merely simple pleasures, but basic necessities for self-regulation. When I did have the chance to hold her hand, I held on for all the time I could. The seldom access to intimacy only made clearer how crucial it is for general well-being. Not only the physical aspect of intimacy, but love more broadly. Having someone to love with every part of your being is the greatest motivator to stick around and make the best of yourself. Be grateful for love and intimacy.

Concluding thoughts

I took a break between writing the list and thinking of what I wish to say next. I think everything stated earlier speaks for itself. Remember to appreciate the little things you encounter every day. The little things to you may not be little to someone else. Don’t take your life for granted. Be grateful.