Money has become a key indicator of success and happiness in today’s era. We hustle hard every day to earn money and afford all the necessities and luxuries. But here’s an important point that most of us often forget: money is undoubtedly an integral part of our lives, but it’s not the ONLY thing that matters.
The real secret to happiness and success in life is to count all your blessings, not just the ones money can buy. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, let’s recall a few priceless things we often take for granted when we focus on the materialistic things in life.
Health
Ever heard that health is wealth? No other saying might be truer than this. Here’s a statement to prove it: no rational person would willingly trade their ability to hear, see, smell, or touch for billions of dollars.
Even if you’re working on improving your health, you can be grateful for the things you can do right now. Can you bend over to tie your shoes? Can you walk down the hallway unaided? Can you walk up a flight of stairs? If you can do any of these things, celebrate your current health and be grateful for the ability to do these things on your own.
Good Friends
The things you buy with money can make you temporarily happy, but no amount of money can compare to the support and care of good friends. Money comes and goes, but true friends are there to stay. You will always find them by your side in happy, sad, and difficult times.
Achieved a life goal? Celebrate with your friends! Lost a loved one? Your friends will be there to comfort you. Good friends can be hard to come by, so if you have a strong friendship with one or more people, be grateful for those bonds.
The Ability to Read
If you are here, it obviously means you can read. Knowing how to read is empowering and uplifting. It helps you understand life around you and gives you access to a world of information. The ability to read keeps you safe every time you see a traffic sign, and it helps feed you every time you scan a menu. The ability to read allows you to collect information for yourself, so be thankful every time you use this ability.
A Loving Family
Family includes people related to you not only by blood or heritage but also by love, compassion, and support. They form a strong support system for you – standing by your side through every hardship in life. In fact, we usually learn about the world through our families first.
Unfortunately, not everyone’s family is healthy or available for them to lean on. You are very lucky if you have a caring and loving family – why not add them to your list of things to be thankful for?
A Place to Live
Do you have a shelter to protect yourself from rain, cold, or the scorching sun? Do you have a place to recharge after a long tiring day? If you do, consider yourself fortunate.
Whether you live in an apartment, a bungalow, or even a tiny house, be thankful for having a place you can call home. Millions of people in this world don’t have a roof over their heads and are subjected to the elements every day. Be grateful for your living space and the comforts it provides.
Conclusion
It’s easy to focus on jobs, salaries and how much money we have available to make us happy. This Thanksgiving, try to reflect on things in your life that aren’t connected to money. You might be surprised at how much you have to be thankful for in your life.
