50 Things to Be Thankful for Every Day

I have been keeping journals for a long time; however, this is the first year that I have kept a gratitude journal. It has been a true gift and has made me realize how many people, experiences and things that I have to be grateful for.

In the spirit of giving thanks, I decided to go public with some of the entries in my gratitude journal. My goal was to compile a list of things that not only myself, but many others can also feel thankful for. As you read this list, try to figure out how many of these blessings you have experienced in your own life. I bet that it will be double-digits good!

50 things to be thankful for today:

1. Your spouse or partner, who likely knows you better than anyone.
2. The unconditional love of your immediate family.
3. Your chosen 'family' -- friends!
4. The incredible joy of having children in your life, whether or not they are your own.
5. Your loyal pet, who greets you at the door every day when you get home.
6. Your cleaner, who allows you to leave your house messy and come home to find it clean.
7. Your photo album, because it contains memories of a life well-lived!
8. Your wedding or engagement ring: a symbol of endless love.
9. Your education; something no one will ever be able to take away from you.
10. Your job, because it allows you to support yourself and your family.
11. Being able to give to charities, and knowing that they would be there for you if you needed them.
12. Your cell phone, so you can keep in touch with your favourite people wherever you are in the world.
13. Your first cup of tea or coffee in the morning.
14. The rush of feel-good endorphins you get after a good, sweaty workout.
15. Capturing a perfect picture with your iPhone camera.
16. Winning a close game, by only one goal or point.
17. Crawling into your own bed the first night back after a long business trip.
18. Curling up beside the fireplace after spending a day outside in the cold.
19. Ladies: taking your uncomfortable bra off the moment you walk through the door!
20. Gents: a hot shower after spending the day getting really dirty!
21. Waking up and realizing that something from yesterday is actually no big deal.
22. When a cashier opens a new line at the grocery store just as you arrive at the check-out.
23. When someone you admire follows or 'likes' you back on social media.
24. Lotto wins: even if it's just a free play!
25. Stepping on the scale and seeing a lower number than last week.
26. Watching an epic thunderstorm -- from inside the house.
27. The first day of feeling better after being sick or hurt.
28. Leaving late, and somehow arriving early.
29. Returning to your car knowing that your meter expired, and not finding a ticket!
30. Checking a baby's diaper and finding it... clean!
31. Learning that it's covered under warranty, when you thought that you would have to pay out of pocket.
32. Reluctantly pulling over at a highway rest stop, and finding a bathroom that doesn't require Lysol spray!
33. Receiving a warning after being pulled over speeding on the highway. (If you were going 20+ kilometres over, you have some mad skills!)
34. Being able to Google a recipe for absolutely anything.
35. Noise cancelling headphones. (Sometimes I think that I could live in my Bose!).
36. Finding an umbrella in your bag when you're caught in a downpour.
37. Vacation days, which allow you to get paid while you travel, rest or party!
38. Moving walkways at airports, helping you make a tight connection.
39. Finding money in the pocket of a Fall coat that you just took out of storage.
40. New car smell -- even if it comes from an air freshener!
41. Kindle, so you can take a stack of books on the go with you -- no heavy book bag required!
42. Pinterest, which allows you to create a virtual Vision Board instead of dealing with cardboard, magazines and glue!
43. Organic produce, from farmers who care about your health and the environment.
44. Finding out that your favourite craft beer is on tap at a great new restaurant.
45. Candy stores where you can mix everything together and pay by weight. Sugar options bliss!
46. Delivery pizza on a Friday night after a tough week at work.
47. All-inclusive vacations, where you can walk out the door with no money and eat and drink for free with the flash of a wristband!
48. Free samples of cheese and meat at your local deli; they taste so good when you're hungry!
49. Warm from the oven chocolate chip cookies.
50. Random acts of kindness, whether it takes the form of a compliment, being invited to skip ahead in line, or simply a smile!

I hope that this list brought a smile to your face, and that it may even inspire you to start your own gratitude journal. If you decide to start a journal, I can tell you from experience that it will change your appreciation for everything around you. It creates a daily habit that allows you to focus on what is good in your life, even on the worst days. I believe this is something that we can all benefit from.

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