Gratitude for the things in my life

"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has." - Epictetus

I believe we often put too much pressure on ourselves this time of year. We make a list of "resolutions", things we hope to change, improve upon or eliminate altogether in the New Year. Unfortunately, we know all too well that most of us fail miserably at most, if not all of them. We set ourselves up for dissappointment from the get-go. In an effort not to begin the New Year on the wrong foot, instead, I'd like to make a list of things that I'm greatful for in my life. We're surrounded by so much negativity most of the time, it's hard to take stock in all the things that we have in our lives that we can be greatful for. Sure, I know I'm human, and as such, I have flaws and far from perfect, but if I really think about it, there is so much more good than bad. So here goes:

1. New beginnings.  Every day that I am here I have the opportunity to start over, to change, to grow, to renew myself.
2. Being at peace.
3. The love and continued support of my family and friends.
4. My health.
5. My dogs and all of the funny and loving things they do each and every day.  How they teach me unconditional love and how to live in the moment.
6. How every day I touch the lives of the people around me, and I do make a difference.
7. My house.  Especially this year when so many others lost theirs.
8. My car.  It may be old, but it hasn't let me down yet.  There are so many others that don't have the luxury of a car to get from place to place.
9. My morning cup of coffee, as the sun comes up, listening to the birds singing in the trees as the wind chimes blow.  It always brings a smile to my face.
10. When a friend looks at me and says, "I love you".
11. Music.
12. Hope.
13. Nature, trees, flowers, animals and the fact that I am able to enjoy them each and every day.
14. The food on my table.
15. Fresh, running water.
16. My ability to still be able to empathize with people, in spite of some very negative experiences I've had to live through.
17. When I realize that I am not all alone as I sometimes think I am. Instead, I am surrounded by people that love me and am finally rid of the people that don't have my best interests at heart.
18. The joy I get seeing the first bud come out of the ground from the seeds I've planted, then watching them grow and thrive.
19. How good it feels to lay my head down on my pillow at the end of a long day.
20. That I'm slowly learing that nothing is permanent - both good and bad so I should try to enjoy the good to the fullest, and take comfort that the bad soon shall pass.

"If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough." - Meister Eckhardt