Take time to appreciate

Do not indulge in dreams of having what you have not but reckon up the chief of the blessings you do posess and then thankfully remember how you would crave for them if they were not yours

-Marcus Aurelius

Why is it that when you’re frustrated or stressed out about life, that you typically take your anger out on the people closest to you? When I am stressed, I usually take it out on my family. I haven’t been very appreciative of them lately but that needs to change.

For the past couple weeks, I have been in a funk; stuck in a constant bad mood and feeling overwhelmed. Worried about my life, my future, and focusing on what I don’t have instead of being thankful for what I have right now. I feel like most people can relate when I say my life is not what I planned. There are definitely moments when I look at Facebook or talk to my friends and think “Your life is so exciting and mine is so lame, what is wrong with me?!” I’m at that age where looking a my news feed consists of someone getting engaged, married, having a successful career or travelling the world. And don’t get me wrong or take this as offensive, nothing makes me happier than when my friends are happy, but it’s so easy to compare yourself.

Although life has not played out exactly how I planned, there are plenty of things I am grateful for. For example, this time last year, I thought I’d never find a job and here I am now with an incredible job. Maybe I’m not living with a bunch of friends from college, going out every weekend, and constantly meeting new people. Maybe I live at home and I’ll admit, there are times my family drives me crazy but overall, I love living at home. It’s nice to wake up on a Saturday morning to your mom making you breakfast just because. Or sitting outside on my patio, enjoying the peacefulness after a long day. Life has not gone how I planned but there are still many things to be thankful for and to appreciate.

 The other day, I was reading a blog with some advice about life. Something that stood out to me is how when you take time to appreciate your family, friends, and the present moment, you will be infinitely happier, better recognize what you have and how fortunate you are. You’re probably thinking that “duh!” but in our society and throughout life in general, it’s easy to forget this. (I do all the time) When you stop to truly appreciate those around you and the present moment, it will make your world brighter. That sounds super cheesy but it’s true.

I need to start better appreciating those around me, to live in the moment, and to not let what I don’t have make me forget what I do have.

Gratitude doesn’t change the scenery. It merely washes clean the glass you look through so you can clearly see the colors

-Richelle Goodrich