I am happy that recently, a "positivity or gratefulness" challenge has been going around social media. I am a pessimist by nature so it takes extra effort for me to see things in a more positive way. Since coming to terms to my being a pessimist I decided to do and act on it. After a difficult and very slow start I am happy to say that I have made progress and I am also happy to see that more people are in the same boat as me. I feel that in a world where so much negative and sad things happening, people really need to see that there are still a lot of good things out there. There are still so many things to be thankful for!
Little blessings are abundant each and every day. To wake up each morning. To say my prayers. To have quiet times. To be updated and be connected with my friends all over the world. For the opportunity to eat healthier. For good books and finally having the time to catch up on my reading! To finally able to blog again! My kids hugging me when they sleep at night. My kids saying very beautiful and sincere prayers not for themselves but for other people. For movie nights with popcorns. For the opportunity to cook home-cooked meals on the weekends for my family. My veggie patch becoming a reality. The beautiful little flowers that blossomed in my garden. To do gardening with Sam. For Liam getting used to doing his weekend chores minus the complaints. For warm weather. For extra time on Saturdays. To play in the park with the kids. For an ad which I saw which can help raise red flags for breast cancer. For the kids to climb trees. For playing basketball at the park with Liam and Sam. For the physical sustenance hubby and I get every week working full time and being full time parents. For the opportunity to visit and get ideas for our future home. For the travels we've had this year. For the opportunities to make friends. To start new friendships. To maintain old friendships. To dry my laundry under the warmth of the sun. For the music that fills the home every time Liam plays the keyboards and Sam sings with him. For the Family Daily Rosary prayers coming a reality. For the good food. For the good reflection articles I get to read. To be up close and chat with one of the greatest OPM singers, Gary V! For not worrying about my studies and my requirements which I haven't touched for two months now! For the full time job I have. For the affirmations of my students and my colleagues and even parents! For the beautiful sunshine. For the clear skies. For spring time. For the service. For the giggles of my children. The opportunity to ring up a close friend from overseas and be with her during a very difficult time. For parenting styles I learn from friends. For the opportunity to see, appreciate and be thankful for even the smallest things I have, around me, within me, everyday! Believe me, my list can go on and on! But aside from these, I am also thankful for the worries and stress I experience everyday which leads me back to God.
Please do not get me wrong. Of course, we are thankful for the blessings we receive. But admit it, more often than not, we tend to see the bigger blessings and overlook the smaller blessings. Personally, it took extra effort to see the blessing in the smallest of things. But believe me, once you get the hang of it, it's a piece of cake!
Everyday is an opportunity to give thanks to different things! This practice has made me become a more appreciative person and yes, less whiny. Still working on having lesser complains, but with His grace, I will eventually get there.
Let's continue to spread positivity and love to make this world and our children's future a much happier place!
