10 Things I am Grateful For

I don’t consider myself an ungrateful person. I don’t consider myself an overtly grateful person though either, and I want to change that. I want to practice gratefulness, because I know I have an obscene amount of things to be grateful for.

Therefore, I’ve made the following list of 10 things that I am grateful for, as well as the reasons why.

1. My Fiancee
   I’m grateful to her, because she is the light of my life. She is my shining star, my rock and my confidant. She has stood by me through thick and thin. I am truly grateful to have such a wonderful person in my life. She makes every day better. She makes me laugh. She is a shoulder to cry on, a safe harbor in rough sea and a partner in crime. I am truly grateful that I have met the love of my life and I am grateful for the fact that she loves me back. I am forever thankful for the joy that she brings to my life and the smile she brings to my face. She is moon and stars, and for that I am grateful.
2. My friends
   I am deeply grateful to be surrounded by friends who I love and who love me back. Friends who make me better. Friends that I admire, and who help me reach new heights. I am grateful to have friendships filled with laughter, joy and personal growth. I am grateful to have long-lasting friendships. Friends who know me, who support me, who I can confide in and who make me better. I am grateful to have friends who are loyal, ambitious and fiercely intelligent. I am grateful to have friends who lift me up higher, and who help make me better every day. Friends that I can work out with, hang with and be crazy with.
3. My Family
   I am grateful to my family for loving me no matter what. For supporting me, even though they don’t always understand me. For pushing me to do better. To be more and to do more. For having my back, and for teaching me that it pays to be optimistic. For teaching me that it pays to take fate in to my own hands, and for teaching me that no matter how much something hurts, there is always a lesson to be learned. I am thankful for them for making me resilient and robust. For pushing me to be smarter, to learn more and to continue learning, without pushing me over the edge. I am grateful to my family for everything they have taught me and continue to teach me every day.
4. That I am the master of my own fate
   I am grateful for the fact that I know, that I’m the master of my own fate, and that I know I can live life on my terms. Not all things pan out the way I want them to, but there is always somethings that I can learn from that situation. There is always something that I can control, and something that I can do to improve my fate. There is always an action that I can take. I am thankful to know that I am the master of my own fate, because there is no better feeling, than knowing that if something needs to be done, then I can do it.
5. That I am fed, clothed and have a roof over my head
   These are small things, and things that I sometimes take for granted, but this is a mistake. These are things that I am thankful for, because I know they matter. They are at the bottom of the Maslowian pyramid of needs, and unless these needs are filled life is going to be pretty sad. So I am grateful that my most basic needs are filled every day.
6. That I read and write
   Not everyone can read and write. Not everyone who is able to read and write uses these gifts on a daily basis. Because we all have access to incredible amounts of technology, we tend to forgot just how gifted we are to be able to read and write. I am grateful for these gifts, as they form the basis of almost everything I do. I am privileged to have these abilities, and I am grateful that I get to use them on a daily basis.
7. That I get to be better every day
   I focus obsessively on personal development. Self-improvement is my religion and I practice it devoutly. As long as I am a little smarter when I go to bed, than I was when I woke up it has been a good day. This is a mind-set that I have developed over time. A mind-set that I practices every day. And one that I am grateful that I get to practice. That I have a life, that is so incredible that I get to use this gift of self-improvement every day, is something that I am deeply grateful for. This is a few steps up in the Maslowian pyramid — namely the step of self-actualization. This is the highest step. The thing about self-improvement is that it is not always easy. In fact, it is almost always hard. Sometimes it is painful, because it requires digging deep, and it requires opening some very old scars. But pain is a privilege. This is something I get to do. I get to improve. And for that i am incredibly thankful.
8. My cat
   Yes, I am a cat man. I love that little guy, with all my heart. I am super grateful that he is in my life, and I would never trade him for anything. Sometimes I trade a good nights sleep for snuggles. I tell myself it’s because he is needy. But I am probably the one who’s needy. I am grateful that I get to have such a sweet animal in my life, because he makes my life better and brings joy to my life.
9. My job
   Not everyone gets to have a job. I like my job. It is pretty awesome. It enables me to do fun things. Work with interesting people. Learn a lot about myself and others. With my job I am in “The Arena” that Marcus Aurelius talks about. There is no hiding. Everything is out in the open. Oh, and it pays the bills too. All of these things are pretty awesome. I am truly grateful to have a job.
10. The people who dislike me
    I am grateful to the people who dislike me, because they force me to reflect on my behavior. They force me to improve. I appreciate getting better. I enjoy learning, and I am thankful to the people who I can learn from. Directly or indirectly. The people who dislike me, force me to learn — albeit indirectly. Sometimes however, this is the most effective method, and for that I am thankful.

This is my list of 10 things in my life, that I’m grateful for.

What are you grateful for?