Top Ten Reasons to be Thankful All Year Round

Everyday life can be filled with struggles and hardships, and as human beings we are prone to only seeing the bad. During the holidays many of us try to look at the positive things in our lives and the things we feel blessed to have, but why don’t we do this all year long? There are so many reasons for us to be happy, so many ways to find that one silver lining amidst an array of clouds full of dark, ominous, foreboding. So even after the turkey has been devoured and the wrapping paper recycled make sure to look at all the things in your life that bring you happiness.

Free Time

There are turkeys to cook, presents to wrap, kids to take to school, and snow to clean up, but we also have lots of free time. Funny once you think about it, but the average American has about five hours of free time everyday, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and researchers at the University of Maryland and Penn State. That being said, we may feel like we are moving and doing every second of the day, but just realize how much extra time you do have and you will see a completely different side of the story. Photo: Getty Images

Memories

With the amount of things available to us for the reproduction and saving of memories, that there should be no reason for someone to not remember something. Pictures, video clips, medicines that help reduce memory loss and Facebook are just a few of the amazing things available for us to remember the first time you kissed, or the kids first baby steps, or even the first time you got into a car accident. Whatever it may be, there is now a way to save it without getting rid of “old” files because you don’t have room. Photo: Getty Images

Peace

Yes this one may sound a little cheesy, but think about it. Whether it is world peace or even just peace within your family, there is really nothing like it. When people are not fighting and arguing about the things they could be doing there are more people out there doing those things that are improving and changing our lives. So get out there and try to find peace in your own way.

Literacy

You probably didn’t think about reading being something to be grateful for, but there is nothing like being able to sit down with a nice hot cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter’s night (well at least for me). Actually, in 1970 only just half of the United State’s population was able to read, today more than 80 percent of the population is able to read and have access to a plethora of resources and genres for their enjoyment and for their work. Photo: Getty Images

Opportunities and Responsibilities

Today there are so many things for us to do that there should be no room for complaint. The opportunities and responsibilities we are given and even the ones we have been given in the past are examples of the potential we have for growth in the future. Every new opportunity is a chance for us to prove to the world and ourselves what we are made of.

Electricity

Without modern day electricity we would not have night-lights, Christmas lights or book lights. Computers would be none existent as well as Mp3 players and yes even Starbucks coffee. There are so many things around us that use electricity that without it, well, we would literally be in the dark. Photo: Getty Images

Clean Water Supply

Many of us have running water that is good for drinking and cleaning. Not much dirt, if any, runs through our water lines and if there are a few specs we have the ability to clean it with filters and other modern day devices. We should be grateful everyday that we do not have to take buckets of water from the nearest lake, pond or stream, or even pump it from the backyard.

Freedom of Speech

Being able to say and write anything we want gives us great pleasure. We know that we will not be killed for saying something bad about the president. Journalists won’t get thrown into prison for seeking out the truth and people can sing about whatever they want to on local transportation. There are so many words out there jut waiting to be spoken, and without our freedom to say them they would be forgotten. Photo: Getty Images

Health Care

It is relatively easy to receive the medical care that you need, and we are lucky for it. Some countries have only a few doctors who are un-trained and don’t realize the dangers involved in their jobs, or even they just don’t care. Trained professionals are able to fix the broken, while researchers are able to search for new ways to fix the unfixable. Broken bones can be set and hearts can be taken care of for longer life spans and more memories. Photo: Getty Images

Nature

This might also be one of those cheesy things to be thankful for, but the mountains, flowers, trees and bugs that surround us are indeed something to be grateful for. Most of us can look out a window or drive an hour or so away to find the beauty of nature just beckoning us to come and enjoy it. Photo: Getty Images