Life

It is one of the world's most beautiful things. Whether it is new babies being born, new plants growing, or new ideas growing into a final product down the road, life is beautiful.

Most people when they are young children have some fantasy or dream about their future or how they'd like their life to look down the road. It may not be lush or extravagant, but I think we all do this.

When our dreams or fantasies don't go EXACTLY as we hoped it is easy to become disappointed, discouraged, angry, saddened, and regretful. Sometimes this can become a trap...

We may start to think about the past and wonder "What if...", "Why didn't I...", " Maybe if I...." my life would be better.

What we overlook by thinking this way are the events, memories, and even those positive moments in our life that shaped who we are today. Even in the most horrible moments of your life you learn something and take away something from it.

For myself, I could choose to look back 3 years ago and shoot myself for going into education. (a career market that is over-saturated, overworked and under appreciated). I could say, man that was stupid, I have a teaching degree and I'm working as a teaching assistant making half the pay.
Instead I choose to appreciate where I am, what I am learning, how I influence others, and the amazing team I work with

So instead of grumbling about the past or being disappointed about your current state, I would like to encourage you to reflect on the good things in your life; The people, moments,events and choices you have made that have shaped you into who you are today.

Work

Do you remember the tune, "Heigh, ho, heigh, ho it's off to work we go...(whistle)" from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs?

In this clip the melody of the song is quick, high pitch and almost chipper. You don't see any of the dwarfs smiling and yet the melody depicts a happy tone. Perhaps it is because they know they get to go home at the end of the day!

As an adult life can sometimes get very repetitive, drab and boring. Wake up, go to work, come home and repeat.(It seemed like even the dwarfs knew this!)

Depending on your job/career you may love it and be passionate about it or  you may detest it but stay because it "pays the bills".

When an average workweek can range anywhere from 16 to 40 hours a week it can become easy to find SOMETHING wrong. Perhaps it's the hours, the responsibilities, the commute time, the co-workers, the politics, the drama, or the most common complaint is the pay. The list goes on and on, that is if you let it.

I guess my question to you reading this post is this, " Is it really that bad"?

When people in developing countries work 70 hours a week, sleep maybe 4 hours a day, don't get proper breaks, get paid $5ish a day, don't get benefits, and work in dangerous environments....

Is work really that bad? My guess is, unless you are being bullied/harassed at work, your work doesn't compare to the conditions of those in impoverished nations.

So instead of thinking so negatively about our jobs, or thinking that we always need to be looking for the "better job", or complaining...why don't we start with gratitude.

Be thankful that you have work! Be thankful that you have food and clean water. Be thankful that you have a means to an end.

If we always look at our own jobs negatively how will we ever be satisfied?

Introduction

If there is one thing that I have and am constantly learning from my husband, it is to appreciate and be grateful for everything in life. 

Life is a gift. It is something that should not just valued, but also treasured and protected. It sounds easy right??

I eat fairly well, I sleep 8 hours a day, I drink water, I don't eat McDonald's all the time, I work but not too much...I'm great!

Okay..sure those things are good, and some are even very healthy but could you be doing better? Are you emotionally, spiritually, and mentally healthy? Do you live a balanced life? Are you grateful for the things you have or constantly complaining?

We learn from poor habits, poor influences, poor messages in the media and so on... and bad habits are hard to change. 

Am I saying that we all have to change, and we all are bad people who are unappreciative? NO, of course not. 

In essence, what I'd like to blog about is about appreciation.  Appreciation of health and the journey to better health, appreciation of work and life experiences, appreciation of unforgettable moments..and the like. 

For if we are appreciative, then we are grateful. If we are grateful then we naturally become more positive and mindful about life and the moments within it. --T.L.