5 Small Things To Be Grateful For – Even When Life Is Getting You Down

There some days where it’s really hard to find things to be grateful for, and some days it’s not hard at all.

Two weeks ago, my sister had an emergency appendectomy, and I have spent most of my time with her in Connecticut since then.

My sister has two teenage boys, two dogs, a coop full of chickens, a husband and a preschool to run. She cannot drive or lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk for two weeks. So here I am. Being her.

That I can do this, and take some time off from my life in NYC to help her out, makes me feel very grateful. Grateful that I have the kind of career that allows me flexibility with where and when I work. If I couldn ‘ t be here my sister ‘ s illness would have had a far greater impact on her family so I know she is also grateful.

These past weeks have got me thinking about everything I am grateful for in this world. There are many things, big and small that I so appreciate. Life can be challenging, and if it weren ‘ t for the little things, it would sometimes seem unbearable. What kind of little things?

#1 – Comfort Food:

We all have it. That certain something that we love to eat. That something that we fantasize about if the day is going very badly.

For me, it ‘ s Thai food. Whenever I am having a bad day, I promise myself at the end of the day, some Pad Thai will be part of my evening. The prospect calms me down immediately and lifts my spirits.

And of course, the chocolate pudding that I eat for dessert doesn ‘ t hurt either.

And for that, I am grateful.

#2 – Smiles:

Think about that morning when everything went wrong. You woke up late, there was no hot water, your coffee was cold, and you had nothing to wear. Your day was gonna suck.

And then you take the elevator down to the lobby and walk out onto the street, your sunglasses on, prepared to fight the world. You round the corner and almost run into a stranger, a stranger who smiles broadly and says good morning. Reflexively you smile back.

It changes your whole day.

The actual act of smiling, using the muscles to turn your mouth upwards, has been proven to lift your mood. I know that when my kids were little, and I was feeling overwhelmed just smiling at them made me feel better.

And for that, I am grateful.

#3 – The Sun And the Moon:

Imagine a world without the sun. Imagine being unable to turn your face up to it and feeling immediately warmed. Imagine a world without flowers or grass or hummingbirds. Imagine a world where it is always dark. How lucky are we that we have the sun and all the warmth and beauty it brings?

And then there ‘ s the moon. There is nothing like looking up at the night sky and seeing that brilliant light shining down, the orb passing through it ‘ s nightly phases, to truly strike awe. When it ‘ s full, it can turn the night into a magical daytime. When it ‘ s new the world feels safe, held close by the darkness.

When I look at the moon each night I know that those I love who aren ‘ t with me can see that same moon and it makes the world just a little smaller and the love a little brighter.

And for that I am grateful.

#4 – Hot Water:

This is one thing that I never think about until it ‘ s not there. And when it ‘ s not there, I notice.

Think about that shower that you took this morning. Was it almost as important to you as that coffee (made with hot water) you drank right afterward? How about that bathtub you are going to sink into tonight? To soak your weary bones and have a few moments of peace. Lovely.

Hot water keeps our clothes and dishes clean, heats our homes, cooks our pasta and dissolves our sugar. Without hot water, our life would be a much different place.

And I get that cup of tea at the end of the day that warms me to my toes right before I take my bath.

And for that I am grateful.

#5 – My Bed:

Is there anything better in the whole world than one ‘ s bed?

A bed with soft sheets, the perfect number of pillows, and that cozy comforter on a cool night. Heaven.

It ‘ s a place where you can take refuge at the end of an endless day, a place to curl up with your kids, a place where you get to read that fantastic book you fall asleep to every night, a place where you can talk quietly with the one you love, among other things.

No matter how crazy, jam-packed and exhausting my life is, at the end of every day I have my bed.

And for that, I am grateful.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of small things. It is just the beginning.

Stop for a moment. Look around. For what are you grateful?

There are days when life can be almost too much to bear. Take a few minutes to take stock of what you are grateful for. I promise if you do, you will be able to bear it.

Are you struggling with finding things to be grateful for?
I know it can be hard. Let me help!
Email me at [email protected] and let’s get started!

Mitzi Bockmann

I am a NYC based Certified Life Coach and mental health advocate. My writing has been published on The Huffington Post, Prevention,  Psych Central, Pop Sugar, MSN and The Good Man Project, among others. I work with all kinds of people to help them go from depressed and overwhelmed to confident and happy in their relationships and in their world.