01 Sep Life’s way too short not to appreciate these 20 things
I've often re-posted articles from the great Marc and Angel site.
I've also often written and posted about the benefits of gratitude and appreciation, for health and happiness.
Well, today I'm going to do both…for your happiness!
Check out this wonderful list of 20 things we all should really appreciate for happiness, wellbeing and success in life…
This morning I saw an elderly woman in a wheelchair rolling down the sidewalk in the pouring rain just outside the coffee shop where I was writing. She was moving at a snail’s pace and I thought she might be struggling, so I ran out into the rain and asked her if she needed assistance or a dry resting spot. She smiled and said, “I appreciate it, but the rain feels great against my skin. I’m out here and going slow on purpose.”
I loved her sentiment – talk about the epitome of appreciating life. And truthfully, life is simply too short for anything less. When you’re young, you might feel like there’s a huge mass of time ahead of you. But trust me, it passes much faster than you think. You get grey hairs before you feel like a real adult. And then you have kids, and suddenly they’re off doing their own things. None of this is bad, of course. It’s an extraordinary experience, as long as you pause long enough to appreciate it all.
So that’s what I want to reflect on today – quick reminders about the things life is just too short not to appreciate…
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A peaceful, mindful present. – The best way to prepare for the future is to take care of the present. Goodbyes will always hurt a little. Photographs can never replace the act of being there. Memories, good and bad, will sometimes bring tears. And words can never perfectly describe the feelings they represent. But that’s OK. Pain is real. But so is hope. You have to make peace with your past in order to keep your present and future from becoming hopeless battles.
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The good in everything. – The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another. Train your mind to see the good in everything. Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the breeze through the trees, the small child learning to walk, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the sun on your skin. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for the beauty of each precious moment.
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Life’s surprises. – Notice and cherish life’s surprises. Just because it’s not what you were expecting, doesn’t mean it’s not everything you’ve been waiting for. So take a deep breath when you’re rejected from something good. It often means you’re being redirected to something better. Be patient. Be positive. Keep going. (Read The Road Less Traveled.)
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The challenges that strengthen you. – Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in life. If we were to go through our life without any obstacles, we would be crippled. We would not be as strong as what we could have been otherwise. So give every opportunity a chance – leave no room for regrets. It takes courage to change and grow and become who you really are. Your struggle is part of your story. And it’s a story worth writing.
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Being YOU. – You’re an original, an individual, a masterpiece. Celebrate it! Don’t let your uniqueness make you shy. Don’t be someone other than the wonder you are. Everyone has their own dreams, their own struggles, and a different path that makes sense for them. You are YOU for a reason. Own it…
…keep reading the full list HERE