To everyone that doesn’t live in a big city: do me a favor. Look up at the stars tonight. Look up at a sky without light pollution, and appreciate all of the beautiful salutations of stars from millions of light-years away. Cherish it, marvel at it. Honestly, I feel a little bit cheated because you have access to something that I don’t. I just wish that you appreciate this blessing you have which others do not.

But at the same time….what do I have that I take for granted, which others would ask me to appreciate? 

• Someone with arthritis might tell me to appreciate my health or the fact that I can walk up a flight of stairs with no pain in my knees. 
• Someone living in a war zone would tell me to feel grateful for my safety, to appreciate my food security.
• Any parent raising several children would tell me to soak up the silence in my apartment.

Most of us get used to our blessings and take them for granted, myself included. I could have been grateful at that moment, but I was too busy wishing someone else would look up at the stars. 

I want to do better, maybe you do too. Let’s ask what we can do now that many others cannot. 

• Would they tell you to call your mom because you still can? 
• Would they tell you to pet your old cat you love so much and you still have with you? 
• Would they tell you to pull your special someone closer? Relationships have highs and lows but at least you’re not alone.
• Would they tell you to snuggle in the blankets and enjoy the fact that you don’t have an exam tomorrow? Or a job interview? Or some other scary deadlines? 
• Would they tell you to take a deep breath and just be happy you’re alive? Life isn’t perfect but there’s still sand in your hourglass for happy moments. Thousands of people will run out of sand today.

Let’s channel gratitude towards the life we have. Not because there’s no way your life could be better, or that you don’t have problems. But simply because there are good things about your present situation, they won’t last forever but we have them today.