Reasons to be grateful - The Past
The world used to be a tough place.
Cultivating gratitude is a tremendously powerful way to transform your mind. Daily practice will make you a more happy, kind, and over all better person. The thoughts that run through your mind on a day-to-day basis will be more positive. And you will be more resilient when things don't go quite the way you want.
Practicing gratitude is like practicing everything else. In the beginning, it may feel awkward, especially if you are more among the glass-half-empty crowd. Practicing every day will gradually end this, and the process will feel natural. Becoming more grateful requires repetition, similar to building muscle in the gym.
This post serves as a list of reasons that we can go back to when we forget to be grateful or can't find reasons to be. I will provide a list of reasons why we should be happy that we live today and not 50, 100 or 1000 years ago. We need to remember how great of a life many of us are having today compared to our ancestors. I hope you find some reasons to be grateful as well.
Sanitation
People used to die from being dirty, living in dirt, and contracting all forms of diseases as a result of poor sanitation.
The development of effective sanitation practices has played a pivotal role in preventing the spread of diseases and improving our health.
Or how about toilets? I have heard stories about what it was like without toilets. I am grateful I didn't have to go through the same.
Medicine
We have access to advanced medical care and technology that our ancestors could only dream of. Diseases that were once deadly are now treatable or preventable. From antibiotics to chemotherapy to advanced surgeries, we have developed sophisticated techniques to treat a multitude of ailments. Many conditions that were once considered fatal can now be managed or even cured.
Convenience & Modern Technology
Our lives are made easier with modern technology. Imagine not having electricity, plumbing, or the internet. We can talk to people on the other side of the world. We can buy products that were created, produced, and manufactured from far away.
We have so many luxuries in our daily lives that our ancestors could not even imagine.
Delivery
Imagine this. You have the flu, stuck in bed at home. Your fridge is empty. The last thing you want to do is go grocery shopping and cook a meal for yourself in your current condition. But fear not. Today, you can pick up your little device, open an app, and order some food delivered right to your door.
Guess what. That is a pretty new luxury that wasn't possible not that long ago.
Not to mention all the endless other things we can receive at our door when we need them or so desire.
Food
Today we don't have to worry about starving. How awesome is that! But wait, it gets even better. We don't have to eat the same potato stew over and over again. In our global world, we have the blessing to be able to eat foods from all over the world. It is a miracle. I for sure don't know what my life would be like without these foods:
Bún Chả
Donkatsu
Bánh Bao
Lasagna
Bibimbap
Pho
Burittos
Dak Galbi
Spring Rolls
Kimchi
This is a good chance to list out 10 foods you love, but would not be available to you 50-100 years ago.
Education
Today, we have widespread access to education, and information is at our fingertips. Our ancestors did not have the same opportunities for learning and intellectual growth. If you go back far enough in time, reading was rare. Having a book was rare.
Today, we have a long list of different educations to choose from to go on our desired career path. We can also educate ourselves and others like never before. Youtube is full of tutorials, history lessons, and more. There are online courses on Teachable, Udemy, and Skillshare. We can find tutors easily.
Transportation
Traveling vast distances used to take weeks or months. And it was expensive. Now, we can hop on a plane and reach our destination in a matter of hours.
I would never have been able to meet my wife when I went to South Korea for my studies. I would likely not have been able to experience another culture outside of Europe. Now I have family in Vietnam, that I can visit in less than 24 hours. All good reasons to be grateful!
Experiences
Our entertainment options are vast and varied. We can travel the world. We have endless books, podcasts, TV series, and movies to consume. Video games are fun too.
Leisure
Our ancestors used to work A LOT. Every day. And if they didn't, they might starve. That's tough.
Take a minute to appreciate that this is not your reality.
I hope I gave you some good reasons to be grateful when you practice gratitude. I hope more of us can practice gratitude, experience happiness, and be more kind to ourselves and others. I know that bad stuff still happens, and we have things to improve on. But it is important to keep some perspective and be grateful, positive, and happy.
