There are so many beautiful reasons to be happy

I was recently visiting friends in Kansas and in their spare bathroom hung a framed print that read “There are so many beautiful reasons to be happy”.  Those words made me smile and every time I saw them I felt the truth in that sentiment.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the day to day.  To be stressed, overwhelmed, or distracted by work, chores, relationships, social media, relentless news feeds, the state of the world, to-do lists…I could go on and on.  And what’s in our faces is what dominates our attention.  It’s all too easy to lose sight of all that’s good in our life.  Even though, on a daily basis, there are endless things to be grateful for.  

So today I’m here to remind you why your life is awesome.  Take a minute to turn the volume down on the noise of the day to day and pay mind to all the good fortune that’s all too easy to lose sight of.

Let’s start with a simple fact: you’re alive

I mean come on, I know it sounds kind of trite but really, the odds of you or I coming to life were pretty freaking slim.  It took a whole lot of things to go right for you to even become a thing in the first place!  And we only get a short period of time to live this life so we should stop more often and look around with a grateful heart for the opportunity to be here at all.

You have air to breathe, water to drink, and food to eat

We need these things to live, but how often do we stop and appreciate the abundance in which they are available to us? When Mark and I are boondocking out in the desert or are camped on a remote Baja beach, we have to be hyper-aware of every drop of water in our possession. Because of that, my perspective on “basic necessities” has completely shifted. Not everyone in this world has clean water to drink, let alone an endless supply of it at the turn of a knob. Taking a quick, hot camp shower after a dusty day of travel, or sitting down to a simple, hot meal, has the power to bring a tremendous amount of happiness. It’s all about taking a moment to recognize just how fortunate you are to be able to enjoy those simple acts.

You probably have two hands, two feet, ten fingers, and ten toes

You can do a lot of great things with those tools but probably take for granted the skills in which they provide.  If you don’t have all of those tools, you’ve been built with the intelligence to adapt and adaptability is a beautiful thing.

You have a body and mind that is capable of infinite possibilities

All you need is the curiosity to dream and the belief that you can achieve.  You are profoundly capable if you let yourself be.

You have the ability to love

Love is a profoundly complex emotion that brings with it many highs and lows.  But the fact that we get to love and be loved at all is a gift.

You are free

If you are reading this, it’s safe to say you have free will.  You may make your own choices, spend your time how it best serves your life.  We are so expecting of our freedom, we forget that not every human being has it.  You are free to live the life you choose, that is the ultimate blessing.

You most likely have the ability to hear, see, touch, taste, and smell

When was the last time you delighted your senses?  Walk around barefoot on cool sand or fresh grass.  Smell the flowers or the forest.  Listen to the birds or get lost in your favorite music.  We put the mind first, always trying to please our thoughts when our senses hold the key to true pleasure.

You’re you and your life is a story

Every experience in your life, good, bad or otherwise, is part of your story; and your story is unlike anyone else’s because you are you and cannot be replicated.  Your YOUness is your gift, your superpower.  You have the ability to do things no one else can because you see the world in a way no one else does.  That is a great power that you possess, it’s up to you to own it and share it in a way that brings meaning to you.

You enjoy modern comforts like electricity, climate control, and paved roads.

We live in a truly spectacular time if you choose to focus on the amazing things we have access to. Living off-grid in a truck camper quickly teaches you not to take these things for granted. One simple example is that we rely entirely on our own solar setup; knowing that every little bit of electricity that we use was generated by the sun feels like pure magic. Whether you live in a stationary house or a home-on-wheels, pausing to appreciate modern marvels like flushing toilets, climate-controlled spaces, and the ability to look up anything on the internet makes the day-to-day feel pretty incredible.

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These are just a few reasons why there are so many beautiful reasons to be happy. Now that I’ve got you started, I’m guessing you could think of a few more because we all have a lot to be grateful for. Take a break from seeking more, worrying about what you don’t have and dwelling on the bad.  Instead turn up the volume on all the good things and everything you forgot you already have.  The world is a beautiful place, your life is a tremendously awesome thing…if you start to shift your perspective, you’ll begin to see that the happiness you crave has been a part of you all along.

What is one simple thing you are grateful for today? Let us know in the comments!

(Thank you to Karri & Abigail for your hospitality; and the most lovely selection of bathroom decor : )

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