We’ve all heard the phrase “money can’t buy happiness.” Modern society has done everything it can to refute this notion; I can’t count how many commercials advertising luxury items I’d never be able to afford have been shown on TV since I started writing this a half hour ago. It also doesn’t help that I’m watching Sportscenter reporters discuss multi-million dollar contracts for people whose job it is to throw and catch a ball.
But it’s easy for society to skew your perspective. Turning off the TV for a moment, pawing through a National Geographic, it’s easy to find examples of happiness sans material possessions across the globe: children living in slums, playing with a makeshift soccer ball, never pausing to wonder about the things they don’t have. Women walking dozens of miles a day to get clean water for their families, and doing so with pride. Men working for pennies to feed their children, and finding happiness in having shelter from the weather.
The happiest people are not those who have the most money, the biggest house, or the most “stuff.” People all over the world (who some would consider to have nothing) believe they have more than they’ll ever need. The richest people in the world could learn a lot from the poorest citizens in the poorest countries. Being monetarily poor is not synonymous with being emotionally bankrupt. Being happy is not about what you own; it’s about your mindset and outlook toward life. Most of the items on this list probably apply to you, and are 50 reasons you have to be grateful every day of your life.
Waking up every morning
Waking up under a roof every morning
Waking up next to your love (or waking up to texts from a loved one)
Seeing group texts from your friends first thing in the morning
Taking a hot shower to start your day
Getting rid of that morning breath
Replacing morning breath with coffee breath immediately
Leisurely eating breakfast before work
Catching up on all your news feeds while you eat
Work from home days
Dressing to kill
Having a great hair day
Having a full tank of gas in your car
Having a job to go to (any job at all)
Hearing your favorite song on the way to work
Getting down to business the second you get to work
Feeling accomplished by 9:30
Actually getting acknowledged for your work by your boss
That second cup of coffee
Being assigned a group project with coworkers you actually like
Actually getting work done and having fun in the process
Lunch breaks
Pizza Fridays
That first sip of caffeinated soda
Getting back to work feeling refreshed
Quitting time (be honest, nothing good happens at work from 2:00-5:00)
Fridays!
Paydays!
Weekends!
Calling your mom, dad, sister, brother, etc. just to say “Hey”
The smell of your slow-cooked meal as you open your door
An equally satisfying dessert
Relaxing with a good book
Watching your favorite rerun of your favorite syndicated show
Answering Final Jeopardy correctly (especially when the contestants don’t)
TV night with your significant other (or in the case of my wife and I: TV nights)
Taking a vacation
Taking a staycation
Taking a mental health day
The first orange leaf in Autumn
The first snowfall of Winter
The first 70° day of Spring
The first Summer day when it’s hot enough for a swim
Getting an even tan (for once)
Holidays with friends and family
Planning a life with your love
Starting a life together
Looking back on past successes
Improving upon past failures
Living every day of your life to your fullest potential
Featured photo credit: Pixabay via pixabay.com
