DAILY BLESSINGS EVERYONE SHOULD COUNT
If “count your blessings” sounds clichéd to you, or if you’re waiting for something to happen that’s “worth” counting, you’re missing out on a lot of happiness by taking everyday blessings for granted. It’s time to look at the good things in your life with fresh eyes, and the following lists are to get you going.
While you’re at it, ask your children to help you count your shared blessings. (When you love someone, any joy either of you experiences can be a shared one.) Make a game of seeing who can list the most—chances are your kids will leave you in the dust, at least until you get a little practice. Get children interested in playing the game daily while they’re young, and they’re unlikely to join the grumbling ranks of “nothing ever goes right” adults when they grow up.
Ready? I’m willing to bet you have multiple examples of blessings from each of the following categories:
People
Starter examples:
- Authors
- Children
- Community leaders
- Coworkers
- Extended family
- Firefighters
- Friends
- Health professionals
- Law officers
- Mentors
- Performers
- Pets
- Religious leaders
- Teachers
Places
Starter examples:
- Beaches
- Churches
- Coffee shops
- Community centers
- Grocery stores
- Home
- Motels
- Parks/playgrounds
- Resorts
- Restaurants
- School
- Theaters
- Workplace
Things
Starter examples:
- Books
- Calendars
- Cars
- Clothes
- Coffee
- Computers
- Flowers
- Food
- Fresh air
- Ice cream
- Public transportation
- Video clips
- Water
Body
Starter examples:
- Arms
- Ears
- Elbows
- Eyes
- Fingernails
- Hair
- Knees
- Legs
- Lungs
- Nose
- Teeth
- Thumbs
- Tongue
Mind
Starter examples:
- Concentration
- Creativity
- Education
- I.Q.
- Imagination
- Learning
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Memory
- Neurotransmitters
- Problem-solving
- Reasoning
- Recognition
- Skills
Spirit
Starter examples:
- Confidence
- Courage
- Dreams
- Faith
- God/Higher Power
- Hope
- Insight
- Love
- Mindfulness
- Passion
- Prayer
- Sense of belonging
- Support
- Traditions
- Wisdom
That’s 82 blessings counted so far under the “general” banner. When making your list, be specific about why each item is a blessing to you. Why do you appreciate it? What feelings does it evoke in you? What’s unique about it? What would you have missed out on if you’d never had it?
A handful of closing hints for effective blessing-counting:
