Are you grateful?

Being forever grateful.

If we all think about it, we always can find others to thank for the success we’ve achieved in our lives.

Many times, I’ve heard people say, “nobody gave me anything.” I’ve been guilty of saying that also.

It’s not true. Regardless of what you think, it’s just not true.

While they may not have given you money, a car, or other material things, somebody did give you one thing- a chance.

Think about that for a second. In your life, probably more than one person, gave you a chance, an opportunity, that helped you succeed and achieve your goals.

I believe, most of us, have been given at least three chances/opportunities in our lives to achieve.

Sometimes, we get to be on both sides of this coin. We were given a chance, and we also gave a chance.

Again, I’ve had that happen also.

Many of us, me included, have a chip on our shoulder when we see others get opportunities based on who they are or where they came from.

I wasn’t born into money. I wasn’t born into a politically powerful family. I was raised by two parents who loved me and always gave me an opportunity and a chance to succeed.

Not all of us can say our parents did that, but in many instances, our parents gave us our first chance/opportunity.

In school, we probably had at least one or more teachers who believed we could achieve and do better.

It may have been a coach, but somebody, at some point gave us a chance/opportunity in school.

Depending on which path you took following high school, you may have furthered your education, or went into the workforce. If it was the latter…somebody took a chance on you.

When I reflect on my life, even though, in my mind, I feel like nobody gave me anything, I now see I was wrong.

I was given plenty. Plenty of chances and plenty of opportunities.

Time and time again we forget that. We forget we were given a chance. We allow that chip on our shoulder to carry the heavy burden of relegating our thoughts to a black hole of self-pity.

“I wasn’t born with a silver spoon.” “I wish I had the opportunities that (insert any name here) has had in my life.”

Saying that, feeling that way, how does that help us as individuals? It doesn’t. If anything, it hurts us more than we realize.

Albeit I wanted more in my life. I wanted to be a lawyer. I wanted to have plenty of money and be able to do anything I wanted. Didn’t you want more also?

Instead of feeling like you’ve been cheated, why not be grateful?

Why be bitter over something you don’t have and will probably never achieve? You know who that hurts? You.

You may have been done wrong in life. It may have left you feeling bitter or even angry.

Do you know who that hurts the most? You.

When you allow that to dictate your attitude, you’re allowing that to win. You’re allowing that to take any joy you could be having in your life.

Take it back. Instead of dwelling on what you don’t have, try being grateful for what you do have. Be thankful. Be appreciative, and most importantly, be forever grateful.

Yes, things could be better for all of us, but they could also be worse. Wherever you are in life, the beginning, the middle, or towards the end, stop, refocus, and take stock.

Take stock in knowing you aren’t alone. Take stock in knowing things may not be exactly how you wanted, but you have a silver lining, if you’d take notice, be appreciative, and most importantly, be forever grateful.

Onward. Forward.