A few days ago, Americans celebrated Thanksgiving Day. Since then, I’ve taken time to pause and consider if there are truly things to be grateful for with a global recession and energy crisis looming. There are. And it’s not so much in the big things of life but in the tiny sparkles and beauties that life brings.

We often get so caught up with how fast our lives are moving that we miss the tiny sparkles and beauties. We don’t pause long enough to consider how different life may have been. 

But here’s what I have learned.

Thanksgiving multiplies joy. When you are grateful for the little sparkles, you’ll soon find your joy unparalleled and your happiness momentous. 

What am I Thankful For?

I share a random list of 20 things I am grateful for in this post, hoping that it will spur you to pause and appreciate these tiny blessings – or more – in your life.

Things

• Being able to Google any question and get answers immediately (This right here has been saving lives since 1909)
• Fast internet
• Good ‘ol toilet paper (Lips sealed)
• Getting to the ATM stand and meeting no queue (For Nigerians in Nigeria)
• An ice-cold drink on an afternoon without a cloud in the sky.

Moments

• Laughing uncontrollably without any care for the next moment.
• Getting lost in a book or movie and losing track of time as you wander through its world.
• The voice of a loved one after a long time.
• When your favourite song comes on the radio. Bonus points if you can sing along loudly.
• Moments spent in prayer.

Feelings

• Cold chocolate dissolving on your tongue
• Talking with old friends and clicking without missing a beat.
• A cold shower after a hot stressful day.
• The taste of your favourite meal when you’re trying to satisfy a craving.
• Looking at your calendar and realising you have no meetings

People

• Seeing a friend win when you know they’ve been struggling for a while.
• Gisting with parents about a new life phase
• A baby who returns your smile and looks straight into your eyes.
• A pet (extra points if it is a dog) that bursts with happiness when it sees you arrive home.
• Everyone who takes their time to read my articles when I share them.

It’s Thanksgiving O’Clock

Notice anything about my list?

The items do not require you to be particularly affluent, talented, or successful. They are common to most of us, most of the time. More money won’t make you more thankful; the greatest joys in this life are beyond what money can buy. You just need to pause and consider.

What are you most thankful for? I’ll love to hear it.