Seun Tuyo: Thankful For the Random & Little Things

In the past months, there has been a sensation making the rounds on social media about the gratitude challenge. Many people took advantage of it to recount some of the things they are grateful for. It was overwhelming to see how people remembered many things some take for granted. Naturally, we get caught up amiss the hustle and bustle of the society and we find ourselves complaining more about things we do not have than expressing gratitude for things we do have. I believe everyone has something to be thankful for every minute, even the most miserable, most pessimistic and the most ill-fated person. It might be something taken for granted by others, but someone else is thankful for it.

Scores of people have lost their lives to senseless acts of violence and terrorism in our country Nigeria so far this year and countless others have lost their loved ones, their jobs, and others are marred for life, in grief, sick and/or living without hope. Despite these setbacks and bumps along the way, you are here, and you are reading this. You are truly blessed. I have written a few of the many insignificant things I am grateful for but before I begin, I want to express my most sincere gratitude to BellaNaija for this platform and also everyone who has taken time to read my articles, commented, given feedbacks and shared them with others, you make this worthwhile.

Here is mine:

• I am thankful for my parents, they remind me that many people have lost theirs.
• I am thankful for my brothers, they are simple proof that people are unique.
• I am thankful for sleep, it comes to me easy. It reminds me of many others dealing with insomnia.
• I am thankful when my alarm goes off at 5am in the morning; it reminds me that I am alive, I am 5ft 7inches over and not 6ft under, and I have a chance at another cup of coffee.
• I am thankful when I get up from bed in the morning and I can hear the cracks in my joints as I stretch, it reminds me that I have some working parts left.
• I am thankful for toilet paper and toothpaste…just imagine life without them.
• I am thankful when I have to whisper or yell. Ot reminds me that I have the gift of voice.
• I am thankful for my house. Despite the war with traffic in Lagos, it reminds me that I have a place to call home.
• As much as I nag about Monday, I am thankful I have a job considering the high rate of unemployment in our society; someone thought I was special enough to hire me.
• I am thankful for my body, although it is a work in progress. It only reminds me that I have sufficient to eat.
• I am thankful for deodorants. It reminds me of how unpleasant the smell of perspiration mixed with body odour is.
• I am thankful for my two besties – Mrs. Holland and Garfield, they remind me that with friendships, it is quality over quantity.
• I am thankful when I see my laundry bill; it reminds me that I have clothes to wear.
• I am thankful for my fingernails, they remind me of how soothing they make bites and how convenient it is to peel off a price tag from a new purchase.
• I am thankful when I look at my shoe rack, it reminds me that not only can I walk, I get to walk with fancy shoes and not barefoot,
• I am thankful to the lady who sings off key in church, it reminds me that I can hear.
• I am thankful for the dressing mirror I apply make up in front of, it reminds me that I can see.
• I am thankful for the bitter sweet sensation I feel around my chin and stomach after I have had a really good laugh, it reminds me that without laughter the world would be a sad place.
• I am thankful for the pain I feel when I am disappointed, it reminds me to appreciate life’s joy,
• I am thankful when I get the chills from my drinking cup filled with cold water; it reminds me that I can feel,
• I am thankful for Disney. Yes. I said it. They produced Frozen.

What if you woke up tomorrow with only the things you were thankful for today? Now you are thinking of making an exhaustive list, right? Think of all the exquisiteness that flows around you, look within and smile.  Be grateful for all the little things in your life no matter how random you think they are, because when you put them all together you will see just how significant they become.  Ultimately, it is not the happiness that makes us thankful; it is the thankfulness that makes us happy. Gratitude has a way of changing your mood, positively.

No I did not forget, I am thankful for Chocolates and Coca-Cola, they are simply irresistible. 🙂 🙂 🙂

And so I pose the question to you, what are the little and most random things you are thankful for? Try it, I promise not to judge you.

Photo Credit: Dreamstime | Daniel Korzeniewski