Introduction: A Powerful Reminder to Appreciate the Basics
Sometimes, it is necessary to ask ourselves, “How blessed am I, really?” In the frantic pace of modern life, it is easy to overlook how much we have, and how many things we take for granted, which are considered luxuries by many around the world.
Here, I want to remind you of how blessed you are in life by reshaping the basics. Fortunately, we can redefine them Step back from the rush and appreciate the things in life that we neglect the most.
This post is for you as much as it is for me. It is a perspective check. It offers an opportunity to pause, reflect, and actually value every single thing, big or small. More often than not, the check comes in the form of surprise blessings
Food, Shelter, and Safety: The Essentials We Often Overlook
If you have food on your plate, clothes to wear, and a safe place to rest your head at night, you have already surpassed over half of the world. For context, around 55% of the world’s population lacks the luxury of meeting these simple requirements.
While these may seem self-evident to some of us—everyday aspects of life in our contemporary society—millions of people across the globe struggle to fulfill these most basic requirements. Hunger, bad living conditions, and even homelessness are issues which affect a big part of humanity.
The Gift of Food and Shelter
As we ponder over it, having a roof over our heads and food on the table is not something everyone enjoys. Families in various regions of the world are often compelled to live without one or even both of these necessities. What is considered “normal” to us like daily food intake, warm comfortable beds, and a reasonably safe house, is a privilege!? Yes, it is a privilege which we do not consciously acknowledge.
It is not rare to become so overwhelmed by day-to-day challenges that we forget about comforts these basics provide. The next time you’re feeling stressed, take some time to think about the most basics of the basics like food, shelter, and personal safety, and remember, these are life essentials which you are privileged enough to have.
Disposable Income: A Privilege Not Everyone Has
Consider this, when someone has disposable income, the ability to buy things because they have funds to spare, and the freedom to move around – be it for relocating or traveling, they are in the top 8% of the global population.
Everyone has a social class they belong to, and in this technological age, it is easy to forget about the reality many people face. Each and everyone of us is constantly bombarded on the internet by influencers and ads showcasing luxurious lifestyles. In reality, however, many people throughout the world lack the “privileged” option to spend their funds as they choose and for a huge portion, instead of being a form of pleasure, money turns to be a struggle and managing day to day expenses is a job in itself.
The Ability to Choose
The term disposable income should not be confused with just having something to buy. Surplus funds allows an individual to manage their time the way they wish and are able to allocate adequate time even for themselves. Self investment in terms of education, world traveling, and adopting new experiences finally provides them the liberty to design a life that everyone can only fantasize about. It is right to suggest that having extra funds opens many doors available only in dreams for many out there.
Limited financial freedom—however modest—affords us a privileged position compared to the rest of the global population. For many, the ability to decide how to spend their money is beyond reach as they grapple with survival on a day-to-day basis.
Health: A Blessing Many Take for Granted
Good health is one of the greatest gifts that we could ever receive. Still, it is something that we often do not appreciate. In a world cluttered with distractions, work pressures, and unhealthy habits, it can be very easy to overlook how crucial a person’s health is.
Within the week, a million people depart this world for good—some due to illness and others due to tragic events. These facts make one evaluate the sheer privilege of being alive and healthy. Health, after all, isn’t merely the absence of sickness: It is the ability to function, to move, and to appreciate the beauty of everyday life.
The Fragility of Life
In this world, we have taken good health for granted far too many times. We need to start admitting, life doesn’t revolve just around money, and as we get older, keeping our health in check becomes equally important. It doesn’t matter what stage of life you are at, waking up with a healthy body is one of the biggest gifts out there. And while it is completely okay to complain about trivial modifications in our day-to-day lives, remembering how difficult life can get for others can really instill a sense of gratitude.
Go ahead and admit it; everyone, irrespective of what they have, is constantly seeking more or better. This simple desire of wanting more can be detrimental in the face of health problems, but on a brighter note, if you are just breathing and able to move around freely, that is health in itself, and fantastic achievement. Besides, you need to remind yourself, every little aspect of our bodies is comparable to a precious ‘temple’, and should be treated as such.
The Blessing of Being Alive: A Constant Reminder
How often do you control thoughts on being alive? One may often be preoccupied with the myriad of disappointments and obstacles life throws at them. However, one aspect that goes unnoticed in the hustle and bustle of daily life is the miracle of existence itself. Focused on the countdown each passing sec gives us, we miss the point of every single Day being a gift, and every Breath taken being an opportunity to learn, make an impact towards self growth and be productive
Appreciate Your Existence
The prevailing challenges we face on a daily basis can oftentimes make us feel exhausted and stricken by the day’s efforts. But being here today is indeed a blessing. The simple act of being alive grants us the chance to make the most out of lif e. There is a finite amount of time granted and being alive means every moment should be cherished and utilized for learning and creating memories.
From my perspective, the easiest taks in this world is to take one’s life for granted, but once we take a step back and recognize one’s condition no matter how worse it gets, having a heart to appreciate the little things truly helps heal the inner self.
Moral of the Story: Focus on Gratitude and Simplicity
The moral of this story is quit. Life’s problems are part of the story, but adding the drama only detracts from its beauty. In hindsight when we think of the essentials, we often overlook: food, shelter, health, and the ability to choose, and the choices made. Now, that’s a lot to be grateful for.
Gratitude for the Basics
Let us not focus on what is lacking, rather focus on what we possess. Appreciate the fundamentals: a roof over your head, meals to eat, good health, and the grace to live to see another day. These are keys to happiness. With dos of gratitude and simplicity, you can achieve peace and joy. The truth is, your external circumstances don’t have to dictate how you feel.
Recognizing everything that’s already available makes one stop chasing after unfulfilling desires and ridiculously endless fantasies. The now, simple appreciation brings profound fulfillment.
Start Living with Gratitude
It’s quite normal for individuals to chase after more wealth, social achievements or luxuries in life. However, true happiness comes from one’s appreciation of life which does not come from obtaining more.
If we shift our focus to health, safety, and our normal day-to-day interactions, we will feel more at peace and content in the present moment. So, why not reflect and appreciate how lucky you are? You will yield immense peace and fulfillment by valuing simple things instead of only pursuing material victories.
The moment we start being grateful for all the special things in life, that is when life truly becomes meaningful, and goals become more achievable.
