Gratitude can do wonders for your mental, emotional, and even physical health. Of course, it’s easier said than done to find something to be grateful for when it seems like the world around you is crumbling. So I thought I’d do the work for you and make a sizeable list of random things to be grateful for. The sole purpose of this article is to (hopefully) put a smile on your face, so without further ado, here is a list of reasons to be grateful that you’re living on earth right now. Disclaimer: some of the topics listed may not be applicable to all readers.

• An entire chameleon foot is made up entirely of two toes.
• Deciding to pull an all-nighter just because you’re young and you can. 
• Deciding to go to bed early because you’re old and you can.
• Your dog’s reaction when they see you walk through the door and attack you with slobbery kisses.
• Going to an amusement park and hyping yourself up to get on the ride with your friends.
• The possibility that you may never have to work a 9 to 5 job in your life.
• Running full speed into the ocean even though it’s freezing cold.
• The fact that jacuzzis exist.
• Being able to see someone you really care about after you haven’t spent time with them in a while.
• The adrenaline rush you get when driving really fast down an empty road with your friends or significant other.
• (Not for single people… sorry) Your significant other’s smile and the way they make you laugh.
• Childhood memories that cause nostalgia.
• Growing up with LeapFrog and Nintendo DS.
• Blasting ‘F U” by Cee Lo Green in the car with all of the windows down.
• The hope for world peace.
• The ocean isn’t completely doomed because there are organizations that make it their mission to make sure our oceans are clean.
• For those of you that don’t like kids, enjoy not having to change stinky diapers or hear a child’s blood-curdling scream.
• For people who like babies, think about a baby’s giggle or how they usually just want to eat the wrapping paper off their presents and couldn’t care less about the present itself.
• Sometimes when the sunsets the sky becomes a gorgeous gradient of blue, green, orange, yellow, and purple.

  

• The oldest living tree on earth is 9,550 years old and it is located in Sweden.
• Being alive in 2021 means that you have the chance to look out of the window of an airplane and see the tops of all of the clouds as you fly by them.    
• Think about a time when you went to the bathroom in nature, either be grateful you never have to do that again or look forward to the next time you can leave your droppings in the woods.
• Waking up in the morning and smelling breakfast being cooked in the kitchen.
• The song “Hot Wings” from the 2011 cinematic masterpiece Rio. 
• The movie Rio. 
• Taking a sip of cold water on a hot day and feeling the water go all the way down your throat.
• The feeling you get when you’re not supposed to laugh but everything is funny.    
• That accomplished feeling you get when you’re out with your parents and ask to get fast food and they actually agree to get you something instead of saying there’s food at home.    
• Laughing so hard that you almost pee your pants. 

There is beauty in everyday life, you just have to look for it. I discovered the true beauty of life by using Rachel Hollis’ “Start Today’ daily gratitude journal for over two years, and it has changed my life. For more resources and ideas on how to practice gratitude in your daily life click this hyperlink.