Photo by whatmegsaid
By Peter Clemens
One of the most popular online videos last week was a very funny interview Conan O’Brien did the comedian Louis CK. Louis makes the observation that although we have so many amazing things these days (eg high speed internet access on airplanes), people still don’t seem to be happy. If you haven’t seen it already, I recommend you watch Everything’s Amazing, Nobody’s Happy (sorry, YouTube won’t let me embed the video into this post).
This video reminded me that it is very easy to take many wonderful things in our lives for granted. If we can only learn to look at life a little differently, it is possible to find an abundance of things to be thankful for.
50 Things To Be Thankful For
1. Twitter (thank you to everyone on Twitter who helped me compile this list)
2. TED
3. Sisters (@SteveErrey)
4. Brothers
Photo by Daniel E. Bruce
5. Coffee
6. Snow covered mountains
7. A warm bed to sleep in (@bluestatus)
8. Fresh fruit
Photo by MVI
9. Chocolate
10. Lolcats
11. Ice cream
12. Children laughing
13. Children smiling
Photo of my 8 month old son Rohan
14. iPhones/ iPods
15. Your Health (@JohnKoetsier & @bklynyogini)
16. Flowers
17. A good novel
Photo by Demi-Brooke
18. Red wine
20. Air conditioning on a hot summer day
21. Dishwashers
22. Good conversation
23. Good friends
24. President Obama
25. Rock ‘n’ Roll
Photo by Charlie Cravero
26. Walks in nature
27. Post Secret
28. Hugs
29. Cats
30. Dogs
Photo by e3000
31. The internet, for giving the possibility to meet, learn from & share with many so incredible people, so easily (@SiDawson)
32. Warm showers
33. Barbecues
34. Rainbows
Photo by Nicholas T.
35. WordPress
36. Libraries
37. The Daily Show
38. Limbs (@BambooForest)
39. Lazy Sundays
40. Grandchildren (@Vic_Toria)
41. Sunrises
42. Sunsets
Photo by m o d e
43. Peanut butter
44. The Nintendo Wii
45. Pizza
46. Love
47. Sex
48. The Simpsons
49. Today, because today is another opportunity to get it right and make a positive change (@smalonedesign)
50. High speed internet access on airplanes ;)
Please feel free to keep adding to the list by sharing things you’re thankful for in the comments below!
The Blogging Blog
Hi Peter,
Great list! And thanks for sharing with us the video. You’ve inspired me to create my own list of 50 things to be grateful for to share on my blog. :)
Cheers~
Mark
Thanks Mark! Glad you enjoyed it. I’ll keep an eye out for your list on your blog :)
Here a few things I added,
the beach
finding shells
sweet tea
a walk in the rain
I thought this was fantastic! I love the sunrise and sunset
Great list Peter,
41,42 and 47 are definitely my favourites ;)
nice post :)
Your son sure looks gorgeous!! Oh yes…there are lots of things to be grateful for!
Rohan looks lovely .. every smile! My mother is dying and her smiles and happiness make me feel happy .. it’s great to be able to give at this time.
Your list is really interesting
I’d add just being blessed ..
Hilary: Be Positive Be Happy
Hi Hilary,
I’m sorry to hear about your mother, but I’m happy that you are able to spend time with her and find a positive in the situation.
Your comment made me think of the following lyrics from Jack Johnson’s song “If I Could”:
1. I like sauna (banya) very much. Tshhhh…(can u keep a secret?) Some times it brings more pleasure than sex
2. Football & beer
3. Billiard (pool)
Wow, you must really like your sauna!
Agreed on the (Australian Rules) football and beer; those are two of my favorite things too. :)
I’m blessed to be alive and healthy. That video is hilarious!
Yes, he’s a very funny guy! I spent an hour or more Saturday night watching clips of him on YouTube. I find his observations on parenting to be particularly funny (although they are far from politically correct; not recommended if you are easily offended).
Brilliant! Twitter, TED and good coffee is a great start to any day!
@Jessica, Hi Jessica,I’m a big fan of TED also,isn’t it a great site? I’m happy that you mentioned it on here,perhaps more ppl will check it out.
Great list! The additions of wordpress, digg, reddit are great. I got a good laugh when I read them. Thanks for sharing
Thanks for the great post!
The world needs to make one big gratitude list!
Hi Peter, this is a great list. You are really concern about little things.
Thanks for sharing with us.
Hey Peter,
Thanks for sharing an excellent gratitude list. You gave me some good laughs!
Gratitude is something I focus on every night before falling asleep and has profound effects on my life.
-Ryan
absolutely great,it’s as if the author read my mind out loud.All the things you mentioned are my favorites too.We must be related,and to add to the list #51.I’m thankful for you!
Add books and reading and DVD, especially books and reading, and walking round a corner and seeing someone i really like who i haven’t seen for ages walking towards me. Add them to the list..
uh…where’s weed?
I am thankful for the game of golf, without it my life would be different right now.
i am thankful for the gift that God gave me to see beauty in everything.
HI Peter,
This is a great list; I hope you printed it out and kept it by your desk as a daily reminder. :) Loved the images you chose!
Hey peter!
That was pretty awesome! You have inspired me to share a few things that I am thankful for:
My Wonderdog, Daisy.(she is really cute!)
My best friends, who ALWAYS cheer me up when I am sad, or mad.
My camper so I can go to the lake every summer.
My ice-skates so I can ice-skate with friends every week.
And last but not least, my family who loves me so.
(P.S. love the pic. of the dog! I love pugs!)
thanks!
-Em
I loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee the pic of the doggie
Peter,
I love this post. If we can change our thinking to be always concentrating on what we have instead of what we want we will all be more content. I also like that it is 50. That is enough to get you out of the usual…family, health etc. and into more whimsical things.
We do this every Thanksgiving and share our list around the table by calling out a specific number. We love the tradition and highly recommend it.
You can read all about it at http://www.familytrek.org/the-.....tradition/
Thanks Peter!
Monica
The sincerest form of thanks is not merely saying the words “Thank you,” although there is a time and a place for that. Words can be hollow and empty if they are not accompanied by appropriate, corresponding action. The sincerest form of thanks is to share the gift !
I was struggling financially even before the economy turned down. I had been without an automobile for three years. Then a wonderful lady gave me her older car when someone handed down a newer car to her. I say, “THANK YOU !” But I also SHOW “Thank you” by giving rides to people who really need a lift.