50 Things To Be Thankful For

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

19. Reddit & Digg

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!

This entry is filed under: Gratitude, Happiness - 26 Comments »

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26 Comments

Mark Foo | TheBigDreamer.com
March 2nd, 2009 at 1:42 am

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

Reply
Peter
March 2nd, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Thanks Mark! Glad you enjoyed it. I’ll keep an eye out for your list on your blog

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Glen Allsopp
March 2nd, 2009 at 1:58 am

Great list Peter,

41,42 and 47 are definitely my favourites

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farouk
March 2nd, 2009 at 3:40 am

nice post

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Evelyn Lim
March 2nd, 2009 at 4:57 am

Your son sure looks gorgeous!! Oh yes…there are lots of things to be grateful for!

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Hilary
March 2nd, 2009 at 6:56 am

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

Reply
Peter
March 2nd, 2009 at 8:35 pm
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”:

“They say that
new life makes losing life easier to understand
Words are kind
they helped ease the mind
of this, my old friend
And though you gotta go
we’ll keep a piece of your soul
What goes out
What goes in

Reply
shop4rooms(twi)
March 2nd, 2009 at 10:18 am

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)

Reply
Peter
March 2nd, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Wow, you must really like your sauna!

Agreed on the (Australian Rules) football and beer; those are two of my favorite things too.

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tess The Bold Life
March 2nd, 2009 at 10:57 am

I’m blessed to be alive and healthy. That video is hilarious!

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Peter
March 2nd, 2009 at 8:11 pm
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).

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Jessica
March 2nd, 2009 at 8:09 pm

Brilliant! Twitter, TED and good coffee is a great start to any day!

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andie
March 8th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
@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.

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Jonathan | EnlightenYourDay.com
March 3rd, 2009 at 6:37 pm

Great list! The additions of wordpress, digg, reddit are great. I got a good laugh when I read them. Thanks for sharing

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Chad at The Effective Spirit
March 6th, 2009 at 8:20 am

Thanks for the great post!

The world needs to make one big gratitude list!

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Arswino
March 7th, 2009 at 5:15 am

Hi Peter, this is a great list. You are really concern about little things.
Thanks for sharing with us.

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Ryan Yokome | Acorn-Seeds
March 8th, 2009 at 11:30 am

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

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andie
March 8th, 2009 at 6:55 pm

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!

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Arpana
March 9th, 2009 at 12:48 pm

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..

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Marie
March 10th, 2009 at 2:25 pm

uh…where’s weed?

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David Bastyr
March 16th, 2009 at 12:30 am

I am thankful for the game of golf, without it my life would be different right now.

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sarah
March 17th, 2009 at 3:15 pm

i am thankful for the gift that God gave me to see beauty in everything.

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HeyStephanie
March 17th, 2009 at 7:40 pm

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!

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Em
November 3rd, 2009 at 2:57 pm

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

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shelly
November 10th, 2009 at 6:06 pm

I loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee the pic of the doggie

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