read it slowly, think it about it carefully. make it mean something.

If you woke you this morning with more health than illness, you are more

blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of

imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are

ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest,

torture, or death, you are more blessed than 

three billion people in the world.

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead,

and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish

someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If your parents are alive and married, you are very rare.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful,

you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder,

you are blessed because you can offer a healing touch

If you can read this message you've just received a double blessing in that

someone was thinking of you, and furthermore, you are more blessed than over

two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.

Have a good day, count your blessings, and pass this along to remind

everyone else how blessed we all are.

For the last two weeks, as soon as I wake up I begin to list of things I'm grateful for. 

It's not the type of list that i have to ramble on about, as if it's an assignment and a certain amount

of gratitude means more; some days i only find myself deeply thankful for eight things, some days it's 25.

it's about making sure you are being grateful for the

beautiful things in your life (and when you do, you're guaranteed more beautiful things).

 

so here's my list for today:

i am thankful that i have today.

i am thankful i'm healthy, that my family is healthy. 

i am thankful for the job i have to support the habits i possess (good or bad- either way, i have a great job). 

i am thankful for boise idaho, a fantastic place to live and grow. 

i am  thankful for the gift of receiving inspiration

(being inspired is the most fulfilling feeling in the world). 

i am thankful for the people in my life- both

friends and acquaintances- that teach me something every day. 

i am thankful for vincent, who makes me a stronger person day by day.

 i am thankful for safety and protection i've been given- i've never been in a war zone, a mission risk,

or in the path of a destructive person. and we forget that, sometimes.

i am grateful that i wake up every morning with sleepy eyes rather than a body riddled with pain.

i am thankful that i can cruise the internet, without limitations or censorship, and learn something 

i didn't know yesterday.
i am thankful for my mother <3 , her love and creativity spark my spirit.

i am thankful for the spring semester i just took, that opened up my spirit and heart to the 

millions of people who are suffering; i'm thankful i'm beginning to find a purpose.

and, i am thankful for the opportunity to share my thoughts. although i may write about cheesy,

corny things, sharing it other people expands my perspective and potential. so thank you for reading.

here's a tip for you: if you ever wake up "on the wrong side of the bed", and you start your day of

in a pissy, negative, temperamental mood, begin to think about all that you have, and all that you've been

given to enjoy. if that doesn't snap the selfish negativity right outa you; i'll help. :)