Being Thankful After Hard Times

     We have all experienced hard times. Financial concerns, relationship breakdowns, health issues and matters concerning both family and friends.
           After my divorce, I certainly found it difficult to see the silver lining in anything. I was in an enforced financial hole, my marriage over and looking forward, all I could see was a lonely future after turning 50.
            Of course, hindsight is a wonderful thing. I can look back now and realize that I had much to be grateful for. In fact, I firmly believe that coming through hard times can make us better and stronger.
            When I was first married, we struggled financially, to the extent of having to sell personal items to simply pay bills. We made it through and became more understanding of those facing hard times financially.

            In hard times, your mental health is understandably at its most fragile.  As such your outlook on things can be negatively distorted and so it can be difficult to appreciate what you have.
              So I thought I would compile a rudimentary list of things that can easily be taken for granted but shouldn't be. 
            I know that  during hard times, not everything in the list may apply to you, but it is important to understand that you only need one thing to be thankful for , to be able to begin a rosier outlook on life.

           

Things to be thankful for and not taken for granted

• Family and Friends.    In my darkest of times I was lucky enough to have a close knit family to offer me support.  Even if you are not close to your family, there is always someone , somewhere that will stand by you.  In times of need, even those you have not seen for years , will often be there for you if needed.
• A roof over your head.   I know that homelessness is an ever-growing problem and that many people find themselves homeless through no fault of their own. Divorce is a leading cause of homelessness for men with jobs. So if you are lucky enough, to have a roof over your head at night and shelter from the weather, regardless of just how humble it is, then you have reason to be thankful.
• Your Health.   Whilst you may not consider your health to be great, lets face it by 50, our bodies tend to creak a little, yet it could always be much worse. Even if you are facing hard times with health issues, the quality of Medical Care today is also not to be taken for granted. In Australia, we have free health care, even if, at times it requires a few years on a waiting list .
  
• A loving partner.  If you are lucky enough to have a loving partner, this is something never to take for granted. This especially applies to all the little things they do. Having recently had shoulder surgery on my dominant arm, I have been unable to do even the most basic of daily and household chores. Without my girlfriends patience and help I have no idea what I would have done.
  
• Food on the table.   If you are one of the lucky ones that have easy access to food, then life really isn't that bad. Especially if you also have access to clean drinking water. Something that a large percentage of the world's population do not have.

• Technology.    If you are reading this then you have access to the internet, and most likely both a mobile phone and a computer. Not to mention a TV or radio for entertainment.
• Employment.    Not everyone is lucky enough to be employed, so never take it for granted, even if you dislike your job. The freedom even a minimum wage offers is incalculable and not to mention the psychological benefits of your being employed.
• Longer life expectancy.  Due to things like advancements in health care, indoor plumbing and education our average life expectancy is increasing as is our quality of life
  

 Other things to be thankful for

• Nature and the Outdoors
  
• Sunsets
• Both the Sun and Rain
• Eyesight and Hearing
• Freedom of choice
• Free speech
• Art and Culture
• Literature and music
• Clean air
• Sense of touch, smell and taste
• The opportunity to be yourself
• Not living in a war zone
• Freedom of religion and thought
• Public open space
• Coffee and chocolate
• The beach

            No matter how bad you feel that things are in your life, there is always something for which you can be thankful for. All too often we forget the small things. The freedom to walk along a sandy beach or the opportunity to simply chat with another person.
            Obviously this is a far from complete list, but hopefully it gives food for thought and allows you to mentally add to the list with things that you yourself are thankful for.