I missed my own challenge of posting a gratitude list every day for 30 days, but I still like the idea, and I'm still going to be posting gratitude lists from time to time, even beyond the 30 days. The idea behind the 30 days all along was to engender an ongoing habit. I think a lot of such lists focus on things, people, and events that the writer is glad to have, and that's perfectly legitimate. I just want to remember that on days when I may have trouble coming up with things for my gratitude list, one of the greatest resources is to think about the things, people, and event that I DON'T have. This list is all about that.
The danger is that some of these can sound flip. They're not meant to be. It's also a reminder that other people DO have some of these problems, and while I can be thankful that I don't have these specifically, I also can (in some cases) take some steps to help alleviate suffering elsewhere.
At the least, almost every entry involving something I DON'T have makes me aware of something else I DO have.
1. Toothache.
This could sound flip, but I'm very grateful for this. Some years ago, due to a lack of money, I went through months of excruciating pain because of not being able to afford treatment. I wound up losing a lot of teeth. I'm very grateful not only to be free of dental pain, but also to have access to good dental care now.
