Appreciate what you have....

How often do you spend time wishing that you had something that you don't have? Perhaps a new top, a bathroom, a car, a house, even a new or different partner. On the other hand how often do you spend time actively appreciating what you do have? Why is it that we constantly focus on what we want/need/desire rather than being grateful for that which we already have? I was pondering the other day why those in dire poverty overseas often look happier in the photographs than many a face that I see every day, despite my fellow Brits being on the whole well fed, clothed, housed and educated with a health system that may have problems, but at least exists. I suspect that because many poor young Africans don't have the means to materially improve their lifestyles, they spend less time yearning for what they might have and more time living in the moment. As a result perhaps they are more able to immediately appreciate what little they do have - thankful for some water, some food, some sun. Grateful for the love of their family and friends, enjoying it all in the moment. Whilst it is generally a positive thing to aspire for greater things in life, be it of a material, spiritual or intellectual nature, constantly wanting something that we haven't yet got is likely to leave a feeling of frustration, dissatisfaction or even bitterness. The next time you feel yourself coveting something, try to shift your focus to gratitude for the many things that you do have. Your health, your family, your education, your freedom, your bed, your clothes, your house. If you genuinely think over the many things that you do have, and consider how much joy and comfort that they do actually bring, and think also of how you would feel if you didn't have them, you should create for yourself a much more positive feeling of gratitude, happiness and warmth. Far better than the dissatisfaction of desire which in many cases is not derived from a genuine need, but just because we see other things out there and think that they might be better than what we already have. Try never to be in the position to say, "I didn't appreciate it until it was gone". Appreciate that which you already have and feel happier in the process.