The Little Things I'm Thankful For Even in the Throes of Mental Illness

You know that feeling you get when you win a board game? The pure innocent joy of succeeding at rolling some dice and lucking into a few good cards… it’s really something special. It shows how simple it is to enjoy the small things in life.

Sunrises and sunsets

A good cup of coffee

The first snowfall in the winter and the first bloom in the spring

Coupons, discounts, and bargains

The lines in the carpet after vacuuming

Eating yummy foods

Good company

Watching an excellent movie

Freshly washed bed sheets

The feeling of trust and the feeling of love

Finding money in a pocket

That clean feeling after a shower

The excitement of checking the mail and actually getting something other than junk

Binge-watching a favorite show

Random acts of kindness

Hitting every green light on the way home

Laying in bed after a long day

The radio playing a favorite song

Watching people thrive

YouTubing cute animal videos

Cracking up at a good joke, pun, or story

Engaging in a hobby

Friendly cashiers and store employees

Nice cold ice water

Helping someone else

Fuzzy blankets and fuzzy socks

and

playing a board game with the ones you love.

Living with a mental illness can truly suck. Like really suck. And it isn’t always possible to do, but when it is – enjoy the little things in life. We all have something to be a thankful for. I encourage you to spread the cheer by sharing what you are thankful for, no matter how small. Your list of joys just might bring joy to someone else. We’re all in this together.

This is dedicated to my three main guys who always remind me that there is something to smile about.

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Thinkstock image by Preto_perola