Day 2 of 30 - Days of Gratitude

Starting a new challenge is usually exciting, staying on track is another thing!

Welcome to the second day of the 30-Day Gratitude Challenge. 

Starting a new mission is exciting because you can picture the result. It’s great to have an incentive in the picture. 

“What are the real benefits of gratitude?” some may wonder. I’ve done a bit of online reading and came across many articles pointing towards the most common benefits. From the ability to create meaningful relationships to improve psychological well-being, gratitude takes care of that. Thankfulness overrides toxic emotions, e.g. frustration, envy, and regret to enhance the spirit of ubuntu (humanity towards others).

You will sleep better too. Why? Because your system has better things to do instead of wasting your valuable time trying to figure out the perfect revenge. A sense of gratitude improves your mental fortitude and self-esteem too. I guess it all comes to knowing who you are. When you stop comparing yourself with others, you will realise that the most significant competitor is yourself and won’t feel the need to bring others down so you can get somewhere. A spirit of gratitude makes you a better version of who you are, which leads to more open doors, adventures, and opportunities.​

If you’re like me, you might be inclined to do the right thing, which explains why you’re reading this article. However, I am reminded of the number of times that I started something and quit somewhere along the way: too many distractions, something else came up, or to put it - I lost the motivation. It was not because the challenge was a bad idea; it’s because changing a habit is one of the most challenging things to do. 

As much as I’ve been on the gratitude journey before writing, I’ve noticed that I don’t always feel motivated and inspired to practice gratitude. I know for a fact that today, I let my thoughts wander, and at some point, felt a wave of negative emotions. I was impatient, became irritated about a minor issue, and even entertained fear. It’s inevitable; we’re human. But I’m grateful that I quickly realised what was going on, and chose to practise patience instead of judgement, spoke a few thought-out lines, even when I could write a novel about my negative feelings, and made a conscious choice to stay focused and plan my day.​
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A spirit of gratitude makes you a better version of who you are, which leads to more open doors, adventures, and opportunities.​
​-Ubuntu Courtyard

​You, too, will find some resistance as you embark on your journey of gratitude. When that happens, don't be hard on yourself, take baby steps, and allow room for failure. You might quit and choose to forget about it, but I believe that if you've ever felt the need to change something about yourself, you will most likely come across another reminder. We all have choices, and free will is a given. May I take this opportunity to encourage you to continue practising gratitude, even when you don't always feel like it. "Choose life, so that you and your children may live." (Deuteronomy 30: 19)

Today, I am focusing my gratitude on a country. Yes, I will be patriotic and highlight some of the few things (amongst many) that I'm grateful for as a UK citizen.

​Brexit or no Brexit, I love and appreciate this country and what it's done for my children. So many times, we complain a lot without taking a moment to be thankful for what we have as citizens. One day, I will get to where I was born and raised, but for now, I feel encouraged to give thanks for some of the things that many of us now take for granted. Having a helicopter view of what others are going through in life spearheaded my gratitude journey. It reminded me how lucky I am to live here​ in the UK. ​​

Day 2 of 30

1. I am grateful that I have choices to learn, work, and start a business without hassle. Although I've encountered challenges along the way, I have benefited a lot from the help that I received, mainly because I was treated as a human being with rights. I'm grateful that in this country, it is possible to rise from nobody to someone and work towards my goals with the hope that I can make it. It's a place that has given people who would have been condemned in their home countries opportunities to have decent lives. I'm lucky enough to know people with determination to succeed, and life in the UK paved the way. It might not be easy, but hope is alive. 
2. I am grateful for the NHS. Yes, I said it! And it's true. I've never had to pay to see a doctor, nurse or consultant or any other health professional. I am grateful for the unique beings who attended to me when my children and I needed help. This I write because I am aware of the hoops that others have to jump before they can receive medical attention. And when they do, it's nothing compared to what we have in the UK. ​
3. I am thankful for the schooling system and all efforts by the teachers and headteachers who have shaped my children's learning journeys, from nursery to where they are. Lucky enough to have experienced independent (private) and sound state schooling systems. Not only did I send my children to learn, but I also found myself learning along the way. I am filled with fond memories and pray for the teachers who encourage my children and others to reach for the stars. ​I am genuinely grateful for the opportunity to obtain my masters at a Russell Group University, amongst other qualifications. Learning has broadened my horizons in ways I could never imagine. 
4. As I write this, I've received a postal vote for local elections. I've been using postal voting as an option for years in different polls and have never had to wait in a queue to vote. I'm grateful that I'm free to vote for whoever I want, and I take a lot of factors into consideration before placing a vote. I am not pushed to choose any party. Who I vote for is my choice. The UK makes voting simple and easy. I am well aware that others have to fight for their right to vote.​
5. I am thankful for the technology that allows me to work online and from home without pain. My broadband is one of the best in the country. It's fast and seamless, which gives me the ability to process large files at any given time without encountering slow-downs or interrupted services unless it's an emergency, which is very rare. ​What's more, the monthly charges are fixed, and I have unlimited data! 
6. I am grateful that despite my complaints and worries about bills, bills, bills, I know how and where my money is being used. For example, every April, I receive a detailed letter from the City Council, explaining budgets and where our council tax is being spent. As a resident, I don't have to worry about street lights, rubbish bin collections, local libraries, litter or the state of infrastructure. They take care of business, despite the financial pressures they face. This never happens in other countries.
7. I am grateful to my neighbours. We can chat and laugh over a cup of tea and cake and talk about anything and everything without feeling judged. The people I'm referring to are British. Some of them help with my garden, and I never have to worry about mowing the lawn, watering plants or weeds.
8. ​So grateful for the people who have become a part of my family, even though we hail from different countries. This country has also allowed me to connect with others from different tribes. I've learned that we have so much in common despite different views, preferences, or ways of doing things. I am grateful for friendships and relationships that know no skin colour, tribe, or race.
9.  ​I have a wide choice when it comes to shopping, either in supermarkets, department stores or online. If something I want is not available, I can easily find it elsewhere or choose another alternative. ​
10. I am thankful for the fantastic people I've worked with and those I continue to work with within various settings. They have taught me a lot about thriving business practices and allowed me to adopt an international perspective while understanding how global issues affect my family. It's such a privilege to have a helicopter view of what's happening around the world. My exposure to different cultures and teachings has sharpened my outlook and furthered my horizons. 
11. Although I wasn't born here, I am proud to say that I was made in the UK! ​

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​The end.
​Previous article: Day 1

day 3 of the 30-Day gratitude challenge