Skip to main content

Gratitude, the best attitude

 “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life; it turns what we have into enough, and more.”


I may not have the husband, the family, the house or the job I once dreamed of having. I may not be the fittest, the trendiest or the most sutnning and confident woman around. However, I am well aware that I have so many things to be grateful for; including my family, my friends, my safety, my health…and so much more!



Some of us sit around from time to time feeling sorry for ourselves. We feel overwhelmed, frustrated, unhappy, then suddenly we spiral into a negative vortex. We beat ourselves up for making certain choices, and/or for not being who and where we think we should be at a certain point in our lives. 
We are constantly being told to aim high, to set goals, and to keep bettering ourselves, but unfortunately, while we’re so busy striving for more, we often forget to enjoy the present moment, and all that we already have. Of course, we should always try improving ourselves, but more importantly, we should take pride in our own personal path and growth. We can’t all be ‘at the top’, so why not appreciate the more simple things; such as, the learnings, the sights, the experiences, and the relationships we have throughout our life-long journies? 

Dubai, sometimes referred to as a City of Dreams, is a place that offers most expats a more luxurious lifestyle, with an abundance of opportunities many would not even imagine having back in their home countries. It is truly a gem, and a city like no other. That said, while living here, one could easily get caught up in the aim for ‘perfection’. We are surrounded by many wealthy, attractive, and successful people, and in addition to the opinions already presented by family, friends, and/or social media, this accumulation of pressures could sometimes lead one to think that they are ‘not enough’. 

Let’s be clear: each of us is enough just by being ourselves and showing up for our life every day. The acts of gratitude and self-appreciation aren’t easy, but they can truly help us recognize our own worth. We should all try to stop focusing on what we aren’t and what we don’t have, but rather inspire one another to be proud of who we are, the risks we take, the obstacles we overcome, the accomplishments we make…and to just simply be grateful for all that we have.

“Practicing gratitude is how we acknowledge that there’s enough, and that we’re enough.”





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Living Outside The Box

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I believe I’m on the path I’m meant to be." As we get older, it’s easy to get trapped in society’s idea of what life "should" look like. By the time we hit 40, there’s a well-defined picture of success: owning a home, starting a family, climbing the career ladder. But as I approach this milestone, I’m choosing to remind myself that true happiness isn’t found in checking off someone else’s list. It’s found in stepping outside the box, embracing the unexpected, and allowing life to unfold in its own unique way. Sure, my path hasn’t always been conventional, and I’ve often found myself comparing my journey to others, wondering why I’m not where they are. But when I take a step back and reflect, I see how much I’ve gained by stepping off the well-worn road. Life may not have gone according to plan, but I’m proud of the unexpected milestones I’ve reached along the way. I’ve traveled to over 40 countries, lived in three (ye...
Post a Comment
Read more

The runner in me

“Mind over miles.” A few years back, I was all in. I was that person signing up for every race that came across my radar—10K’s, half-marathons, marathons—you name it. The thrill of crossing the finish line, the camaraderie at the starting line, the way the crowds cheered you on, it was all so energizing. I didn’t even need music to get through a run, even a whole 42km marathon, which, I know, sounds crazy to most people. But there I was, in my zone, taking it all in and doing something I enjoyed. I collected lots of medals and racked up plenty of podium finishes, but most importantly I had some memorable international races, and met tons of amazing people along the way. I discovered that running was a really accessible sport; all you needed was a pair of shoes and the will to go. I could literally show up to a race, put one foot in front of the other, and—boom—be part of a community of people all working toward the same goal. So, what happened? Why did I stop running? For me, it came d...
Post a Comment
Read more

Locked in.

“ The successful warrior is the average (wo)man , with laser-like focus. ” Life’s been feeling a little dull lately, but there’s one thing keeping me fired up; the experience of a lifetime is just around the corner. In just four weeks, I’ll be heading to Chicago to compete in the Hyrox World Championships, and I’m locked in. For many competitive and athletic kids, the dream is to make it to the Olympics or stand on a world championship stage in their sport. While Hyrox may not be the Olympics, for me, this is kind of that moment. This is my ‘world stage’; I can’t wait to soak it all in and add it to the list of things I’m proud of. This idea sort of started on my 40th birthday this year. While most people celebrate with a party and cake or a getaway, I made a wild choice: I booked my place in the Hyrox World Championships with my doubles partner. Bold? Definitely. Crazy? Probably. Worth it? Without a doubt. The last time I pushed myself this hard was back in 2019 when I trained for a C...
Post a Comment
Read more