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.”

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