Do you ever just stop and think how lucky you are?

[ProverbialOuthouse]

I don't know if I'm just on a high or what (I suffer with irrational mood swings) but I often just stop and think about how lucky I am.

Example - a few nights ago I got into bed, got comfy with my iPad and thought "shit, I'm so lucky - I'm laid here in a beautiful comfy bed, in a lovely warm house, playing on an iPad with reliable wifi, a full belly and a class of clean water beside me". It's the little things. How many people at that moment would be trying to sleep in an alley way, hungry and cold and wondering if they'll make it through the night without being picked on by idiots passing by? How many people at that moment would be laid in a mucky bed, cold because the electric/gas had ran out and wondering whether the pennies they have left for the week will stretch to another meal? And I'm talking about this country (uk) alone. In other places the outlook can be so much worse.

Last night I went to grab the milk out of the fridge and a load of stuff fell out - why? Because the fridge is so full that there isn't the room for everything. I had another of my moments in thinking how lucky I am and said to DH "the fridge is so full stuff is falling out of it, arnt we lucky so have that?". He gave me a look and said "not this again!". But I can't help it!! I can't just take these things for granted, I feel they should be appreciated and acknowledged regularly. I wasn't always so lucky - there was a time when I had to choose between eating or having heating so maybe that's why I'm like this?

Not a goady or boasting thread btw and I realise that some people reading this may not be so lucky but does anyone else sometimes just stop and count their blessings over the little things? Or am I odd?

Yes - especially with all these natural disasters. So many places where I am fortunate not to live.

And to have health. Sympathies to those who do not.

"Today 13:32 Wishingandwaiting

I might be wrong but I'm guessing that no one on this thread suffers from depression and we are all an optimistic fairly robust group of people."

You're wrong, unfortunately. I have diagnosed clinical depression, for which I frequently have to take medication. I've had therapy to manage it.

When I'm at my lowest it actually helps me to remember the stuff I wrote about on this thread, that however shitty my brain is being by telling me my life is over and I have no future and I'm worthless and useless and unlovable, the evidence shows otherwise. It helps to remind myself that even if I'm really low, I'm really low in a peaceful country and have access to healthcare to help me improve my depression and have people who care about me to take the load off once in a while.

Practicing gratitude is one way to help depression and avoid a relapse.

I am however very robust, partly as a result of everything I've had to deal with in my life so far. But I wouldn't call myself an optimist. I'd say I'm a realist. Friends say I'm more of a pessimist.

Yes. My car has remote engine start and the seats heat up. In the winter I do it while having a coffee and feel like the queen.

Nope.

I think of how unlucky I am to have had a sibling kill themself. I would do anything to bring my brother back.

Yes.

XMeowX... I lost a sibling to suicide. I feel gutted they're gone from my life. But I do feel enormously lucky to have ever had them in my life. They were fab, great person and wonderful sibling. I feel so fortunate they were part of my life even though the ending was so tragic. I have found a way to be sad for their passing but grateful for their existence. But it's been a couple of years for me now x

I constantly feel the same! I grew up dirt poor and I'm constantly feeling grateful for all I have. I have anxiety and depression, so it's not something that used to come easily to me, as someone suggested above.

I feel fulfilled at work, my family is healthy and happy, we have food and comforts, our own home. It's a good life. I think capitalism creates dissatisfaction with your lot, refusing to buy into it made a huge difference to my happiness.

Last month I'd had a horrible day at work and an old injury was causing me a fair bit of pain. Got home from work and DD's best friend's dad rang up to say his wife was in surgery for s brain tumour. That family's world has come crashing down since. That was when I realised how truly fortunate we are as a family. It has given me a very different outlook on life.

Meow kity I lost a sibling to a terminal illness. The darkness of grief never really leaves, but I am so glad she came to our family where there was so much love and acceptance for her until the time came for her to leave. No other family could have been as good for her as we were, and she gave us all such clear perspective.

Meow I'm with you.

Yes, at times I count my blessings but not always. Ok im not in a war zone but the last year has been fucking shit (and I mean SHIT) so I don't feel guilty for feeling bruised and a bit sorry for myself.

All the time. We moved a few months ago. We were living in less than ideal circumstances before.

We were at a party this afternoon and left when it started raining. Came home, put clean jammies on, locked the door, turned up the heating and closed all the curtains. Bliss.

My favourite thing to do before I go to bed is look at my children. Sleeping soundly in their nice, warm clean beds.

I'm disabled but consider myself very lucky, 6 years ago I was in a wheelchair close to death

Quite by change I finally worked out what was wrong with me which was later confirmed by drs. The condition has left me with chronic problems but I can now walk and lead a simple life

The condition has it turns out been killing my family members including my mum. for generations it was only found because as a nurse I was able to link things together that had happened decades apart

Both my gorgeous children 13 and 15 have inherited the condition but because they have been found early they are the first generation that will live a normal life

I realise how lucky I am every time I see them being normal teenagers

Yes I get stressed about work & try to think well at least I'm lucky to have a job with nice colleagues, that I mostly enjoy & get paid annual leave.

I'm lucky to own a house with a small mortgage, I can't really afford the heating but I've got warm clothes & bedclothes. It's furnished & carpeted with running water, electricity & gas.
I could be living in a van like one of my friends (long story).

I could have one small meal a day & no shoes like both my grandfathers.

I have some serious MH problems & epilepsy but I could be physically badly disabled & not cope with it well emotionally or financially.

Yes I'm single but I could be stuck with a man like the arsehole next door!

(I meant both my grandfathers when they were children)

My favourite thing to do before I go to bed is look at my children. Sleeping soundly in their nice, warm clean beds.

Me too. My mum does mentally too, we're now 43, 46, 51 and 55.

I used to love doing this, now I get shushed out of their rooms as they are playing on line

This photo has stayed with me, I first saw it when my own DD was just a baby. imgur.com/gallery/lyD5XVw
This could be me just as easily. WW2 was actually not that long ago - where my family was similarly forced to run, or DHs family sent their children to live at the other end of the country with total strangers. Very lucky.

I often think if this were 100 years ago, my sons would be at war and they might not come back. This thought kills me and it was a reality for so many families. How they lived through it , it must have been unbearable.

Good thread op, you are so right.

I have experienced some bad times and the good times

I have been lucky to get through the bad times

I frequently say how grateful I am and I have appreciated help from family and friends

I have learnt and it has made me stronger

I try to help others in small ways

@ssd that thought crosses my mind often as well.

Lovely thread. I do this too OP, all the time. Especially about my children. I had 3 miscarriages in the process of having them and sometimes I still can't quite believe they're mine. I feel so, so incredibly lucky to have them. Even on the most tiring, stressful days I never take them for granted. We have a smallish but lovely house with everything we need and a bit more, and don't have to worry about paying the bills. Me and DH are still as in love as ever, and make a great team - I've had some anxiety stuff going on recently and he's been amazing.
Obviously things are not perfect, nothing ever is, and we have worries and stress like everyone else, but we have so much to be grateful for. We have plans for more (bigger house, mainly) but are good at appreciating the here and now. I often say to DH (especially when the kids are playing up!) that we'll look back on these days as some of the best of our lives.
and all the best to those who are feeling distinctly not-lucky, for some very valid reasons.

To a PP, I have suffered all my life from severe mental health problems. Sometimes they are under control, sometimes they are not.

One way I know that I am managing my illness is when I feel so grateful and lucky to live my life. There are so many people who have similar issues who DON’T have: a wonderful, support spouse; a loving family; a beautiful home; an understanding workplace; the right medical treatment. I’m a Christian and try to ensure my prayers start and end with ‘thank you’.

i go through periods of "why me" and hating having a load of stuff wrong with my body and yet another medical appointment and more surgery.

I try to count blessings how lucky I am to have the family support I have. Also to live in a country with a free (at point of use) health service. There are also blood donors whose generosity meant I could have brain surgery with the back up of blood available if I needed it.

I need to count blessings but I also think it's ok at times to scream that the world isn't fair, the fact that someone else is worse off because they have no access to antidepressants doesn't make it easy to deal with my own depression.

i dont do this enough. My grandmother (fathers side) died of malnutrition. She had no money to buy food to eat - and daily, i see us wasting food because my toddler can sometimes be picky. We are all so very lucky.

MN has taught me a lot. People's stories just bring it home to you how hard things are for some people in the UK. I've travelled a lot and have seen a lot but thinking about the UK, I'm glad I have a roof over my head, I am no longer worrying about being kicked out as I own my house, I finally have a job and I am not worrying too much about food. My mental health has improved and I have managed to stop self harming.

There are people out there with so much less and in such crappy situations. MN really does help people talk about their lives. to people out there in such situations.