Count Your Blessings

It was a cold rainy day yesterday, and it makes me think about the upcoming Yuletide season, Christmas is coming! And of course, I listen to some good music, some Christmas songs. And I saw a Playlist on Facebook, a Christmas songs medley by a Filipino Singer/Composer, Jose Marie Chan. He was very popular especially during Christmas, most of the Christmas songs being played on the radio was his songs.

I enjoyed the good relaxing music, and to be honest I was moved by one of the songs I played. This song catches my attention and my heart. The song I'm referring to is “Count your Blessings instead of Sheep”. Maybe this song was only a rendition, and the song I heard was the version of Jose Marie Chan. It was simple, relaxing but if you'll listen deeply the song has a deep message.

“When I'm worried and I can't sleep

I count my blessings instead of sheep

And I fall asleep counting my blessings

When my bankroll is getting small

I think of when I had none at all

And I fall asleep counting my blessings”

Those lyrics moved me, those simple thoughts were so deep. I can relate to it and make me think deeper in life.

I admit there were times where I can't sleep easily, not because I have sleep problems, but I have something in my head that keeps lingering instead. Some personal and deep thoughts about my family, and the future. I admit that I am a worried mom, a worried partner, and a worried person, I'm just a human being after all. However, despite all of those worries in life, I never forget to give thanks for the blessings I've received, small or big.

Counting your blessings, what does it mean?

Honestly, blessings for me are not only material things but all the good in my life. My children, my partner, my family are my greatest blessings in life. So for me, counting your blessings means trying to appreciate and be grateful for all the good that happened in your life too. I know life isn't perfect. I doubt even the richest man in the world has a perfect life. Instead complaining about what you don't have, be grateful for what you have small or big, it is still a blessing.

And the song reminds me to appreciate the little things in life. Though our life isn't perfect, our family faces difficulties and problems sometimes, still, I am grateful that we overcome it.

Appreciating the little things in life

At the age of 25, I thought about my present situation and the future. I saw my classmates working abroad, building their own house, has a stable job, and I am here living pretty normal and happy with my family. No, I don't have regrets that I didn't achieve what they've achieved. I am just happy for them, and to be honest, I am happy in my life too, I don't need to compare myself to others, comparison will just make it tough for me to appreciate little things in my life. I'm just enjoying every sip in my coffee cup, enjoying the moments while my kids and I are still young. I know that life is too short, I can't live hundreds of years and guide them forever, but I want to see them grow up to be good individuals in the future.

You may not notice the little things in life that you have, you don't know that they matter most and has a huge impact on your living. If you'll learn to appreciate all the good in your life, little or big, you'll learn how to stop emphasizing the meaning of bad events to your life, stop the complaints, and consequently, you'll find a valuable source of mental balance instead.

In life we may face different stressors, making us hard to come up with crucial decisions, and the easiest way to relieve it is to take a deep breath, breathe slowly, it can help you to calm down, you may not notice it but taking ep and slow breathing helps a lot in your whole. When I'm full of doubts and stresses, I always breathe in and out slowly, it is to calm myself and to help me think of the right actions to take. After I became calm, I'll think of the good things that happened instead of looking at the negativities that give me stress.

If you want to appreciate what you have, you should stop the comparison too. I can say that comparison will only make it hard for you to notice and appreciate what you have. In life, not all people are born rich, and honestly, I'm one of them. I never envy wealthy people, I'm happy in our simple life, but it doesn't mean I want to stay like this forever, of course, I have my dreams too and one if it is to give my family a good life. But to make it do come true, I need to do my part too. Thinking positively that I can achieve it someday in God's perfect time.

Being grateful and always practice the act of gratitude helps you in counting and appreciating what and who you have in life. I am always grateful to people who showed kindness to me, even one simple act of kindness will forever be remembered by me. Instead of counting our problems and people who don't like us, think about the people who helped you, and believe in you wholeheartedly. Be grateful to them, you may not notice their kindness but try to think deeply, they might have done something to you that change the way you look at life.

I'm just happy I was reminded by that song, to count my blessings. It was so deep that I was moved by it. Why we mostly count the negatives instead of the positives? Why we mostly live in what ifs?

If we do count the negativities, our life will just be miserable, stress, anxious, or worst it will just lead to depression. Making us dysfunctional well in living. So why not count your blessings instead? If you'll start to count and appreciate what you have in life, you'll found out that you are so blessed in life. That you are lucky you are still alive, for some people are struggling hard just to survive, some are ill with short years to live, some were not given a chance to see this world. If you think of it, you are lucky, we are still lucky in life.

“Count your blessings with gratitude no matter how small or big they are, and stop letting your lacks blindfold you from noticing how blessed that you are.” – Edmond Mbiaka

So if you feel like you're unmotivated, hopeless, worried and doubtful in life, why not try to count your blessings?

@eommaZel ✍🏻🥀