Gratitude

Today is #WorldGratitudeDay.

This morning the first thing I read on my mobile phone was a gratitude and appreciation message from a dear colleague, and it made my day.

It also made me think about the countless things I am grateful for.

First, being alive. I can see the sun rising, or read a book - I can, actually, READ. I can smell and recognize each of my essential oils. I can touch and feel. I can pet my dog. I can hear, and listen. I can taste - I am grateful that I recovered it after I had COVID. I have all my senses! And I have all of my limbs. I can go and climb walls and pursue my passion. I can take a break and go for a walk in the forest.

I have a job. I have the opportunity to help and serve people, inside and outside the "office walls". Guess what? I have a home office. That means that I have a home and I have an office. I can be a #remoteworker. I have 3 screens. I have an ergonomic keyboard and mouse. I can take notes because I learned how to write. Yes, I can take notes in 3 different languages because I had the opportunity to continue educating myself.

I have a re-usable bottle with fresh water - let me take a sip - so I can keep hydrated during the day. Oh, I also have running water. I have a garden and plants and flowers that can be watered. I even have a vertical garden! While one-in-four people do not have access to safe drinking water, and 6% of the world does not have access to an improved water source.

I have a family. I gave birth to two healthy children that are my world, although it is a challenge, because I know I am their role model, and that can be scary sometimes. I mean, as a parent you are forming a human being! That is a huge responsibility. I have a husband to co-parent with, God bless, but he deserves his own paragraph. My kids study at a private school, they are learning a second and third language, and they are good students. That is their only job. Meanwhile, more than 72 million children of primary education age are not in school, and in the world’s poorest countries, slightly more than 1 in 5 children are engaged in child labour.

My mom is still with us. She's a loving person who can be kind of grumpy because she can't smoke anymore, and she has scared us several times, when we have to run to the ER of a privately owned hospital for her recovery. Because we have access to healthcare, and she has 24/7 care at home. My five siblings and I quarrel a lot, but we are a blessed to have each other. And there’s the family you don’t choose.

I use a car. In fact, we own 2. I don't have to use public transportation in a country where 77% of women have suffers sexual harassment. It was terrifying when I had to take buses and subway, and I was touched by strangers. I don't have to listen to unsolicited opinions about my aspect.

And this takes me to my husband. He makes me a better person. He challenges me, coaches me, and also loves me, very much.  He’s a great husband, brother, son, dad and friend. He’s one of the most noble and dedicated human beings I’ve ever met. I am grateful for almost 20 years together. We are extremely different - opposites attract. He just bought me a guava pastry because he knows it is my favorite. This is his way to say, "I love you". He has never been violent to me or any person that I know. Thus, I am not part of the 44% of women who have experienced any form of violence from an actual or past partner, according to national statistics.  

Today I walked 5 kms, my smart watch reports 12,949 steps and 61 floors climbed - not at the bouldering gym, that was yesterday. Therefore, that pastry will be my treat after I finish writing this. Because I already had TWO complete meals today, you know? A healthy dish, with fruits or veggies, healthy fats, healthy carbs, and protein - powdered and the real thing (sorry, becoming a vegetarian is still on my list). I am not part of those 811 millions of people that don't know what or IF they will eat today.

And I can go on and on, because as soon as I think of something I am grateful for, another thought gets in the picture.

So, I will stop here, with one song and one question.

My favorite song of gratitude, Gratitud by Fonseca: https://open.spotify.com/track/0QmZffuUReAcYmVYH3Pn8g?si=mjfQrSrZSa-Hz5NJSIgC8w&utm_source=whatsapp. Because I am grateful, I can dance, and I can enjoy music.

Have you realized how many things you take for granted, and you should be grateful about?

#WorldGratitudeDay #gratitudeispowerful #grateful #iwork4dell

Sources:

https://www.humanium.org/en/right-to-education/#:~:text=Today%2C%20education%20remains%20an%20inaccessible,and%20those%20of%20their%20children

https://elpais.com/planeta-futuro/2021-07-12/los-peores-datos-del-hambre-de-la-decada.html

https://elpais.com/planeta-futuro/2021-07-12/los-peores-datos-del-hambre-de-la-decada.html

https://elpais.com/planeta-futuro/2021-07-12/los-peores-datos-del-hambre-de-la-decada.html

https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-protection/child-labour/

Violencia de género — Mexico Peace Index

https://www.eleconomista.com.mx/arteseideas/El-77-de-las-mujeres-ha-sido-victima-de-acoso-sexual-20220307-0154.html

https://ourworldindata.org/water-access#:~:text=One%2Din%2Dfour%20people%20do,to%20an%20improved%20water%20source