It has been three weeks since I started my daily writing journey. I feel grateful that there is some force that has helped me to push on. May be it is the accountability that people are reading. Although, no one may be reading this. But it does make me responsible.

Coming back to gratitude, I believe we take plenty of things for granted; life included. It is only when either death or disease shock us that we realise nothing is permanent. And we wonder, ‘what if?’

‘What if I hadn’t taken my health for granted?’

‘What if I hadn’t taken my parents for granted?’

‘What if I had chosen to be kind instead of right?’

‘What if…’

The list can get really long if one has lived and thrived materially in utter unawareness. In such a case, a deep loss can shatter one’s confidence in life. Therefore, it is pertinent to feel grateful when the going is good. It is important to live with awareness that everything in life has a shelf life. Everything has an expiry date. Especially, one’s ownself.

When we live with gratitude for every single breath, we experience a super side effect – low expectations! And aren’t unfulfilled expectations the root cause of misery? Just think about it. I expect my family and friends to behave a certain way. But when they don’t, for reasons best known to them, the scenario puts me off my axis. And my life which was otherwise good, suddenly takes a turn for the worse. All because somebody did not meet my expectations.

Now close your eyes and think of your average day. How many expectations do you have? And from who?

If you are being completely honest, you might end up having expectations even from the sun, the moon, the clouds and the rain. And every single thing, person and animal is capable of pressing your buttons and leaving you annoyed.

What if, you could drop these expectations?

The answer lies in awareness. The more you understand that everything in life is temporary, expectations jump out the window. And if you practice gratitude for every single thing – good and the not so good, you have unlocked the next level in the game of life!

P.S. It is difficult to live with awareness when times are good. It is difficult to feel gratitude when one is having fun. Just like it is impossible to feel thankful when things go wrong. But if we take a minute to sit and be in the present, gratitude will naturally flow.