Appreciation is underappreciated, isn't that ironic?

How often do we focus on what we have to be thankful for?

When I say this, I mean every little thing. (I'm a big fan of the small things in life.)

Do you appreciate your home, family, friends, car, clothes, food, job, health, experiences, intelligence, relationships, and the damn fact that you are alive on this amazing planet?

The ability to even be reading this post is something to be appreciative about! How many people don't have access to the internet and all the knowledge it has to offer?

I'm 36. How many people have died before ever reaching my age?

How old are you? How many people never even lived to your age to have the chance to wake up every morning and go enjoy it all? We are alive and that means we can realize our dreams, ambitions, and goals in life.

So what the hell are people whining about?

“The secret to happiness is counting your blessing while others are adding up their troubles.” - unknown

I live by this saying now. It helps me stay focused when things in life start turning off course. I take a moment to think of all the amazing things in my life and a magical thing happens.

I end up in a MUCH better state of mind. When I am working on the challenges in this mental state they just seem so much easier to conquer.

But I wasn't always this way. Let me tell you.

I spent far too much time complaining of this or that. What I didn't have. What I thought I deserved. What OTHER people shouldn't have. It was all just whining. Boo-hoo. I want to go back and tell my younger self to SHUT THE HELL UP!

Do you think all that whining worked? Do you think because I complained to the universe that it listened to me and gave me what I deserved? You bet your ass it did.

The universe is always listening. It was most assuredly listening to my whining and it gave me exactly what I asked for – more things to whine about.

That's how it works. The universe will translate what you are saying into feelings and give it right back.

It gave me whining translated back into the universal language. Believe me, the universe must have Amazon prime because you get your delivery in no time at all!

It really is like the stories of Genies that give the wisher exactly what they asked for, only it wasn't what they were thinking.

That was me. Thank the universe that I learned the proper way to talk to it.

You get back what you feel. If you feel thankful, you get back things to be thankful for.

You attract the energy that you radiate. You attract what is drawn to you in harmony. You radiate appreciation and things to appreciate will be drawn to your energy. Understood?

It all starts with your thoughts, which become your feelings.

When we live in this mind of appreciation, we feel great! The universe around us senses this and even more things come into our life to be thankful for.

On the other hand, when I was whining and complaining I attracted the negative.

So the next time your friend is telling you all the problems in their life, tell them to start talking about all the things they should be appreciative for. It is impossible to appreciate what you have to be thankful for and whine at the same time.

If they start saying that you are appreciative and then say “BUT”, well they don't mean it. We all know that when someone says 'but' in that way that it negates all the things said before it.

Does this sound like anyone you know? Maybe even someone close to you?

At least you know how to handle the next conversation with them.