I am sitting on my bed right now, sun streaming through my windows, a nice breeze cooling me off. I can hear the neighbor's chimes tinkling, and every now and then a car drives by. It is a very lazy, hazy type of summer day. Moments like these I appreciate. Few people seem to really understand how much they are blessed.
I have been around the world to many different countries. I got to see indescribable African sunsets, touch a giraffe, and experience the equator heat. I got to climb mountains in Haiti in the darkness - relying on my dinky flashlight to guide me, I watched shooting stars outside until I fell asleep, and I drank water out of a plastic bag. Through all my travels, it has struck me how much we have. The children I met were happy. The same kids who would suck on rocks and eat paper to help their hunger, were happy.
It amazes me how these kids who are literally starving, are happier than most of us who have more stuff than space in our house. When I came back home, it was very difficult for me to adjust to normal living. I would want to give away all my excess stuff, because it made me disgusted. Hearing my friends talk about "needing" the latest cell phone hurt me. At night I still lay awake, thinking of the crazy things I have seen/experienced.
What keeps coming back to me is that I need to be thankful. I have a wonderful family, a house, clothes, and I get the privilege of an awesome education. The majority of the kids I met, couldn't write in their own language. The few that got school, didn't make it past 8th grade. I know school can get rather tiring, and not many people see it as an enjoyable activity, but think of the hundreds of countries who don't see education as being important.
The reason why I am sharing all this is, I want you to not take things for granted. Be thankful for every single thing you have - don't be greedy. Toilet paper is like gold. Be happy you have it! Try saying five different things you are thankful for when you wake up. See how many mornings you can do that for.