Comparison is like a moving airport sidewalk you wander onto… it whisks you 50 yards away to a bad place before you’ve even taken a step. And it always seems to be right there—just one tiny thought or scroll away—ready to dump you into a state of discontentment. Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” And if that’s true, comparison equally steals contentment, too.
Contentment, simply speaking, is choosing to be happy with what you’ve got. It’s learning to live in a state of gratitude even for the small things. Because more often than not, it’s the small things that fill our days with meaning.
Sometimes, shifting your perspective can be as simple as focusing on what’s good right now. To help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of 50 things—from the everyday moments we often overlook to the meaningful connections that bring joy to life. Whether you reflect on a few or share them as a family, we hope it inspires a new way of looking at the world around you.
Your Home
1. For the roof over your head and a warm, dry place to sleep at night
2. The clothes on your back and shoes on your feet
3. The water in your home to take showers and bathe your kids
4. All of the food in the refrigerator and pantry
5. Electricity! And for living in the time where it exists
6. Cell phones and how they connect us to our loved ones all over the world
7. Having internet access in your home
8. How fun it is to decorate your home for the seasons
9. Candles! All the cozy candles
10. A safe, sanitary environment to prepare meals for your family
Your Family
11. Your kid(s)! Is there a bigger, better thing to be thankful for?
12. Restored relationships in your family
13. The adorably-perfect way toddler mispronounce words
14. Long, healing hugs from your teenager
15. Heart-to-hearts with your middle schooler
16. All the joy that new babies bring
17. Every night that you were able to rock your child to sleep
18. Watching your child’s personality develop
19. The moments when you notice your kid make a brave and kind choice
20. Your favorite kid books, and the time you have to read together
Your Best Self
21. Your God-given talents (yes, you have lots!)
22. The fact that you are the best parent for your child
23. The ability to move your body
24. Good hair days
25. Coffee (or tea!)
26. Your favorite foods
27. Your body’s 100% success rate of getting you through every single day
28. The way you feel when your favorite song comes on the radio
29. Your ability to love your child(ren) more than you ever thought possible
30. The unique ways you make others feel good about themselves
Your Community
31. Your childhood friends
32. The friends you’ve made as an adult
33. The laughing-so-hard-you-cry moments with others
34. Facebook groups that make you feel less alone
35. Friendly neighbors
36. The teachers who care for your child(ren) well
37. Trusted babysitters!
38. Therapists
39. Nurses and Doctors who were there on the hardest days
40. The way communities can come together after a tragedy
Your Simple Joys
41. The way the leaves change in the fall
42. How pretty Christmas lights are
43. The first warm day of spring
44. Watching your favorite team win a game
45. Cozy, rainy days
46. How your house smells when you’re cooking something good
47. Watching your kid(s) laugh
48. The feeling of freshly-washed sheets on your bed
49. A clean kitchen
50. Fresh flowers in a vase
In this season of giving thanks, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the people and moments we often overlook. Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” And if that’s true, it also robs us of contentment. Today, we encourage you to pause, notice the beauty—both big and small—around you, and embrace the contentment that gratitude brings.
Topics: Featured, Make It Personal, Mental Health
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