We are lucky.

If you’re reading this post in the comfort of your own home, or under the sheets on your cell phone, surfing your own personal wi-fi, you are lucky.

Every single day on this planet is wrought with endless amounts of unspeakable suffering and enduring hope. The fact that each of us wake up in the morning with the hope of making a better day for ourselves or others we care about is something to be grateful for.

• We are thankful for the people in our lives who truly care about our well being.
• We are thankful for the security to sleep soundly under our own roofs.
• We are thankful to have the option to have a meaningful impact.
• We are thankful for choice.
• We are thankful options.
• We are thankful for another opportunity to get it right.

What’s hard for many people to reconcile is that they are lucky in spite of their faults and shortcomings. If not for the simple fact that along with suffering, faults are traits we all share. We’re grateful to share our burdens. We’re all lucky in spite of our own selves.

It’s hard for people to allow gratitude in because it can’t reside in the same space as hate. A person is forced to choose between one or the other every single day. It’s in most corporate interests to breed one rather than the other. It’s in our own best interest to know what’s best for ourselves – gratitude or hate?

There can only be gratitude. If you can still find the courage to laugh deeply, you can be thankful.

There can only be gratitude. If you can still find the courage to laugh deeply, you can be thankful.Mental depression is a real thing. Many people run out of genuine laughter. Many lose hope as everything is a burden. For many this isn’t a choice.

My brother committed suicide. Even with two beautiful children and a wife who could desperately use his presence and comforting word, he’s not here. We all try to be grateful for the rest of us who are still around. I can still make meaningful memories with my nieces and nephew although he can’t.

Perhaps one day we will choose to be grateful for the ability to speak up about the reasons so many of us feel so alone. Perhaps on that day we lose less of us to suicide.

Human suffering is universal. Be grateful it’s not just you. We only get through our lives with others. Even when people suck – because they can and will – we always need each other.

I’m grateful to speak up. I’m grateful if someone finds my words of use. I’m more grateful when others decide to speak as well.

BMWK, what and who are you grateful for?  Will you speak up?