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Linda Ng (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

 

In our busy lives, we easily neglect gratitude. We rush around each day, working hard at our jobs or taking care of our families. We never take the time to appreciate what is around us. Even as I write these words, each minute is ticking by without fail. The time that passes is forever unrecoverable. Time is fluid and does not wait for anyone. Whether you are reading a book or having a great conversation with a friend, the time will keep on passing. Perhaps I was slow to learn just how significant this was, or maybe I was just not worldly enough. As I grow older, time seems to be going at an even faster pace.

 

On my self-improvement journey, I came to a painful realization. Whatever you are doing, it could very well be the last time you are doing it. It doesn’t matter whether the event is happy, difficult or sad. That dinner you had with an old friend? It could have been the last time, because they might soon decide to immigrate to another country to start a new life. What about that time you went to your favourite clothing store? Maybe it was the last time that you’ll ever shop there, because they might be about to close down. All of these events just become parts of our memories.

 

But with this realization, I am still doing the inevitable. I am straying from the present moment. Instead of savouring the moment, my mind is anxious about the past or future. I am thinking about what to cook for dinner or what I have to do for work. I am physically present, but my mind is not. In other words, I am taking everything that is happening for granted. I might be looking at my phone or distracted by something else.

 

Perhaps I expect that I will meet that friend again. Or that I can visit my favourite store at any time. In my mind, I feel that there is no doubt that these events will occur again. I don’t need to focus on what’s happening, or put too much thought into it. Sadly, when I realize that it’s not going to happen again, it is already too late. This creates overwhelming feelings of emptiness and regret.

 

To overcome this, we need to acknowledge and embrace gratitude. We hear people talking about gratitude all the time in the media now. We need to appreciate what we have and treasure the good things in our lives. We don’t do enough of this, at least not intentionally and mindfully.

 

Gratitude makes us appreciate our lives in a whole new way. If I knew I would be seeing my friend for the last time, I would have made sure that we spent quality time together. Instead of just going through mindless motions or letting my mind stray, I would give them my full attention and enjoy a riveting conversation with them. I would be grateful that I had the opportunity to spend this time with them. And it’s the little things that count in life.

 

Maybe it won’t be the very last time that I see them. But by being more intentional about my feelings and actions, I am gaining so much more value from the interaction. The more I treasure them in life, the more grateful I feel. It is a chain reaction. There are so many ways to feel more fulfilled and to be happier. We can start practicing gratitude in our never-ending quest for happiness.

 

As we incorporate feelings of gratitude into our daily lives, we allow ourselves to focus on the positive instead of the negative. We feel a rush of gratefulness over the things that we can enjoy. We have people around us who care for us. This power is more than we can imagine. It’s scary that we will never know the last time anything might occur. Remove the possibility of regret — practice gratitude whenever you can!

 

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My name is Linda and I’m from Canada! When I’m not writing, I enjoy travelling, playing badminton and spending time with my pets. I have a strong passion for self-improvement and mental health topics. I’m hoping to share that with you here at Low Entropy!