No matter how life may turn out, there’s always something to be grateful for. These are 32 things in my life that I am thankful for this year
I have always wondered why it’s easy for us to point out things that aren’t going well for us without thinking twice. Or, why it’s easy for us to hate on and feel jealous towards someone else’s achievements; and then go all out to ruin things for them. I recently celebrated my 32nd birthday (on 1 October) and did a lot of introspection on how far I have come as a young woman navigating her path to success and especially to my career. I won’t lie, I feel blessed with a lot of the things that I have achieved but neither did I get what I have on a silver platter. I have come to understand why things worth having aren’t easy to get. You learn to appreciate them more. With that said, I decided to challenge myself and count 32 things I am grateful to God for:
- Life: I feel that being alive is a beautiful privilege, and knowing that I have a purpose to fulfill keeps me going somehow.
- My relationship with God: I am a spiritual person and I owe all that I am and have to the grace of God, who I know has bigger plans than I can ever imagine.
- My health and well-being: While it’s easy to complain about how ‘flawed’ we look we take for granted so many people who would love to see how God created them or hear birds serenading in the morning. I am truly grateful for my health.
- My priests: Growing up without a father has been hard for me. But I have had spiritual fathers who always guide and pray for me.
- My family: They mean the world to me, especially my mother and my sister who I cannot imagine life without.
- My home: I am grateful for having a roof over my head, food, and especially the bed I sleep on every day.
- My education: Completing varsity has been one of the best gifts my mother gave me. I am continuing with my studies.
- My friends: I have three best friends Humphrey Mutazile, Vincent Mashifane and Mosimodi Khasane who I feel lucky to have in my life. I am truly blessed with friends who really care.
- My partner: The three years we’ve been together wasn’t a smooth sail, but I wouldn’t choose any other man to journey this life with. I don’t know what the future holds, but I am grateful for what we share currently.
- My African roots: Although history has left so many scars amongst many Africans, I wouldn’t choose a perfect continent to call home, and neither would I choose another skin to wear.
- The jobs I have had: Media has always been my passion and I consciously made the choice to bang as many doors as I possibly could. Persistence paid off as I worked for some publications and companies that taught me the kind of boss I don’t want to be one day.
- My mentor: I have a great mentor, Aurelia Mbokazi, who I met while interning at some media company a few years ago. Never had I met such a sincere woman who really wants to see people around her succeed.
- My past mistakes: especially my exes. They taught me the importance of setting boundaries and standing up for myself. I am stronger, wiser and happier. Now, I am not prepared to settle for anything less than I know I deserve. I have also learned enough to let go of trying to please everyone and live a life that makes me happier and healthier.
- My bible: Scripture grounds me, especially when I feel like giving up. There are verses and stories that inspire me to be the best version of myself.
- My role models: Pope Francis, Oprah Winfrey, and my mother are some of the people I really look up to. They continue to show that through love and passion, one can positively impact the lives of others.
- My Catholic faith: I am grateful for the faith that introduced me to the love of God.
- My persistence: There are traits that make someone unforgettable. I am the most persistent person I know. And I am grateful for this because it has opened a lot of opportunities for me.
- My goals: I have career and even business dreams that I aim to fulfill and I feel more driven to achieve them, no matter the challenges and failures I might face.
- My youth: Time waits for no man. And soon I will be at a different phase in my life. This is why I am using my strength and energy to chase my dreams while serving God.
- My passion for writing: I always enjoyed expressing myself with a pen. I am grateful for my passion and I hope to inspire others through writing.
- A publication I started years ago: I started a publication for my church a couple of years ago, with the intention of motivating readings on their spiritual journey. I am thankful for the impact it has and the relationships I have created through it. However, because of the pandemic, I decided to put it on hold.
- My car: I have had three cars (I traded in) in five years. I am grateful for the wheels that take me to work and other destinations
- The relationships I have built in my career: I am thankful for the people who I met through my career and who make some of the interviews and events I attend to so much easier.
- My vision board: I have ticked some of the things I wanted to achieve in my life and I am always grateful for that.
- My independence: Nothing beats the feeling of knowing that you worked hard for everything you have, from what you wear to the laptop you use to send business proposals.
- The opportunity to profile many amazing young people: What I love about my job is profiling many people who have overcome so many challenges and who worked so hard to fulfill their dreams. Their stories continue to inspire me.
- My job: Although I dream of commercially growing this blog, I am thankful that I wake up to a job that earns me a salary to support my family.
- Having another year added to my life: At 32, I have achieved a lot that I am thankful for and this is just the beginning.
- Surviving Covid-19: When the first wave of the pandemic hit, I contracted it. I don’t know how because I was very careful, but through the grace of God, I survived the virus. Every day is a gift I don’t take for granted.
- Putting myself first: I have learned the hard way that my health and well-being are not worth being compromised. Life has been great since I have learned to say no, especially to things that hurt and overwhelm me.
- My blog: starting KDanielles Media has been the biggest highlight for me. Yes, there were challenges that came with it, but I wouldn’t change it for anything and I am happier inspiring you in my own voice. That’s what matters, isn’t it?
