Gratitude Challenge Day 11: List 3 Things You Tend to Take For Granted

Posted: Aug 25, 2013
Updated:
Jul 12, 2024

This is Day 11 of the 14-Day Gratitude Challenge held in Aug 2013, where we practice gratitude for 14 days. The challenge is now over but you can do the tasks in your own time. Visit the overview page for all the challenge tasks.

Hi everyone, welcome to Day 11 of our 14-day gratitude challenge! :D We have three days left till the end of our challenge!

Day 11: Taking Things for Granted

“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude” — Cynthia Ozick

What are the things you often take for granted in life?

I can tell you what I often take for granted. I take for granted my eyes–eyes which give me vision and let me experience the colors of the rainbow. I take for granted my sense of hearing, which lets me hear the voices of my loved ones, hear the wonderful sounds of nature, and hear myself talk. I take for granted my voice (interestingly I’ve been having a sore throat in the past few days which made me realize this even further), which allow me to speak to the people I love, communicate with people, and speak to the people who matter–my participants in my online courses and in-person workshops.

I also take for granted my parents, who are always there for me, caring for me, taking care of my basic needs. I take for granted that my mom does my laundry without fail each time (made especially stark now that I’m staying at my fiance’s place now and we need to do our own laundry). I take for granted the free lodging my parents have been providing me since young, without expecting that I need to pay them for it. (This is typical in Asian culture; children usually give their parents a monthly “allowance” instead after they start working.)

Even toilet paper, a seemingly random item in our lives, is something we take for granted every day. Ever faced situations where you finished peeing or doing your business in a loo and realized that there was no toilet paper in your cubicle? How did you feel then? Did you panic? Did your mind race as you rummage through your pockets/bag for tissue only to realize that you don’t have that either? Well, I can definitely relate. :)

While Day 1’s task is to identify things which you are grateful for, today’s task is to specifically list 3 things you tend to take for granted. Let’s get started! :)

Your Task: List 3 Things You Tend to Take For Granted (and What You Plan to Do About Them)

Identify (at least) 3 things you tend to take for granted. These 3 things can be objects, people, events, animals (pets, anyone?) or anything, really.
Now, identify what you plan to do about these 3 things to stop taking them for granted. For example, if you tend to take your pet Fluffy for granted, perhaps you can be more attentive to him. Perhaps you can spend more time in the week with him and be mindful of times you neglect him. If you tend to take your mom for granted, perhaps you can do some kind acts for her. Cook for her. Take her out for dinner. Write a gratitude note to her. Talk to her more. The possibilities are endless!

We will be doing the action items you list in Step #2 for tomorrow’s task. Stay tuned! :)

Daily Journaling: Write 3 Things You Are Grateful for Today

On top of today’s task, identify 3 things you are grateful for today. These 3 things can be events that occurred today, mishaps which could have happened but didn’t happen, or simply things which have always been in your life but which you suddenly came to feel grateful for today.

3 things I’m grateful for today:

Having completed my speech at Spark Summit Singapore! It was a pleasant surprise to know that a number of the attendees were actually PE readers; some of them told me that they have friends who read my blog and wanted to attend but couldn’t make it! Thanks Hui Bin, Sharon, Yaleryn, Eddy, Norwin, and the rest of you for attending the talk. :D
Check out this lovely graphic impression which graphic artist Bernie from Sketch Post did for me based on my 20-minute talk on Passion & Money!
The opportunity to meet some of my readers in person through Spark Summit Singapore. It was definitely a humbling experience to meet people who have been following PE from since two, three years ago. It inspires me to continue working harder and reach out to more people out there in the world!
For a voice which allows me to speak in the first place! If I don’t have a voice, I can’t even conduct online coaching courses, speak at events, conduct workshops, talk to my readers, or even communicate with the general crowd. Thank you universe for giving me a healthy and functional body!