When I was a little girl and I would start complaining about something, my mom would say, “It sounds like you need to start counting your blessings.” I hated her response. Couldn’t she understand that I was in the middle of some major stuff? I just wanted to moan and groan for a while. I didn’t want to be responsible for my attitude. Where’s the comfort in that? After all, misery loves company and I wanted someone to join me in the pit of despair. Count my blessings?! Come on, Mom.

She was right.

Of course, she was right. She was right about practically everything. Moms just know stuff.

Count your blessings.

Such a simple concept, but often extremely challenging. It is hard to focus on what we do have when we are surrounded by constant reminders that we need more. Whatever we focus on grows and soon we can find ourselves completely dissatisfied with our lives.

Unfortunately, we don’t always appreciate what we have until it’s gone. We take for granted blessings like relationships, good health, and time. Life has a way of reminding us that there are no guarantees. Everything can change in a heartbeat. Literally.

Take my mother’s advice and count your blessings. You just might find that you already have everything you need to be happy and satisfied with your life. You might even discover that you are simply loved.