100 Things to Be Grateful for (You Will Be Surprised)

Here’s the best list of 100 things to be thankful for that everyone should read

You don’t need anything big to be grateful and happy. We often celebrate big events, such as graduations, promotions, or lottery wins, but we should also enjoy the little things in life. That’s when listing 100 things to be grateful for comes in handy.

If you feel like you have nothing to be grateful for, go through this list and try to be thankful for these things. If you practice gratitude, the universe will get the signal, and you’ll start to attract even more things to be grateful for.

If you want to make practicing gratitude a habit, I suggest you keep a daily gratitude diary. It’s relatively easy. You just have to write down in your notebook the things you’re grateful for. It’s recommended to do that every day.

Try to be as specific and detailed as possible. If you’re grateful to have a nice partner, think about the things about them that make you really grateful. For example: “My boyfriend made me coffee this morning” or “My partner made us dinner this evening.”

Choose the right time to write in your diary. If you know you’re tired in the evenings, try to write in the morning or whenever you feel more energetic. The key here is to be consistent.

We know that changes won’t usually happen overnight, so try to keep a gratitude diary for 3-6 months to feel the change in your thought patterns. It’s certainly worth the effort.

Now we’re going to talk about the reasons for making a list like this one, and then I’m going to list 100 things to be grateful for in life. Let’s get started.

This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you click on a link and purchase something I recommend, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Why is gratitude such a powerful practice? Why should you write a daily gratitude list?

Before we start talking about the reasons, I’d like to mention my recent discovery. A while ago, I was writing a blog post about sustainable gift ideas.

Then I stumbled across this reusable notebook. Let me tell you a little bit more about it. Yes, it’s a notebook like any other you can find on the market. But! It has a little twist that I really love.

You take your notes and write them down. And then you can take a damp cloth and just wipe the pages clean to use them again. HOW COOL IS THAT?! No more wasting paper. I highly suggest buying this reusable notebook, because I’m all about sustainability and eco-friendliness.

Now that I’ve got this amazing discovery off my chest, let’s continue.

It’ll be easier to cope with difficult moments

You should always allow yourself to feel sadness, disappointment, and heartache, but if you can also see beyond these feelings, you’ll come to realize that there are quite a few events and people who have come to teach you something.

If you’re used to finding small moments of happiness and gratitude, it’s much easier for you to acknowledge the setbacks and move on.

The way you see the world will change

We mostly tend to focus on negative things because it’s part of our survival instinct. By being constantly grateful every day, you’ll begin to notice more positive things in your life to be happy about.

You’ll get closer to people

By focusing on positive things, you will notice more good things in other people. This will change your attitude toward the people around you to one of friendliness and helpfulness.

You’ll learn to be happy in the present moment

Very few people have absolutely everything they want. Most of us have a long wish list that may never completely come true. But chasing prosperity and things doesn’t make anyone truly happy.

It increases dissatisfaction, stress, and the inability to enjoy simple things. It’s better to be grateful for the things that are important to you right now. Being able to be grateful also changes the meaning of success for you.

You’ll be more caring and less selfish

It happens quite often that the world revolves only around our own needs and desires. By looking for good things around you to be thankful for, you’ll learn to notice and care more about your surroundings.

You will enjoy your life more

Gratitude increases optimism, which in turn makes you happier, so you’ll start to feel that your life is also more enjoyable.

You’ll be happier with yourself

It happens quite often that when other people like us, we also start to see more good qualities in ourselves. By spreading gratitude and positivity around you, you’ll receive the very same thing.

Your health will be better

Your way of thinking has a huge impact on your health. People who practice gratitude are generally happier. And happy people are more physically active. As you already know, people who move more are healthier. Therefore, if you learn to be grateful, you’ll probably improve your health a lot.

If you’re looking for gratitude journals as a beginner, I recommend the following ones:

1. The one-minute gratitude journal that will already make a difference in your life (yes, it’s that easy)
2. An inspirational 52-week guide to help you cultivate an attitude of gratitude
3. A five-minute positive gratitude journal that’s really easy to follow

Now let’s talk about some unique things to be thankful for and some more common things

Let’s get started with this list of 100 things to be grateful for today.

1. The fact that you aren’t the same person you were five years ago. You’ve become a better version of yourself. If you could talk to the person you were five years ago, what would you tell yourself? You’re not the same person you were five years ago. You’ve grown and become better, smarter, and more mature.
2. Your future. Times can be good, and times can be not-so-good, but either way, tomorrow is a new day. You have a bright future ahead of you, and you can do anything you want.
3. Your courage. The word FEAR has two meanings: “Forget Everything And Run” or “Face Everything And Rise.” It’s your courage that allows you to face your fears and leave your comfort zone.
4. Lessons you’ve learned. All these lessons you’ve learned will help you do things more efficiently, effectively, and proactively. They will help you protect yourself. They will help you grow and push you forward. They will help you get better. Be grateful, and remember the knowledge they have taught you.
5. Your hearing. Imagine if your world was constantly silent. You wouldn’t be able to hear your favorite songs again, and you couldn’t hear an important person tell you that they love you. Appreciate your hearing because life without it would be terribly quiet.
6. Running water. Running water is so normal in our lives that we rarely consider its impact and importance. It gives you drinking water; it allows you to take a shower and wash your dishes. It also gives you the opportunity to water your plants and cook your food (how could you do it without water?).
7. Kind strangers. There’s something so powerful about the goodness that comes from someone you’ve never met before, someone who knows nothing about you, your struggles, or your pain. If you have experienced the kindness of a stranger, you know that it’s one of the best feelings.
8. Planes. So, you want to see a new country. Spain? Italy? France? No problem, just book a cheap flight ticket, and you’ll be there in a few hours. We take airplanes for granted, but think about life without them. What takes a few hours on a plane takes weeks with other means of travel.
9. A good boss. Your boss plays a big role in the workplace and its atmosphere.
10. Music and good musicians. Imagine life without music. Quiet. Mechanical. Lonely. And whether you realize it or not, the music you listen to becomes the soundtrack of your days and, in turn, your life. Be grateful for your favorite songs, musicians, bands, and genres.
11. The ocean. The ocean is soothing but also very mysterious. The ocean offers us food and fun, along with constant power and danger.
12. You have Amazon and Amazon Prime. Amazon takes all those great products you can buy online and places them in one central, well-designed, reasonably priced location. Add Amazon Prime, and you can get everything you need in just two days, delivered straight to your home.
13. You can turn any of your ideas into a business. You can turn your new product or business idea into a profitable business and something that will help your fellow human beings. While we take incredible business opportunities for granted, they’re not something you can do anywhere in the world.
14. The people who picked you up when you were down. We all experience hard times. But it’s during these difficult times (like heartache) that we find ourselves and discover how strong we really are. Be grateful for the person or thing that gave you the opportunity to prove yourself and allowed you to rise.
15. Your country has a stable government. Be grateful for your country. You get to experience its culture and heritage. It all happens thanks to your ancestors—the men and women who made your country the way it is today.

16. If you wake up before the alarm clock, you can still sleep. How nice is that?
17. Free time. The time when you have no duties or responsibilities is rare. But that’s exactly when you can relax and make new memories. Appreciate the free time you have because, let’s be honest, we never have enough free time.
18. Sunrises and sunsets. The sun provides us with many things, including light energy, heat energy, and D-vitamin. And the moment the sun sets is an amazing work of art. Have you ever taken a moment to be thankful for that?
19. A bed to sleep in. Besides having a home, you also have a bed to sleep in. There are people who have a roof over their heads but not a comfortable bed to sleep in. Have you ever tried being grateful for your bed?
20. Your friends. You can choose the people around you, so be thankful for that. Imagine your life without friends. Life without them would be lonely and boring. Appreciate them and let them know that you’re happy to have them in your life.
21. A warm scarf. When the weather is cold, you can hide your face in a scarf.
22. Things you don’t have yet. Yes, you read correctly. Use your imagination and try to be thankful for things you don’t have yet but would like to have in your life. This way, you’ll start attracting all these things.
23. Your family. Your family loves, inspires, and protects you. They’re there for you when no one else is. Depending on the circumstances, it can sometimes be hard to appreciate your family. For example, if you don’t stay in touch with them. However, you can be grateful for the people you consider family.
24. Clear and fresh air. When you talk to someone who doesn’t have this, you’ll realize how thankful you should be that you don’t have to worry about your next breath.
25. Different celebrations. We celebrate different things to show our appreciation, but do you ever show gratitude for having the ability to celebrate at all? Because in some places, celebrating isn’t allowed.
26. Your optimism. Optimism means having a positive outlook for future events. Imagine if you could only look at future events with a negative mindset. You’d feel desperate and hopeless most of the time. That would affect your quality of life dramatically. Try to be more optimistic in life, and be grateful for the optimism you have.
27. Your mind. Your mind should be something you are grateful for two main reasons. Number one: your thoughts, memories, pain and happiness, and even your confidence and ambition are all products of your mind. You are who you are because of your mind. Number two: your mind allows you to survive in today’s world, emotionally, financially, physically, etc. Your mind is one of the most powerful parts of you. It’s certainly one of the most important things on this list of 100 things to be grateful for.
28. Fire and heating. Heat. Comfort. Safety. If you were not born in the Stone Age, you grew up with a source of heat. But try to imagine your life without it—no hot showers. Your home isn’t warm. And the list goes on and on…
29. You can experience different cultures in your hometown. Want to see a new culture but can’t travel right now? No problem. Just visit a culturally specific area in ​​your city, such as Chinatown, Japantown, or even the old town. These cool neighborhoods allow you to experience a whole new culture without traveling far from home.

30. Cars. Nowadays, you can hop in the car and drive quickly to the grocery store or take an hour’s drive to see your parents. Now imagine these two simple situations without a car. You would have to carry all your groceries back home, and since you would have to walk a long way to see your parents, you’d rarely see them. Cars offer us tremendous comfort, flexibility, and mobility.
31. Mountains. Outstanding, powerful, and beautiful. The mountains offer us the best hikes and the most fun sports, such as skiing and snowboarding.
32. There are thousands of free motivational videos. Do you feel bad? Or do you have problems finishing something? Do you just want to be inspired? Thanks to the power of YouTube, there are thousands of incredibly well-done and powerful motivational videos. You have unlimited access to all the inspiration you need at the touch of a button.
33. If your favorite song comes on the radio at exactly the right time. This is one of the most beautiful little things in life.
34. The competition that drives you. Like your critics, your competitors are one of the best assets you have. Your competition motivates you to keep working and forces you to innovate and improve. Be grateful for your competition, which will push you forward.
35. First responders. If you or someone you know has ever been in an emergency, then you know that the first responders are such heroes, and I feel like they’re not appreciated enough. When you’re in an emergency, help is only a phone call away. Don’t take it for granted.
36. Netflix. Netflix has changed the way we consume movies and other stuff. It gives us the opportunity to watch whatever we want, whenever we want. Do you remember when you could watch only what the cable offered?
37. If you don’t have to use an alarm clock on the weekend. You can sleep as long as you want.
38. You have some money in the bank. The amount can be huge or small; it doesn’t matter. But if it’s more than zero dollars, be grateful, because it’s much more than a lot of people have.
39. The opportunity to learn. You have access to more than you can ever imagine. You just need to read, watch, and gain knowledge. It’s something a lot of us take for granted.
40. The ability to see. There are quite a few people who live but can’t really see the world they’re living in. There are about 45 million blind people. And funnily enough, these people can quite often appreciate everything much more. Your life would be very different if you didn’t have your eyesight.
41. Having a good hair day. Humidity isn’t anyone’s friend, right?
42. Clean drinking water. There are quite a few places on earth where people don’t have access to clean drinking water. Don’t take it for granted. You have the basic things that fulfill your survival needs. Or if you feel like your water isn’t good enough, you can buy this Brita water dispenser with a filter (it’s a good thing to invest in).
43. The love you have in your life. If you’re in a relationship and have someone special next to you, consider yourself lucky. There are a lot of people who can’t be with the person they want.
44. Your health. If you have relatively good health without any bigger problems, be grateful. There are millions of people who have illnesses that end in death. Not a lot of people are so lucky to have health that’s as good as yours. Even if your health isn’t perfect, be grateful, because it could always be worse.

45. Time. A dying person would tell you that the most important thing to be thankful for is the time you have left. Don’t just throw it away.
46. Heating and cooling are both available. Climate control has made our lives so much easier.
47. Uncontrollable laughter. How many times has laughter made things better? Probably more than you can imagine. Appreciate the moments when you can share a laugh with your loved ones.
48. You’re more likely to live a longer life. Modern medicine has improved our quality of life and its length noticeably. At the beginning of the 1900s, people were expected to live up to 50 years, but now the average life expectancy is almost 80 years.
49. We live in an innovative world. Do you have a problem? There is an application, software, or tool for everything. If you need help with something, all you have to do is do a quick Google search like “tool to help me with (enter the problem)” or “application that does (enter the help you need)” and you’ll find solutions for everything.
50. Valuable memories. Your graduation ceremony. The night you first met your husband. The three weeks you spent in Italy. Your memories are one of the most precious things. Hold on to them, because you will never experience exactly the same ones again.
51. Your positive outlook. You will find positivity in many, most, or almost every situation. Even if you don’t have a positive outlook all the time, it’s one of the biggest spiritual things to be thankful for. And if you don’t have a positive outlook at all, it’s time to find one. A positive and optimistic outlook dramatically changes and improves your quality of life.
52. Your memory. Your life is the sum of your memories. If you didn’t remember anything, you’d have no friends, no family, and no purpose. Your memories remind you of your past and help you make decisions that create your future.
53. Volunteering. Studies have shown that volunteering increases your sense of happiness.
54. Your mental health. According to the World Health Organization, 970 million people worldwide have at least some kind of mental health disorder. Never take your mental health for granted.
55. Your sense of taste. Think about it: What would life be like without pizza or Ben & Jerry’s ice cream?
56. Showers with hot water. Hot showers are one of those things you don’t realize you love so much until you don’t have them anymore. Don’t believe me? Try to take only cold showers for a week. After that, you will be grateful every time you turn on the shower and the hot water hits you.
57. Dryers. Thanks to dryers, you no longer have to hang your clothes to let them dry. It also feels great to put on warm clothes immediately after taking them out of the dryer.
58. Different and unique cultures still exist. You’ve lived in one culture for most of your life. Seeing people from another culture live their lives quite differently is one of the most eye-opening experiences. Be thankful that you’re living at a time when you can still experience the different cultures of the world.
59. Books and great writers. A good book can transport you to another country, another century, or even a different universe. Books allow you to travel and escape from the ordinary world. With the help of books, you can be a hero, a wizard, or an Olympic athlete.
60. Snow. Beautiful, ominous, and powerful. Snow also allows us to participate in some of the most fun action sports, such as skiing and snowboarding.

61. Forests. That impressive beauty produces the oxygen we need for survival.
62. Online shopping. The internet has made buying absolutely everything incredibly easy. From buying clothes, groceries, electronics, and everything else you need, you can order it all while comfortably sitting at home.
63. Concerts. Research shows that spending money on experiences, not things, makes us happier.
64. The people who criticized you and pushed you forward. Just as your competition is pushing you forward, so do your critics. Those are the people who told you you couldn’t make it. People who told you that you are not smart enough, ambitious enough, or good enough. Be grateful for their negativity, as it’s one of the most powerful motivators.
65. Teachers who gave you knowledge. You probably had good teachers, amazing teachers, and horrible teachers. But all of them certainly taught you a little (or a lot), and that knowledge has helped to shape you into the smart and wise person you are today.
66. You’re free. Freedom. Most of us are born free, so we take it for granted. However, not everyone has the freedom to choose or the freedom of speech. Be thankful that you get to choose what kind of life you want to live because not everybody is this lucky.
67. The weekend. If you work 9-5, five days a week, there’s nothing better than this feeling when the weekend finally approaches. It’s certainly one of the 100 things I am grateful for.
68. Negative feelings. Anxiety and depression are telling you that something in your life needs to change. What would we do if they didn’t exist?
69. The opportunity to travel. Life is all about experiences and making new memories. Traveling allows you to break out of both your routine and comfort zones. It allows you to experience new cultures, meet new people, and eat new foods. Life would be less fun if you could never leave your hometown.
70. Electricity. It seems so unimportant, but it actually allows you to do all those things you do. Appreciate that you have the electricity to make food and keep it stored without it going bad. You can also charge your phone, read books by lamplight, and take a shower.
71. Your favorite food. Chocolate-mint ice cream. A slice of cheese pizza. The guilty pleasures that make you happy.
72. You woke up today. You’re given another opportunity to seize the day and work on your dreams. Never stop living life to the fullest and never take it for granted.
73. You’re able to read and write. It’s something you probably never think about, but not everybody can read or write. There are around 781 million adults who can’t read. It’s a luxury that will make your life better. I’m very thankful for that.
74. Your pets. Pets will offer you unconditional love and endless attention. Most people in your life will never love you the same way your pets do. Do you appreciate them enough?
75. Your home. If you have a place to sleep and a roof over your head, you’re very lucky. There are a lot of people who aren’t as lucky as you. According to research, more than 100 million people are homeless.

76. Colleagues you can count on. You spend most of your day with them. Together, the working days will pass faster.
77. Living in a secure neighborhood. We take for granted not having to worry about our own or our families’ safety, but not everyone gets to live in a safe neighborhood.
78. Working from home. It’s an advantage, for sure. It’s pretty awesome if you have it. You are free to create your own work schedule. Or at least have a flexible one.
79. Having no debt (or having little debt). Do I need to say more?
80. Your ability to work. Being able to work to earn money is a luxury. It might seem hard to understand, but you should be thankful for the opportunity to have this freedom to work and earn money. You might not love your job, but there are a lot of people who would do anything to have a job at all.
81. The food you eat. You can eat whatever you want, day to day. It’s actually a privilege because there are people who don’t know when or what their next meal will be. 828 million people don’t have enough to eat. Roughly 155 million children are underweight.
82. Art. Think about life without art. Life would be miserable then. Art shapes a lot of people’s lives. For example, the house you live in and the car you drive were built because of art.
83. Entertainment opportunities. There are so many opportunities to entertain yourself. You might not think about it, but you should be grateful for Netflix, video games, and music. These are some things that people take for granted.
84. You have clothes. Even if they’re not very new or stylish, they keep you warm and help you look representative.
85. A good cup of coffee. Coffee not only tastes amazing, but it also provides you with the energy you need to wake up and shine. There aren’t many things that are better among these things to be grateful for than that first sip of coffee in the morning.
86. The internet. You have access to the internet 24/7. The Internet has ruined us all, and we tend to forget how powerful it really is. The Internet has also made things easier, faster, and better. Don’t take it for granted.
87. Ancestors who came up with your family traditions. When we’re young, we tend to reject the traditions of our ancestors. We want to be different and better. But as we get older and mature, we realize that what actually makes us different and better is actually following these traditions that our ancestors created. Be grateful that these traditions were created through the generations of your family.
88. The people who broke your heart. Heartache hurts physically. According to research, the effects of heart pain activate the same area of ​​the brain where physical pain comes from. Did you get up after experiencing that pain? Are you stronger now? Smarter? Yes, it hurt, but the pain made you better, stronger, and wiser.
89. You are you, and you have a chance. You are you. You’ve been blessed with your own unique talents and intelligence, and you have worked hard to develop both of them. You + the freedom to choose the job you want + hard work + happiness = the opportunity to be whoever you want.

90. You have a smartphone. Our smartphones are so deeply rooted in our lives that it’s hard to imagine life without them. You can use them to call, send messages and e-mails, get instructions, play music, and stay informed about everything. There was a time when there weren’t even ten separate devices that could do everything your smartphone can now do.
91. Hiking. Hiking is one of the best ways to get in touch with nature and connect with technology.
92. Rain. Calm and soothing. The rain waters our crops and provides us with drinking water.
93. The fact that love exists. It’s almost impossible to describe love, but if you’ve ever been in love, you know it’s better than anything else. It opens you to a new depth of happiness and peace that nothing else in the world can offer you.
94. You can see beautiful art and buildings that have survived for thousands of years. You can travel to China to see the wall that was created in 221 BC (the Great Wall of China) or to Rome to see the arena that was built in 70 BC (the Colosseum). Be grateful that, for centuries, people have worked hard to preserve buildings, art, and cultures.
95. New experiences. No matter how many things you’ve experienced in your life, there’s always something new to try. Be grateful that life always gives you new experiences (and never stop looking for them yourself).
96. Your safety. Thanks to our army, you woke up comfortably in your bed today without being afraid of being attacked or of imminent danger. All those awesome people who willingly go into danger to keep the rest of us safe… And here’s the thing: because you’re not constantly afraid of your life, you can truly appreciate, live, and enjoy it.
97. Your mobility. According to research, one in 50 Americans lives with paralysis. If you can’t move, you’re basically limited in your options. You can’t walk to the park or down the stairs. You can’t go hiking, skiing, or do sports. Getting to new places is difficult. So be grateful for your mobility, no matter how fast, slow, or clumsy you are.

98. When someone notices that you have your hands full and opens the door for you. Small gestures have a lot of power, and they instantly make your day much better.
99. You have the desire to grow. If you’re reading this blog post, chances are you want to become a better person. Although just wanting to become a better person seems like a tiny thing, it’s a huge first step toward actually becoming a better person. Be proud and grateful that you were blessed with a desire for self-development.
100. Your ambition. Do you have a job? Are you actively looking for a job? If you answered yes to one of these questions, it means you have some ambitions. Ambition is one of the best deep things to be thankful for because, without success, you’d just stand still your whole life.

Counting 100 things to be grateful for isn’t that hard…

That’s it for today’s post. What are your favorite things on this list of 100 things to be thankful for? What are you thankful for today? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to know!