Issue No. 91

There’s a peculiar truth about human nature—we often fail to recognize the value of something until it’s gone. It’s as if we’re wired to take for granted the very things that sustain us, only realizing their worth when they slip through our fingers. A warm embrace from a loved one, the sound of laughter echoing in a crowded room, the quiet rhythm of good health—these are the intangibles we scarcely notice until they’re absent. And by then, it’s too late. The opportunity to cherish them has passed, leaving behind only regret and longing.

I remember hearing a story once about a man who lost his eyesight later in life. Before the accident, he had spent years complaining about small inconveniences—the weather was never quite right, his job wasn’t fulfilling enough, his relationships felt strained. But after losing his vision, he began to speak differently. He talked about the colors he missed, the way sunlight danced on water, even the mundane act of reading a book. What struck me most was how he described those earlier days: “I didn’t know I was happy,” he said. “I thought happiness was something else, something more. Now I’d give anything just to see again.”

His words haunted me because they resonated so deeply with my own experiences. How many times have I overlooked the people and blessings in my life, assuming they would always be there? My parents’ unwavering support, my friends’ steady presence, the simple luxury of waking up pain-free each morning—these were gifts I barely acknowledged until I imagined life without them. When someone close to me moved away, I realized how much I relied on their companionship. When illness struck unexpectedly, I understood what it meant to lose control over something as fundamental as my body. Each loss served as a painful reminder: gratitude cannot wait.

It requires us to pause, to step outside the whirlwind of daily routines and distractions, and to truly see what surrounds us. Too often, we operate under the assumption that appreciation can be postponed—that we’ll express love tomorrow, savor moments next week, or thank someone when the timing feels less rushed. But life doesn’t offer guarantees. People leave, circumstances change, and opportunities vanish without warning. By delaying gratitude, we risk forfeiting it altogether.

Think about the things you might be taking for granted right now. Is it the roof over your head, shielding you from storms? The ability to walk, talk, or breathe freely? Or perhaps it’s the relationships that anchor you—the friend who listens without judgment, the partner who holds space for your vulnerabilities, the family member who calls just to check in. These aren’t trivial details; they’re the threads that weave together the fabric of your existence. Yet, how often do we dismiss them as ordinary, failing to see their extraordinary significance?

One exercise that has helped me cultivate gratitude is imagining life without these comforts. What if tomorrow brought silence where there was once conversation? What if the familiar faces you pass every day suddenly disappeared? What if the body you complain about today could no longer carry you forward? This thought experiment isn’t meant to instill fear but rather to awaken awareness. It forces us to confront the fragility of life and the impermanence of everything we hold dear. In doing so, it sharpens our appreciation for the here and now.

Of course, practicing gratitude doesn’t mean ignoring hardships or pretending everything is perfect. Life is messy, unpredictable, and often unfair. There will be days when gratitude feels impossible, when grief or frustration clouds your perspective. On those days, it’s okay to sit with your pain. But even amidst struggle, there is usually something—a fleeting moment of beauty, a kind gesture, a memory that brings solace—that reminds us why we keep going. Gratitude isn’t about denying reality; it’s about finding light within the shadows.

Perhaps the greatest lesson I’ve learned is this: gratitude transforms not only how we perceive the world but also how we live within it. When we choose to appreciate what we have, we begin to treat it with greater care. We nurture relationships instead of neglecting them. We protect our health instead of abusing it. We savor experiences instead of rushing past them. Gratitude turns passive existence into active participation, reminding us that life is precious precisely because it is finite.

So, before it’s too late, take stock of what you have. Look around at the people, places, and privileges that shape your days. Say thank you—not out of obligation, but from a place of genuine recognition. Because while happiness may come and go, gratitude is a choice we can make every single day. And in making that choice, we ensure that we never reach the end of our lives wondering why we didn’t treasure what we had while we still could.

After all, sometimes we don’t know what we have until it’s gone. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Until next week,