I'm Selfish and an Ungrateful Brat

     I have realized that thankfulness has gradually been disappearing. Thanksgiving holiday is not about being thankful. Even a Christian radio stations said that "Thanksgiving is about family".... I'm sorry but the name itself is says thanks giving it says nothing about family. This Christmas, my little brother (7 yrs old) told my mom "I hope you got me a remote control helicopter." He didn't say that in the precious way though. He said it with sass and ungratefulness that was evident in his tone. I'm not blaming his ungratefulness on my mom. She has always been very good at reminding us that we live better than most of the world. I have realized that no matter how much she reminds me of the fact, i always take things for granted. All my life my pastor and people who are wiser than me have told me not to take things for granted. But i never knew what that meant, until now.
     This past semester (fall 2013) has been full of changes. To list a few; two of my older siblings left for Taiwan for ten months, one of my close friends and i grew farther apart, and i became more aware that something was wrong with myself. (the last change i listed is extremely important) Although i was aware of the fact that something was wrong, i did not know what.
     In November (especially) i was failing at my constant effort to go to sleep. I would lay in bed for countless hours thinking and trying to make myself go to sleep. I became cranky and rude. One night i was talking to God about my problems and such, when i started crying and i said something along the lines of "I just don't know whats wrong with me. I don't have many friends, I'm failing school, and I'm miserable." Right after i said that God put an idea in my head. The idea was that i was ungrateful, that i was blaming my problems on God, and i stopped thanking Him for the things he has done for me. I immediately began to make excuses. Then i realized this idea he placed in my mind was correct. And i fell asleep. the next day i was constantly thanking God for everything. I became happy and i no longer felt depressed. I got most my homework done on time, and i was just happy.
     Ever since that night when God more or less told me that i was a selfish and ungrateful brat, i got into the habit of thanking God. And then i started thanking other people more. And the thanks that i was giving to other people came out naturally. It wasn't forced like a mother forces her child to thank someone for whatever they did. I wanted to thank people. And every opportunity i forgot to thank someone, i kicked myself over it. I'm not trying to praise myself. I wish i would have realized all this earlier and i wouldn't have to live with the fact that I've been a selfish and ungrateful brat all these years.
     I've realized that being thankful is profitable, and that everyone needs to start participating in it's magic. So i have been thinking of how we can start being thankful. And there is this new thing going around of this lady who took pictures of what she was thankful for, for 365 days. And i loved the idea but the problem is, i don't have a camera. So i started thinking again, and naturally i went on Pinterest. Then i had the idea, why not start a board and pin something everyday that i am thankful for? It's free, easy, and i go on Pinterest almost everyday anyway. So i did it! It was my way of remembering what i am thankful for. Now it's your turn! You can take a picture of it, draw it, or simply write it down in a journal. And at the end of the year, you'll be able to go back and read 365 things you are thankful for and will always be able to remember that you are blessed. Now GO! Be thankful!