10 major things in life you should never take for granted

Friends, family, work, career, dreams, hobbies, everyday responsibilities—there are so many things in our life that, though they may not be just distractions, they do play a part in keeping us busy.

It seems that almost every hour of every day has something scheduled for it at times—even if that schedule is to sit back and catch up on your favorite show—to the point that it can be difficult to find the opportunity to just sit back and appreciate what you have.

Here are ten major things in life you should never for granted:

1) Your Health

The younger you are, the more resilient your body is.

You could recover from knocks, bruises, pains, and illnesses with nothing more than cough syrup and a kiss on the forehead from your mother.

But as you get older, your body inevitably becomes less effective at resisting and consequently recovering.

Your strength will begin to waver, and your immune system will stop being the impenetrable fortress it once was.

Don’t take your health for granted.

Take care of yourself with a proper diet and the right amount of exercise, as well as enough sleep to keep you well-rested.

Because if you don’t, you might be paying the price in a few years’ time.

2) Your Close Friends

When you are young, your close friends may be all around you.

It will be easier to make and develop long-lasting relationships because you and your friends are at the stage of your life where you are all open to new experiences and finding others to share those new experiences with.

As you get older, it becomes more and more difficult to establish those kinds of bonds with people, and those friends you already have?

If you don’t actively invest attention and time in those relationships, they may one day leave your life.

3) Your Freedom

No matter what society may tell you, there are no deadlines dictating how and when you should live your life.

You don’t have to get married, have children, start a career, buy a house, get a car, or do anything at any certain given time.

You have the freedom to live the way you want to live. Embrace that freedom, and don’t let go.

4) Your Surroundings

When we’re caught up in the modern world, it can be easy to forget how great it is to just stop running around and take time to smell the roses.

The world is a beautiful place, and even in the least ideal circumstances can you still find these little hints of wonder and beauty.

Watch the sunset and sunrise; breathe in the fresh air; stop and gaze at the city lights. Slow down and reconnect with the world.

5) Your Time

The younger you are, the more wasteful you can be with your time.

And that makes sense; in your 20s, you may still feel like you have all the time in the world.

But as soon as you start feeling old, you will regret all the days, weeks, and months you spent doing nothing but sitting around and watching TV or playing games.

Time is your life’s currency—use it wisely, invest it the right way. Let yourself be proud of the way you spent your life when you look back on it in your elderly years.

6) Your Skills

Rejection is a part of life. If you lose a job, project, or even a friend because of your skills, don’t let it pull you down.

Keep honing your skills and master what you are good at, because someday, your skills may be the best things you have. Don’t be sidetracked by distractions; live with a purpose in mind.

7) Your Parents

One thing we take for granted so often is our parents. We love them, we grow up beneath them, and they teach us everything we know.

But when we transition towards the stage of young adult, we often leave them behind as we go off and seek for our own lives.

But remember: your parents won’t be around, waiting for you at home forever.

Someday they will be gone, and the relationship you build with them now is all you will ever have left.

8) Your Income

Big or small, it doesn’t matter. Be proud of what you make, and take pride in what you spend it on.

Learn how to be mindful of what you need and what you don’t need, and how you can maximize your income and make the most of it.

Even with an average salary, you can become a millionaire in a few years if you invest your money properly.

9) Your Energy

We only have so much energy to spend.

Some of us make the mistake of thinking that we have an unlimited vat of energy, which is why we don’t value it when we waste our energy on people and things that we don’t truly care about.

You need to learn how to say no to people who drain your positivity and your energy; you don’t need everyone to like you, and that’s fine.

10) Your Job

There will come a time when you will find the job that gives your life purpose and meaning.

The job that makes you wake up with excitement in your belly and a hunger in your heart, jumping to get back to work and continue contributing to society the way you always knew you were meant to.

The day that you find this job, hold tight and never let go. Live every day fully, and work knowing that it might not last forever.

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Lachlan Brown

I’m Lachlan Brown, the founder, and editor of Hack Spirit. I love writing practical articles that help others live a mindful and better life. I have a graduate degree in Psychology and I’ve spent the last 15 years reading and studying all I can about human psychology and practical ways to hack our mindsets. Check out my latest book on the Hidden Secrets of Buddhism and How it Saved My Life. If you want to get in touch with me, hit me up on Facebook or Twitter.

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