The following was inspired by this Heroic +1 from Brian Johnson.
How to be Grateful for the Annoyances of Family
Think of something annoying that a member of your household does.
Maybe it’s leaving a mess on the counter. Maybe it’s not picking up their toys. Maybe it’s tracking kitty litter in the hallway.
Now imagine that annoying thing has disappeared. Not because they stopped doing the thing, but because they disappeared. Your partner stopped leaving a mess on the counter because they moved out. Your kids stopped leaving their toys all over because they grew up. Your cat stopped tracking litter in the hallway because they passed away.
Suddenly, that supposedly annoying behavior takes on a new tenor, doesn’t it?
It’s actually something to be grateful for. It’s a reminder to cherish the time you have with your loved ones.
How to be Grateful for the Annoyances of Daily Life
Now think of all the annoying things you have to do in your daily life. Driving to work. Grocery shopping. Cleaning the bathroom.
Again, imagine that these tasks have disappeared. You don’t have to drive to work because you got laid off. You can’t go grocery shopping because there’s a food shortage. You don’t have a bathroom to clean because you don’t have a home.
From this perspective, it’s clear that these “annoying” tasks are actually privileges. They’re things you get to do because you’re fortunate. They’re things to be grateful for.
How to be Grateful for the Annoyances of Aging
Lastly, as you grow older, your body will start to have more problems. Aches and pains. Lingering injuries. Chronic conditions that are a daily challenge.
Once more, imagine these problems have disappeared. Not because you were magically healed, but because you have died.
From this perspective, the discomfort of growing old is a blessing because the alternative is not being alive. Your arthritis, your heart condition, even your wrinkles and gray hair – they’re all reminders that every day is a bonus day.
So the next time you catch yourself getting annoyed, pause, and use this way of thinking to alchemize that annoyance into gratitude.