So Much to Be Grateful For

 

Be grateful you’re not a chef-owner who’s worked tirelessly to recently open a restaurant.

Be grateful you’re not a server at that, or any other restaurant.

Be grateful you’re not a school kid hoping to improve your grades for college.

Be grateful you’re not a college kid, in debt, hoping to graduate into a hungry job market.

Be grateful you’re not a museum, aquarium, zoo, or tourist attraction.

Be grateful you’re not a tourist guide, tour operator, or concierge.

Be grateful you have nothing to do with the hotel industry.

Be grateful you’re not a band on tour.

Be grateful you’re not a concert promoter.

Be grateful you’re not involved with a folk, arts or music festival.

Be grateful you’re not a sports professional.

Be grateful you haven’t spent your whole career training for the 2020 Olympics

Be grateful you haven’t spent your whole career training for the 2020 anything.

Be grateful you don’t work in a hair or nail salon.

Be grateful you don’t have lots of children to school, entertain and feed.

Be grateful you’re not single and alone.

Be grateful you don’t own a martial arts studio.

Be grateful you don’t own a book shop, gift shop, or boutique.

Be grateful you don’t need to visit the Emergency Room.

Be grateful you’re not an artist who landed a big gallery break.

Be grateful you’re not a gallery.

Be grateful you don’t pay an exorbitant amount of commercial rent.

Be grateful you don’t have an unmanageable mortgage.

Be grateful you don’t live month to month, or week to week.

Be grateful you’re not supporting your family who live in another country.

Be grateful you’re not a refugee.

Be grateful you’re not completely invested in the stock market.

Be grateful you’re not caught up in a civil war, locust plague or ethnic violence.

Be grateful you’re not a filmmaker stalled in production.

Be grateful you’re not a retail store.

Be grateful you’re not an event or wedding planner.

Be grateful you’re not in recruitment.

Be grateful you’re not working in media.

Be grateful you don’t work in the casino industry.

Be grateful you don’t work in the cinema industry.

Be grateful you’re not in the fashion retail industry.

Be grateful you’re not in the convention industry.

Be grateful you don’t have to sell advertising.

Be grateful you don’t work in a crisis-hit senior’s home.

Be grateful you don’t work in a stadium or venue.

Be grateful you don’t work in the oil industry.

Be grateful you don’t work in the airline or airport industry.

Be grateful you’re not neurotic or obsessed with conspiracy theories.

Be grateful you don’t own a gun, or see any reason to do so.

Be grateful you don’t have to worry about starving.

Be grateful you don’t have to worry about being cold.

Be grateful you don’t believe everything you read.

Be grateful you are not a professional speaker, or own a speaking agency.

Be grateful you are not a travel writer.

Be grateful your wedding or family event wasn’t planned for spring or summer 2020.

Be grateful your graduation wasn’t scheduled in 2020.

Be grateful you’re not in theatre, dance, comedy, or public performance.

Be grateful you don’t work on a cruise ship.

Be grateful you’re not stuck on a cruise ship.

Be grateful your finances are not dependent on tourism or oil.

Be grateful you don’t work in catering.

Be grateful you are not in construction.

Be grateful you are not homeless.

Be grateful you do not live in a household with domestic abuse.

Be grateful you do not suffer from addiction.

Be grateful you are not a magician or a wrestler.

Be grateful you are not a professional busker.

Be grateful you haven’t had to lay anybody off.

Be grateful you haven’t had to shut anything down.

Be grateful you haven’t had to cancel the whole damn thing.

Be grateful you are not vulnerable.

Be grateful you have not lost a loved one to COVID-19.

Be grateful you are not a pessimist.

 

And while you’re at it:

 

Be grateful you are physically and mentally healthy.

Be grateful you love someone, and someone loves you.

Be grateful you live in a country with a social net.

Be grateful there are people that care.

Be grateful that there are adults in the room (most of the time).

Be grateful for science.

Be grateful for entertainment.

Be grateful for innovation.

Be grateful that level-headed, rational and empathetic politicians exist.

Be grateful for the global logistical supply chain.

Be grateful for technology.

Be grateful for fresh drinking water on demand.

Be grateful for streaming.

Be grateful there is food on the shelves.

Be grateful for your neighbours and community.

Be grateful there is a number you can call.

Be grateful there is help.

Be grateful there is soap.

Be grateful for online banking.

Be grateful for online shopping.

Be grateful you still have a job.

Be grateful educators are figuring something out.

Be grateful for vaccinations.

Be grateful for the commitment and diligence of doctors and nurses.

Be grateful for people who show up for work when others don’t have to.

Be grateful for the weather.

Be grateful for the things you have seen and done.

Be grateful for fresh air.

Be grateful for the tenacity of society.

Be grateful we will be better prepared for COVID-20.

Be grateful the environment has had a brief pause to breathe.

Be grateful tourism will resume locally and more sustainably.

Be grateful there are more people who love than people who hate.

Be grateful the virus does not discriminate the way people do.

Be grateful we are in this together.

Be grateful for optimism.

Great Canadian Bucket List