Appreciate, Acknowledge, and Be Grateful

I think at one point in our lives, we meet people and know right there and then that they are destined to be a part of your life. For whatever reason, and through seemingly bizarre ways, they can affect your life in a very remarkable way -- maybe to help you sort your life out; to give you significant realizations; or to help you be the best person you can possibly be. That goes to show that everyone we meet, even a stranger, can make a huge impact in our lives.

But how exactly can we be thankful to those people who caused us pain and misery? That invariable hurt can make us neglect all the possible lessons we can learn from the heartache, the disappointment, and the horrible exprience. But if you look closely, you will realize that if it weren't for them, you would have never reached your full potential, measured how strong you really are, and how much of life's setback you can handle. It's only upon the realization that things happen to benchmark your limits and stretch your soul's capability to triumph that you can find joy over your mishaps. Here's how a line from Bob Dylan's song puts it:

"Behind every beautiful thing, there's been some kind of pain." 

In my own take, perhaps the bitter things are the most piercing but makes the biggest impact in our lives. Everything in this world can be learned from -- both our victories and downfalls. Without the harsh things we experience, we can never truly appreciate the good things that are coming our way.

So if someone betrayed you, forgive them for they have taught you a valuable lesson about trust. If someone crashed your heart to pieces, be thankful for you have learned how to guard your heart. If someone hurts you, forgive them for they made you realize how strong you really are. The pain and the battlescars will eventually set off as a reminder of how well you fought.

If you know someone trusts you, be thankful because they are teaching you how to live your life upright. If someone loves you, be thankful because they are teaching you how to let someone in and they are opening up your eyes to the things unseen. If someone makes you happy, be thankful because they make you appreciate the beauty of life a little bit more. The joy and bliss can help you nurse the pain drawn to you, and they will serve as a reminder that life is worth fighting for.

So appreciate every little things in life, and acknowledge the unique experiences people give you. Be open to all the possibilities, all the heartbreaks, and all the lessons. Above everything else, just be thankful. PERIOD.