Be grateful for what you have, rather than focus on what you don’t.
Over the weekend, I went on a camping trip with my son, organized by other parents at his school. I think of myself as a novice camper – I have my own tent and equipment, but only go camping once every few years, generally tagging along with somebody else who is more experienced.
Much to my surprise, I was the most experienced camper when I arrived. Several people had never set up their tents before, and I helped them out. Many didn’t bring a headlamp, so I lent out spares I had from a previous trip, and shared a couple camp lanterns to provide light for those that needed it. I organized a couple hikes during the weekend, and we had a great time!
It changed my perspective on my own experience. I’ve done a couple week-long bikepacking trips. I’ve done a couple backpacking trips. I’ve done many weekend camping trips. I think of myself as a novice, but that’s only because I compare myself to people that go out on week-long backpacking trips every year. Compared to most average people, I’m an expert camper.
As we approach Thanksgiving, I’ve been thinking about gratitude. We so often take for granted what we already have, and forget to appreciate it. We think of what we don’t have, rather than appreciate what we do have. My first instinct last weekend was to think of all the camping experience I didn’t have, rather than all the experience I did have to share.
How could you invert your thinking to appreciate what you already have? Rather than cling to a scarcity mindset of “not enough”, what could you share from a mindset of abundance, as I did on the camping trip?