As one of the penguins in this world, having the privilege to live among humans I learned many things and one of them is being grateful. And not just for my owners who saved me or for the roof over my head.

I learned to be grateful for many things, not just the big ones, but especially the small ones.

Some days I do not feel like being grateful, yet I find the energy to say what I am grateful for to rebel against the negative impulses of everyday life. And I learned, acting grateful is making me grateful for real.

“It is not happy people who are thankful. It is thankful people who are happy.”

I know I am only a penguin that does not need to go to work, has food on the table from my owners and life looks easy for me. However, in my previous life the food was not something I had every day and the roof I lived under was …. I rather not talk about it. So yes, now my life is easy and I see that for many people gratitude is difficult because life is hard.

Gratitude does not come easy, but one should not forget it.

Thankfully, there are many humans actively practicing gratitude. And they are on the right path because doing so raises their happiness.

And believe me, I read a lot of research on it. Gratitude stimulates the hypothalamus (the part of the brain that stimulates stress) and the ventral tegmental area (the part that produces the sensation of pleasure). There are many scientific facts about it and I could continue, but honestly, it is also common sense, isn’t it?

If you choose to focus on good things, it will make you feel better than if you focus on bad things.

Humans should work on their gratitude; it can increase their well-being and happiness. And the best part is – it does not cost any money.

Since I am an honest penguin I will not hide any facts. There is one thing I need to mention. One study showed, that feeling grateful increases the consumption of sweets.  For me, it is not a problem since I am a penguin and fat by nature, but some humans might lookout for it.

Many take everyday things around them for granted. But remember, they are not. Flippers on the heart, when was the last time you have been grateful for a commodity as water or fresh air?

I know it’s harder to do than to say and here practice makes perfect.

So how to practice? That is easy and there are many options.

Below some tips, but remember it is individual and you should try to find what is best, but one must start somewhere.

1/ Try to keep short weekly lists of things you are grateful for.

2/ Write a letter to reflect on what you are grateful for.

3/ Wake up in the morning and say 3 things you are grateful for.

4/ Start a gratitude journal.

In the end it is all about your choice to be grateful.

Sit down and think

Humans have so much to be thankful for.

Before I finish this, it is necessary to list the things I am grateful for:

Every new day I wake up to (it is not granted to everyone sadly) and I am grateful for:

• My owners
• You readers (thank you)
• Human food (especially sweets)
• The cold side of the pillow in the morning
• The snooze button on the alarm
• Nature’s beauty
• And mostly I am thankful for being a penguin

Remember, it is also the small things one should be grateful for.

So, tell me, what are you grateful for?