Remember What You Have
I’ve been reflecting on simplicity and gratitude as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday.
One thing that keeps coming to mind is how easy it is to forget that so much of what we have now—our homes, jobs, families, friends, and children—were once unmet longings. We hoped, dreamed, prayed, and worked hard for the very things that fill our lives today.
And yet, we lose sight of this. We forget that, in many ways, we’re already living in the reality of answered prayers. Our scarcity mindset—always trying to protect us from potential loss—lures us into worrying about the future, imagining worst-case scenarios that feel urgent and demanding.
Unfortunately, that constant vigilance robs us of joy. When we focus on what’s missing, we overlook what’s already here. We begin to live from a place of lack, rather than abundance.
Yes, we all have real needs and unmet desires in the present. But when those take up too much mental space, we miss the quiet, everyday opportunities for joy that are right in front of us.
So here’s my invitation: Take a moment to reflect on what you do have. Then, think back to a time when you didn’t have it. Can you remember what that felt like—the longing, the uncertainty, the hope?
We need to relearn the art of savoring what we already have. This doesn’t mean ignoring what’s still missing; it means making a conscious choice to enjoy life as it is, not as we wish it would be someday.
The truth is, we’ll probably never have everything we want, exactly the way we want it. But that doesn’t mean we don’t already have more than enough reasons to be grateful.
Here’s to remembering—and cherishing—what’s already ours.
Happy to be in your corner,
Tom Page, LCPC
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