Hard times around and staying thankful sure helps!

Global recession has kicked in with many strong economies being brought down to it's knees, and for most of us the term 'lavish' does not quite exist in our vocabulary. Spending is kept under tight control and saving is our main priority. 

Hard times come and go but there is one thing all of can do to make the hard times feel less painful. Be thankful! :) Being thankful has worked wonders for me probably because I never had much to begin with, so being thankful was really all I could do.

How I feel thankful:

1. I start by searching for things I can be grateful for - I've got my car albeit it is 20 years old, I get decent food everyday, I've got clothes to cover me, I've got a roof over my head during the rainy and sunny times.

2. Spread the joy of being thankful by sharing how grateful you are about something with a loved one or friend. You will probably find yourself smiling by the time you are done sharing about it. 

3. There's always more to be grateful for. Although having wealth can always bring about a verr, very, very comfortable lifestyle, it can sometimes lack the value. For example, when wealth was in your grasp 350g sirloin steak was probably your staple diet. But ask yourself, when was the last time you had a simple sandwich or roti canai (roti canai is one of the local Malaysian food). Just because you are less wealthier during these hard times doesn't mean you can't enjoy the value in things around you.

4. Wealth starts from within you. If you can't have what you want, just be happy with what you have. :) I can give you a list of what I want, which probably is endless but I won't do that because I am just going to be happy with what I have. After all, one can never satisfy one's wants. Enough, it seems never seems to be enough for any of us.

5. Wealth, richness, if you ask me is a matter of perception and lies entirely in the realm of subjectivity. A 1 million dollar house in a 300 thousand dollar neighbourhood is like a mansion, but a 1 million dollar house in a 5 million dollar neighbourhood is probably like a shack. Ever looked at things from this point of view? I am guessing........ no. Well, try it!

6. Learn to give. A dollar to you may be a little, but a dollar to someone out there could mean having something to fill his/her lil' tummy for today. 

Times are bad, wealth is low but it doesn't mean we can't be thankful for what we have. Be happy people!