Appreciating What Is

Aren't there days when you wish that things could be different?  Whether it's the weather, or your weight, or the way your kitchen looks right now, you just wish you could snap your fingers, or wiggle your nose, and everything would be just as you would like to have it.  But I wonder sometimes, if things were just as we want them to be, would we then be satisfied? 
Our culture, and the nature of the human condition, has taught us to identify problems.  It comes together with that fight or flight thing that's built in. If we were hunter gatherers on the savannahs of Africa, we would be keeping our eyes peeled for the predator who might be thinking of us as a meal.  If we are the walking alone at night, we are watching and listening for sights and sounds that might alert us to danger. If we are at home alone, and we hear a sound that is unfamiliar, we are alert for trouble.  It is a survival mechanism that we really don't have to learn, it is built-in.
What isn't built in is learning to notice and appreciate when things are going well.  We have a job we like, we are pretty healthy, we are comfortable where we live, the temperature is just right.  How often do you really appreciate how well things are going until one of them changes and you are less satisfied?
I, and others, have learned, and in my case, am learning every day, to notice what is going right.  I have begun to teach Learning Circles, and one of the earliest assignments is to notice and appreciate what is going right in your life.  If you want to try this, you will notice that each time you take the time to notice what is good and satisfying, you will notice more.  So take a piece of paper, or a notebook, and assign yourself 5 (measley) minutes at some specific time during the day to appreciate. It might just be something like "I really like my hair", and then spend 30 seconds or so really appreciating your hair, or "I am really grateful for the love of my dog" (I can attest that this will bring a smile to your face), or "I really love the view from my window".  As you begin to notice the things you appreciate, you will find yourself actively appreciating many things that you have been taking for granted, and in so doing will be bringing more joy into your life. 
Try it.  I think that you will find it improves your life in unexpected ways.  Just three a day.  5 minutes. No matter how busy you are, you can begin or end your day with 5 minutes of appreciation.  It will ground you in the good.