My Dad and I once ate in Cafe Gratitude in San Francisco. Before they served our food, the server asked, “What are you grateful for?” My Dad, which a smile on his face and much conviction in his heart, said, “I’m grateful to be alive!!!” I thought it was a rather mediocre, generic and uninspired answer but now that I think of it, it’s perfectly legitimate.

I think a lot of people take being alive for granted. They’re sleep-walkers. They go through life unaware and unconscious of everything around them, just like sleep-walkers. In the end, they’re never able to fully appreciate what they have. I know I take being alive for granted. I’m sleeping too much, therefore preventing me from appreciating everything around me. I take Life so much for granted that last night I took 5 Prozacs, and if I had more I probably would have taken more, because I wanted to be so drugged up that I wouldn’t have to deal with Life.

But the realization is simple - Life, in itself, in all its glory, is worth living for.

I’m grateful to be alive (and not drugged up). I’m grateful for this heart of mine, which never stops to rest to beat for me. I’m grateful for these eyes so I can take in the beauty of my surroundings, or the faces of my loved ones. I’m grateful for my legs which take me wherever I’d like to go, and even further. I’m grateful for my hands and arms so I can hold hands, people, feel things, hug, caress, help. I’m grateful for my lips because I can kiss the ones I love and shine the bright light of a smile on the world. I’m grateful to be alive.