‘Tis the perfect season to pause, look back, and reflect on everything we have been through throughout the year

2021 was certainly a year of challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic continued to affect people around the world, regardless of age, background, or financial situation. Many of us experienced uncertainty, loss, financial difficulties, health concerns, changes in our routines, and moments when we simply didn’t know what the future would bring.

But even in the middle of all those difficulties, there is still one thing we can choose to do:

Be grateful.

Being grateful doesn’t mean pretending that everything is perfect. It doesn’t mean ignoring our problems or denying the hardships we’ve experienced. It simply means choosing to recognize the good things that are still present in our lives, even when the difficult things seem louder.

A beautiful Christmas song reminded me of exactly that.

“If you’re worried and you can’t sleep, just count your blessings instead of sheep.”

The song “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep,” written by Irving Berlin, has been performed by many artists around the world. One version I particularly love is by Jose Mari Chan, and I find myself listening to it repeatedly during the holiday season.

There is something comforting about its simple message: when worries keep you awake, take a moment to remember what you do have instead of focusing entirely on what you lack.

And that’s exactly what I wanted to do this year.

Benefits of Being Grateful

---

Why I Chose to Count My Blessings

I am now 28 years old, and when I stop to think about everything that has happened in the past year, I realize that I have so many reasons to be thankful.

Some blessings are big and life-changing.

Others are small and ordinary.

But when you put them all together, you realize just how much you have.

So, here are a few of the things I am grateful for this year.

---

1. I Am Thankful for Our First Baby

One of the greatest blessings of my life this year is that I am pregnant with our first baby.

My husband and I waited several months to conceive, and when we finally found out that we were going to become parents, it felt like one of the most beautiful answers to our prayers.

It was a long-awaited blessing.

And now, every little movement, every ultrasound, and every appointment reminds us just how precious this gift is.

---

2. I Am Thankful That Our Baby Is Doing Well

After finding out that I was pregnant several months ago, one of my biggest prayers has been for our baby to remain healthy and continue developing normally.

So far, everything has been going well, and I am incredibly grateful for every reassuring check-up and every good result.

Pregnancy has certainly come with its own challenges, but knowing that our baby is doing well gives us so much peace.

---

3. I Am Thankful That My Husband Was Able to Return to Work

The pandemic brought uncertainty to many families, including ours.

My husband was unemployed for several months, and that period was understandably stressful.

But despite the uncertainty, he eventually returned to work and has continued working with the same company.

Looking back, I realize that simply having a job to return to is already something worth celebrating.

---

4. I Am Thankful That We Kept Our Jobs

I am grateful that my father, my sister, and I were able to keep our jobs despite everything that happened during the pandemic.

Employment is something we can easily take for granted when things are going well.

But when uncertainty surrounds us, having a stable source of income becomes a tremendous blessing.

It helps us support ourselves, pay our bills, help our families, and continue planning for the future.

---

5. I Am Thankful That My Father Recovered From COVID-19

One of the things that frightened us the most was seeing someone we love become sick.

My father was almost 60 when he contracted COVID-19, and naturally, we were worried about him.

Thankfully, he recovered.

That experience reminded me just how fragile life can be and how important it is to appreciate the people we love while we still have them.

---

6. I Am Thankful That My Mother and Youngest Sister Also Recovered

My mother and youngest sister also experienced COVID-19 symptoms.

Thankfully, they recovered as well.

Every time someone in our family became sick, I found myself praying for their safety.

So being able to say that they are okay today is a blessing I will never take for granted.

---

7. I Am Thankful That We Can Still Eat Three Times a Day

This may sound simple, but it is one of the things I am most thankful for.

Despite the economic uncertainty and financial challenges brought by the pandemic, we were still able to put food on the table every day.

Three meals a day may feel ordinary when we have enough.

But for many people around the world, having reliable access to food is not guaranteed.

So yes, I am grateful for every breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

---

8. I Am Thankful That We Can Still Pay Our Bills

Financial difficulties can create an incredible amount of stress.

Even though things weren’t always easy, we were still able to pay our bills and loans on time.

We may not have had everything we wanted, but we had enough for what we needed.

And sometimes, enough is already a blessing.

---

9. I Am Thankful That Our Loved Ones Were Safe

Another huge blessing is that none of our immediate family members, relatives, or close friends lost their lives because of COVID-19.

We know that many families experienced heartbreaking losses during the pandemic.

Knowing that our loved ones remained safe makes us incredibly grateful.

---

10. I Am Thankful That Our Colleagues Were Safe

Our coworkers were also affected by the pandemic and the uncertainty surrounding it.

I’m thankful that the people we worked with were able to recover and continue moving forward.

Sometimes, we spend more time with our colleagues than we realize, so their health and safety matter too.

---

11. I Am Thankful That We Were Healthy

I am also thankful that my husband and I did not knowingly test positive for COVID-19.

There were moments when we experienced symptoms and wondered whether we might have had it, but we were never confirmed positive at the time.

Whatever the case may have been, we are simply grateful that we came through that difficult period safely.

---

12. I Am Thankful for the Things We Were Able to Invest In

We may not have had a huge amount of money sitting in the bank, but we were able to put some of our resources toward things that mattered to us.

Sometimes building a future doesn’t look like having a huge savings account.

Sometimes it means slowly putting your money toward something meaningful.

Small steps still count.

---

13. I Am Thankful That I Can Take Care of My Plants Again

My first trimester of pregnancy was not exactly the easiest time for me.

I experienced exhaustion and other symptoms that made everyday activities more difficult.

So being able to return to simple things like caring for my plants became a little blessing.

Sometimes we don’t realize how therapeutic ordinary hobbies can be until we are too tired to enjoy them.

---

14. I Am Thankful for Our Home

I am grateful that my husband and I have a place in Dubai where we can live peacefully.

Having a safe and comfortable home is something that can easily be overlooked.

But after everything that happened during the pandemic, our home became more than just a place to sleep.

It became our safe place.

---

15. I Am Thankful for My Short Commute

I am also grateful that my daily commute to work became much easier.

A 15-minute drive may sound insignificant, but anyone who has experienced long commutes knows how valuable time can be.

Less time in traffic means more time to rest, spend with family, or simply breathe.

---

16. I Am Thankful for Our Plans for the Future

My husband and I have also been fortunate enough to explore opportunities in the Philippines where we can invest and hopefully build something for our future family.

We’re still working toward our long-term plans, but having something to look forward to gives us hope.

And now that we’re expecting our first baby, those dreams feel even more meaningful.

---

17. I Am Thankful That Our Families in the Philippines Are Safe

The Philippines experienced several strong typhoons during the year, so naturally, we worried about our families back home.

Thankfully, our relatives and friends remained safe.

Living abroad makes these situations especially difficult because you cannot always be there physically to help.

So knowing that our loved ones are okay is something we never take for granted.

---

18. I Am Thankful That My Youngest Sister Could Continue Studying

Despite the disruptions caused by the pandemic, my youngest sister was still able to continue her education through online classes.

It wasn’t the same as attending school normally, but having the opportunity to continue studying was still a blessing.

Education is one of those things that can open doors for the future, and I’m grateful she was able to keep going.

---

19. I Am Thankful That I Can Still Write

And finally, I’m thankful that I’m still here.

Still writing.

Still learning.

Still sharing stories.

Still trying to improve.

This blog may not be a huge publication, but it means something to me.

I’m grateful that I have a place where I can document my experiences, share lessons, and hopefully help someone along the way.

And yes, maintaining a website isn’t free. 😂

Domain names and hosting have to be paid for, after all!

But being able to continue writing makes it worthwhile.

---

When Life Feels Heavy, Count Your Blessings

Sometimes we become so focused on what is missing that we forget to notice what is already in front of us.

We worry about money.

We worry about our future.

We worry about our health.

We worry about our careers.

We worry about our relationships.

We worry about things that haven’t even happened yet.

And while those concerns are real, they shouldn’t completely overshadow the blessings we already have.

Maybe your blessing is your family.

Maybe it’s your health.

Maybe it’s your job.

Maybe it’s your home.

Maybe it’s simply waking up another morning.

Maybe it’s having someone to call when you’re having a difficult day.

Maybe it’s the food on your table.

Maybe it’s the little things you usually don’t notice.

Sometimes, we don’t need more blessings.

We simply need to notice the ones we already have.

---

“Gratitude turns what we have into enough.”

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
— Psalm 107:1

---

This year has taught me that gratitude isn’t about having a perfect life.

It’s about finding something good even when life is far from perfect.

There were difficult moments.

There were uncertainties.

There were things we couldn’t control.

There were days when I worried about the future.

But there were also so many reasons to smile.

A healthy family.

A growing baby.

A job.

A home.

Food on the table.

People who care about us.

A chance to keep writing.

A future to look forward to.

And sometimes, that’s more than enough.

So when you find yourself lying awake at night worrying about tomorrow, perhaps try something different.

Instead of counting sheep…

Count your blessings.

Think about the people you love.

Remember the difficult situations you’ve survived.

Think about how far you’ve come.

Think about the little things that made you smile.

And one by one, let those blessings remind you that your life may contain much more good than you realize.

You may still have problems.

You may still have unanswered prayers.

You may still have dreams that haven’t happened yet.

But that doesn’t mean your life is empty.

There is always something worth being grateful for.

And maybe, just maybe, you’ll realize that you have been blessed all along.

May the coming year bring us renewed hope, stronger faith, good health, peace, and countless reasons to be grateful.

Cheers to 2022! 🥂❤️

---

When I’m worried and I can’t sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep counting my blessings

When my bankroll is getting small
I think of when I had none at all
And I fall asleep counting my blessings

I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads
And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds
If you’re worried and you can’t sleep
Just count your blessings instead of sheep
And you’ll fall asleep counting your blessings

I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads
And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds
If you’re worried and you can’t sleep
Just count your blessings instead of sheep
And you’ll fall asleep counting your blessings

By Irvin Berlin

---

What We Love About Finland: Our Life After Moving From Dubai
Himalaya Evecare Capsule: My Fertility Journey and Product Review
Personal Life Goals to Make 2021 Your Best Year Ever

---

Updated: August 2026