By Ricardo Tello – December 2024
“Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little at least we didn’t get sick, and if we didn’t get sick at least we didn’t die; so let us be thankful.” – Nelson Mandela
As we come to the end of another year, I think it is very important, even in jail, to be grateful and appreciative of the many blessings that we receive. Being thankful is not about the big things. It is about the small things, everyday events and small accomplishments that we have. Having a love one answer you call, having a cellmate share coffee with you, or even enjoying a good movie. There is always something that you can be grateful for in your life. Regardless of the place and environment that we live in, appreciate the things around you rather than taking them for granted. Know that someone in the world is going through worst struggles than what you are now facing. Someone today was diagnosed with a life threatening condition that they may never be able to recover from, someone today lost a loved one, and someone today woke up in a state of total despair that will affect their lives forever. Gratitude is the greatest attitude to face through adversity.
My whole life I have been used to working hard for the things I wanted. Always asking for strength, more blessings and better luck to achieve my goals. But it wasn’t until I arrived to jail that I understood how wrong that was. We should face life with humility. We should never ask for things to happen or expect for things to happen on their own. We needed to be open to opportunities. Opportunities to change, opportunities to be successful, opportunities to show how much you love someone, opportunities to sacrifice what you love the most and are willing to do. Opportunities to appreciate what life is about. Opportunities to put your life in perspective and be thankful for the blessing around you. Being in jail today is an opportunity for you to change your life around.
A couple of months ago I began a gratitude journal, a jail term for a diary. I began writing down three to five things that I am thankful for everyday. Like most people, I have more bad days than good, but I usually find a way to be grateful for anything that happens, or something new I learned. I take five minutes every night and write the first things that come to mind. Reading back, I have been thankful for waking up, for someones birthday, for getting inspiration to write this article, for hearing someone say “I love you.” It is surprising how every time I express gratitude I feel a sense of joy and abundance in my life. Even if I do not get to express it daily, or if others don’t feel it back, I feel more connected to the people that I love. I am thankful for having them in my life.
I have learned that expressing gratitude to others is one of the most positive things we can do. Telling someone that what they did matters to you. That their actions make an incredible impact in your live. That the love and concern they express everyday in the smallest actions is what keeps you going. When someone makes you feel good, make them feel good also. By being thankful to others we are making the world a better place by saying “thank you.”
Finally, I want to thank you. One of the hardest things one can accomplish as a writer, is to be able to captivate a reader like you to feel what I am trying to convey. I am grateful that you have taken the time to read my articles and have the ability to connect with me. You are the reason I continue to create
content. I want to inspire you to change your life and I am incredibly grateful to know that someone will be touched by hear my story. I wish you all the best this holiday season and again, Thank you.