{"id":1094,"date":"2014-07-07T22:06:25","date_gmt":"2014-07-07T22:06:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/everydayinspiration\/?p=1094"},"modified":"2014-07-08T17:46:58","modified_gmt":"2014-07-08T17:46:58","slug":"20-reasons-why-its-good-to-be-alive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/everydayinspiration\/2014\/07\/20-reasons-why-its-good-to-be-alive.html","title":{"rendered":"20 Reasons Why It\u2019s Good to Be Alive"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"bewell\"<\/a><\/p>\n

“I don\u2019t believe people are looking for the meaning of life as much as they are looking for the experience of being alive.” – Joseph Campbell<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

After celebrating my 52nd birthday a few days ago, it was clear I had a choice: I could choose to see the glass as half empty (time is moving forward and there\u2019s nothing I can do to stop it); or I could choose to see the glass as half full (there\u2019s still plenty of time left to enjoy life\u2019s gifts).<\/p>\n

I decided to drink from the half-full glass.<\/p>\n

20 Gifts to Celebrate<\/h2>\n

Every day you have the choice to celebrate life, or not. Between paying the bills, juggling your responsibilities and recognizing the days are getting shorter, each day also provides an invitation to embrace the goodness, and the gifts, life has to offer.<\/p>\n

Here are 20 reasons why it\u2019s good to be alive<\/a> so you can celebrate life\u2019s gifts with a full heart \u2013 no matter how difficult things may seem at times.<\/strong><\/p>\n

1.\tYou can hug your child.
\n
\n2.\tYou can take a walk in the rain.
\n
\n3.\tYou can smell the delicious aroma of fresh-baked cookies.
\n
\n4.\tYou can give, and receive, a sweet kiss from your partner.
\n
\n5.\tYou can sleep late on a lazy Sunday morning.
\n
\n6.\tYou can share a laugh with your friends.
\n
\n7.\tYou can cuddle up with your partner and watch a favorite TV show.
\n
\n8.\tYou can give your time, talent or treasure to a worthy cause.
\n
\n9.\tYou can treat yourself to your favorite ice cream cone.
\n
\n10.\tYou can feel your heart beat after going for a walk or run.
\n
\n11.\tYou can sip a cold beer at a baseball game.
\n
\n12.\tYou can create something beautiful to share with the world.
\n
\n13.\tYou can be an ambassador for kindness.
\n
\n14.\tYou can read a book while sipping a hot cup of coffee or tea.
\n
\n15.\tYou can sleep in clean, crisp sheets.
\n
\n16.\tYou can take a bite of watermelon and enjoy the juice run down your face.
\n
\n17.\tYou can lay outside and just gaze at the stars.
\n
\n18.\tYou can send a loved one an encouraging text message to brighten their day.
\n
\n19.\tYou can walk in the surf while hunting for sea shells.
\n
\n20.\tYou can close your eyes and blow out the candles on another birthday cake.<\/p>\n

About Alex Blackwell<\/a><\/strong>
\nAlex Blackwell is a father, husband and writer<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

“I don\u2019t believe people are looking for the meaning of life as much as they are looking for the experience of being alive.” – Joseph Campbell After celebrating my 52nd birthday a few days ago, it was clear I had a choice: I could choose to see the glass as half empty (time is moving…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":554,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1094","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n20 Reasons Why It\u2019s Good to Be Alive - Everyday Inspiration<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/everydayinspiration\/2014\/07\/20-reasons-why-its-good-to-be-alive.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"20 Reasons Why It\u2019s Good to Be Alive - 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