During Kallah this past summer, I decided to fast for Tishah B’av. Usually, I only fast once a year during Yom Kippur, but this year, being on Kallah motivated me to fast. Little did I know this decision would change my perspective on life. 

As the day went on, all I could think about was what the time was and how long until break fast. I was looking forward to the first bite of food, thinking it would be one of the best things I had ever tasted. Then, before I knew it was break fast. I had my first bite of food. It was great and tasted amazing. But then the second bite was just like any other I had taken in my life. 

That whole day, all I thought about was how amazing that first bite would be. But it was a feeling of instant gratification that lasted for less than thirty seconds. That night, when I was trying to fall asleep, I had time to reflect alone. All I could think about was how excited I was for that meal, just for it not to be special. So often in life we wish for things, and as soon as we receive them we move on to the next wish.

What also crossed my mind was that for hundreds of millions of people, they live what I had just experienced on a daily. I realized that I needed to be more grateful for my life. 

I decided that I would try to think of what I am grateful for every morning. I am happy to say that I have stuck to this goal. It has allowed me to appreciate things for much longer than I did before. And when obstacles show up, it is so much easier to think positively now.  

When Yom Kippur came around and I broke fast this year, my gratitude and happiness lasted so much longer because of how I woke up being grateful every morning. And I encourage everyone to think of what they are grateful for every morning too.