gratitude isn’t competition kween.

the other day i caught myself thinking about gratitude in a different way.

someone i know was telling me how miserable they were, and my first thought was, “at least you still have someone to call.”

then i stopped myself.

because two things can be true at the same time.

someone can be grateful for what they have and still be hurting because of what they’re going through.

those things don’t cancel each other out.

it made me realize how often we compare pain.

we tell people, “someone has it worse.”

or we tell ourselves we shouldn’t celebrate because “someone else has it better.”

but maybe life isn’t meant to be measured that way.

gratitude isn’t a competition.

it doesn’t erase hard days, and hard days don’t erase everything we have to be thankful for.

lately, i’ve been trying to notice the things i usually overlook.

the ability to wake up.

the people i can call.

having a place to come home to.

being able to sit down and write whatever is on my mind.

reading a good book.

laughing until my stomach hurts.

those things aren’t small.

they’re parts of life that someone else might be praying for today.

that doesn’t mean i’m pretending everything is perfect.

it just means i’m learning that gratitude and struggle can exist in the same heart at the same time.

and i think that’s a perspective i want to hold on to.