If you’re a regular on social media, you’ve undoubtedly seen or maybe you’ve even taken part in the #100HappyDays phenomenon that’s been going on. Taking a picture of something that happened in your day, whether big or small that put a smile on your face, a practice designed to help us all be a little more grateful, of even the simple things.

Our National Sales Manager, Joe Cardillo, just got back from a 2 week trip to India where he and his daughter helped build a school with the Me to We organization. He was sharing some of his experiences with me yesterday, from the lack of clean drinking water, to the absence of dental care and it really makes you think how fortunate we are to live in such a developed country with all the luxuries we have available to us.India.jpg

He said something that really stuck with me, there are a little over 7 billion people in the world and just 33 million live here in Canada. If you think about it, he said, “that’s like winning the lottery. You don’t get to choose where you’re born and that’s only about a .5% chance to be born here.” I’ve always felt fortunate and proud to be Canadian, but never truly thought of it that way.

I do a number of things to practice gratitude, sometimes I mediate, I have a gratitude jar, where you write what you’re grateful for on a slip of paper, and I have a journal I write things I’m grateful for as well. I know there are days I don’t take a moment to think of what I’m grateful for, however the days I do, are generally better.

I’m grateful that Vector Marketing Canada sees social responsibility and giving back to the communities we work in, as a core value. (check back next week for our blog post on our connection with the Front Row Foundation), I’m grateful for a company that gives people a shot who may have been overlooked elsewhere, I’m grateful for the opportunities to travel and see this beautiful country that this role has given me, I’m grateful to work in an environment that encourages personal growth and I’m grateful to work with a company full of really cool, fun amazing people I call my friends.

Take a moment to share what you’re grateful for in the comments, we’d love to hear!