The more we see something, the more invisible it becomes to us. We take things we once desired for granted, which are essential for our well-being—valuable things, treasures, beautiful things, and extraordinary people who enrich our lives. The problem is that the consumer society in which we live has made us blind. We have lost all sense of what is truly important and focused all our energy on less meaningful things. Ironically, we often realize how important something is only when we lose it. That is the moment when we learn to give something the value it always deserved.

Once upon a time, there was a magical world. It was full of wonders and treasures. It was so perfectly designed that only an expert craftsman could have created such a masterpiece; it was so beautiful, magnificent, and extraordinary. It was the best creation ever made. This paradise, called “Earth,” was composed of minerals, water, mountains, oceans, trees, flowers, breathtaking landscapes, lakes, beautiful creatures, fruits, seeds, and vegetables. Above, you could see a blue sky during the day with a bright sun, or perhaps water falling from the sky, or even marvelous snowflakes. At night, you could gaze upon a shining moon and a sky full of stars.

This world still exists; it is the very world you live in. It is the jewel you are standing on right now—a paradise you have overlooked because you’ve been too focused on less important things. When was the last time you actually stopped everything you were doing and simply contemplated what this world has to offer? When was the last time you truly enjoyed all the treasures of this planet? So many beautiful colors, aromas, flavors, sounds, and textures surround us, yet we take them for granted. How could we be so blind?

“The more often we see the things around us – even the beautiful and wonderful things – the more they become invisible to us. That is why we often take for granted the beauty of this world: the flowers, the trees, the birds, the clouds – even those we love. Because we see things so often, we see them less and less.” – Joseph B. Wirthlin

The main issue is that we constantly crave things we do not have while forgetting what we already possess. Once we get what we want, something else takes its place, and what we want in the first place quickly loses its value. This happens not only with material things, but with everything around us. We take for granted our possessions, the food we eat, the water we drink, our health, the people we love, the nature around us, and even our time on this Earth.

It turns out that I smile a lot, and these days, that seems unusual. Someone once asked me, “Why are you always smiling?” To which I replied, “Because life is beautiful.” With a smile, he nodded. I mean, how could I not smile? Simply look around. We have everything we need. Life is far more wonderful than it was hundreds of years ago; everything is more straightforward now. We live in a world of opportunities, yet we insist on being sad or angry, either because we are always searching for more things we don’t need or because we are attached to things we no longer have. Meanwhile, we belittle the things we do have.

“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” – Cynthia Ozick

The real problem with taking things for granted is that we forget to take care of them and risk losing them. That is why our planet is in jeopardy and, with it, our own existence. We are so used to its beauty, water, air, and life resources that we are not paying attention to the damage we are causing. We take our health for granted, so we often neglect our bodies, risking our lives. We take our families for granted, so we sometimes fail to spend time with them, not realizing that they will not be here one day. We take our partners for granted, so we don’t give them the love they deserve, sometimes pushing them away. We take our time for granted, which is why we waste it on things that don’t matter, depleting our most important resource.

Close your eyes for a minute and imagine how your life would look if you lost everything you already have—your family, gone; your friends, gone; the person you love, gone; your possessions, gone; your health, gone; no more sun, no more rain, no more mountains, no more trees, no more birds or animals, your house gone. Imagine there is no water left, no food, no air to breathe, no freedom, no more time.

“There’s a lot that is good in your life-don’t take it for granted. Don’t get so focused on the struggles that you miss the gift of today.” – Joel Osteen

That would be a nightmare, wouldn’t it? Do you want to know something? Some people are already living that nightmare. Here on Earth, while you take for granted the things you have and suffer over the stuff you don’t, there are people with far less than you. And if we are not careful with our actions—if we do not stop polluting our planet, killing every animal, cutting down every tree, and if we do not end every war—this nightmare will become a reality. We will lose everything, and only then will we realize that the things we took for granted were the very things that made our hearts beat.

Let’s take at least 30 minutes a day to contemplate and be grateful for all that we have. Let’s stop what we’re doing and enjoy the company of our loved ones. Let’s admire the nature around us. Let’s appreciate the essential and wonderful things in our daily lives. Life is beautiful; you just need to become aware of it, enjoy it, love it, and protect it.

Be here, be present, enjoy the moment, be grateful for what you have, and smile because you can.