Things I’m Grateful for

By Afifah Mahadzir

For me, people are oblivious. They always say ‘Alhamdulillah’ only when they gain something valuable, such as money, perfect grades, or the ideal job. Sure, we should be thankful for those things. But how many little things have we overlooked and forgotten to express our gratitude for?

Well, this is my story. I am no queen. I am not popular as I am introverted, and I also have a bit of social anxiety. Hence, making friends is not my greatest forte. But hey, let us be real, I am not that bad at it. I do have friends. A small circle, I would say. Qis, Dina, and Cam: Those three are the ones I consider to be the ones who know me the most. Dina and Cam, however, are harder to meet now as we are not on the same course, yet I still love them the same. That left me with Qis. The one whom I see in my room, in my class, and in the exam hall. Yup, the exact same face.

Qis and I spend 99% of our time together; whenever you see me, you will also see her. We walked, we laughed, and we ate together, making us sometimes silent in our own compartments as we no longer had anything to talk about. Someone might think we had a fight or something. And that makes me think sometimes: how does it feel to have a large group of friends? Those who would be with you at all times, doing everything together. It must be nice, as the more, the merrier. And I bet they never felt lonely or bored in their lives.

But yeah, that was the old me. As I grew older, I realised that it is normal to have a small circle, and it is completely fine. It is okay to not have a ‘girl gang.’ You do not have to befriend every single person on this earth to be happy. A few would be enough. In fact, you are the one who is responsible for your own happiness and not others. So stop having expectations, so that you feel more content in this life. Start to be more grateful. Cherish those that you already have. Talk nicely to them, treat them with kindness, appreciate them, and never take anything for granted.

Here, I want to thank all my dear friends, whom I have known since I was a little kid. Those who make me feel an abundance of happiness and make my life so much better. Even if we do not talk anymore, you all are still in my memory. Kindergarten friends, primary school friends, high school friends, foundation friends, degree friends— I am thankful for all of you. I appreciate any time, love, and concern that you all have for me. I hope you all meet only good people ahead.

And lastly, for those who are reading this, be grateful for the smallest thing that you have. It is not only about friends but also about family, about having things to eat on your plate, about having a nice bed, and about health — those things that you always oversee. Thank Allah for the things that He gives.