Be Thankful For the Little Things

It is very easy in this complex and confronting world we live in to feel hard done by or to want more things. A bigger car, a better house, a job that pays more, more money, and more time off.

If you can tick each of these six things, you are doing well and should be grateful.

It is the little things in life that are the most important.

#1 You have a roof over your head.

The Institute of Global Homelessness says that about 330 million people are homeless. That’s roughly 4% of the world’s population. This figure rises every year.

An additional billion people reside in slums or in substandard dwellings and settlements. In 2024, it was estimated that over 60% of homeless people were men and 30% were women.

Nigeria and Syria are the worst countries. In Nigeria, 13% are homeless, with an additional 70% in informal settlements. In Syria, 30% of the population is homeless. Many people have had to leave their homes to seek safety due to political conflicts.

Wealthy nations vary, but they don't guarantee protection from homelessness. In the United States, 23 out of every 10,000 people are homeless. They live in emergency shelters, safe havens, transitional housing, or outside. In the United Kingdom, the worst in Europe, 43 out of every 10,000 people are homeless. They live on the streets or in emergency and temporary accommodation.

Over the past decade, progress against hunger has slowed significantly. The goal of reaching Zero Hunger by 2030 appears to be impossible.

#2 You ate today.

The world makes enough food for all 8 billion people. Still, 733 million people—about 1 in 11—go hungry each day. Furthermore, 2.8 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet. Malnutrition is linked to half of all child deaths. Each year, 9 million people die due to hunger-related causes.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is the worst affected. Fifty-three per cent of the population is undernourished. This is higher than in countries like the Central African Republic. The country’s (largely young) population is 6.1 million. Almost one in ten children won’t reach their fifth birthday. Also, 40% are stunted or malformed because of malnutrition.

In the United States, 10.2% of households—about 13.5 million people—cannot get enough food for a healthy life. This lack of access can lead to hunger and malnutrition.

#3 You have clean water.

Approximately 2.2 billion people lack access to safe and managed drinking water services. 703 million people (1 in every 11 people) lack access to any clean water at all: every day, more than 1,000 children under five die. Dirty water, poor sanitation, and inadequate hygiene contribute to the spread of these diseases.

#4 Someone cares for you

More than a billion people globally (23%) are said to be lonely. Loneliness raises the risk of early death by about 26%. That’s like smoking 15 cigarettes daily. It’s also more harmful than obesity, inactivity, and air pollution.

In the United States, more than one in five people feel lonely at times. In the UK, 1 in 8 people experience loneliness. In Australia, one in four people experience loneliness at least once a week.

Women often report feeling lonelier than men. Approximately 72% of women report feeling lonely at times, compared to 60% of men.

#5 You have a job.

Globally, it is estimated that almost 217 million people are unemployed (4.7%) . In some African countries, the unemployment rate is as high as 38%. In Australia, unemployment is 4.2%, very similar to the United States (4.3%), both lower than the average for EU countries (5.9%).

#6 You have clean clothes to wear.

There are no exact figures for this, except to say that, as it is closely linked to poverty, it is a huge number. Linked closely to poverty. Over 20 million children in the United States lack the bare essentials. They need clothing, shoes, diapers, and school supplies.

Fashion is a curse. Surveys show that women wear only 20% of their wardrobes 80% of the time. Approximately 15% of the fabric used in clothing production ends up as waste. This contributes to the industry's negative environmental impact.

Each year, over 100 billion garments are made. Sadly, 92 million tons are thrown away and end up in landfills.

Homelessness, poverty, starvation, lack of water, and other health issues are continually rising. Natural disasters and overlapping conflicts from political or religious disputes hit hardest. They disproportionately impact those with the least resources and coping skills.

Conflicts and weather emergencies, such as flooding and droughts, have displaced millions. This year, conflicts in Gaza and Sudan have even led to declared famines in both areas.

The next time the power goes out, the water stops, or your favourite show is missing, think of those who have it tougher. If we all stop to think about it, we are in a good position.

Be thankful for the little things; they are the most important.

Till next time,

Calvin