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Why Do We Take What We Have For Granted?

Mia
2 min readDec 9, 2024
Photo by Lucas Degenhardt on Unsplash

It’s a strange habit we humans have.

We work so hard to achieve or attain something — love, friendships, a career, a home — and yet, once we have it, we often stop appreciating it.

We get used to the very things we once longed for, and slowly, the shine fades.

Why do we stop putting in the effort?

Is it because familiarity breeds complacency?

When something or someone becomes a regular part of our lives, we start to assume they’ll always be there.

It’s easy to take for granted the laughter of a friend, the warmth of a partner, or even the simple roof over our heads.

But the truth is, nothing in life is guaranteed.

Think about the last time you truly paused to appreciate the things you now overlook.

When was the last time you looked at your partner and thought, “I’m so lucky to have them,” instead of assuming they’ll always be there?

When was the last time you expressed gratitude for your health, your job, or the food on your table?

Life moves fast, and we get caught up in our routines.

We forget to nurture what we have because we’re so busy looking for what’s next.

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