I tend to take for grated the access to education I have had that has enabled me to “get ahead” in life, compared to many of the people I serve in my professional work. I mentally complain day and night about not being “further along” in the comparison game with others, but that comparison is always with those who have, or have done, more. It’s good to remember that for someone else, the blessings I have had would be a dream come true.
Honestly, I believe to take my youngness as something that I take for granted.
I constantly tell myself “Oh, I’m young I can fix this” whether “this” is an unhealthy lifestyle or just blatantly treating someone poorly. I can’t be like that. It isn’t right for me or others that it may be affecting; I need to discipline myself and truly push my own limits and prove to myself that I’m worthy to be someone and become something.
Perhaps it is true joy of real depth and lasting substance I speak of when sober not bogus shallow controlled substance induced jollies that lead to grave follies.
I don’t take my son or my younger granddaughter for granted now after hurting both of them a lot, quite unintentionally. I said a highly critical thing to my son about the laptop he’d recommended, and it turns out I was wrong, and I complained to my younger granddaughter about not letting me into their house when I had forgotten the door code. So be it. It is good to try to make amends. My younger granddaughter is taking lovely photos, and I’m excited about printing out several of them and putting them in the picture frames I’ve bought and not used – I’ll offer the pictures to her and her family and hang some of them in my back bedroom.
The enormity of space. The immensity of time. The incredible perfection of the design of all creation. This life unfolding in space and time. The robustness, yet at the same time, fragility of this Life. And how in an instant, one crooked thought here and it becomes THE most important thing? Daily practice (Zazen, Sadhana, Devotion, The Way, Dharma Practice – call it what you will) …
I take for granted that I can satisfy the needs of body and mind day by day. I could be grateful for air that I breathe, the space that I use, the right temperature that I need, clean water and food. Same thing with my mind and soul which need good food like nature, friendship, good books, music and so on. Thanks to that being who is offering himself as all of that which I need. . I feel very happy when I know there are people living on this planet along with me. I am shure I would feel very bad I f would wake up in the morning and I would be all alone having everything I like but nobody else would be there
Sometimes I so easily ignore How Blessed Am I , I know I am blessed but I turn so greedy and crib about what could have been. I just want things under control at all times. I can make an effort to change myself, to express love, faith and happiness with pomp and start celebrating life. I LOVE MY LIFE.
Sometimes, the kindness of my husband. He is quiet and unassuming, but he is doing things in the background that make our lives easier and happier. I thank him often, but I can do it more.
I know I take for granted my hubby, and try to remedy that, but have not found a way to make living in gratitude for him in my life “stick.”
I am going to read others comments on how they have learned to change as a way to help me.
The power of every individual and their vital role in contributing to the potential in this world. I can do better by looking, seeing and appreciating more consistently.
My friend/business partner/former employee/all round solid as a rock person in my life, Marty Wendt. I do tell him how important he is to me and what a great friend and partner he is, but I could do it more often. And I think maybe more celebrating our longevity and connection.
Ahh! Charlie, Thank you for sharing! Here is something I can put into practice in my life! I don’t think I actually verbalize to my hubby how important he is! I am going to try and find a way to actually mention this to him on some regular basis – and this will help me remember in addition to letting him hear how I feel!!
Thank you for something so simple that I missed:)
I would like to thank Kevin for his insight. The way he posed today’s question was beautiful.
My first thought is ..Me, I don’t take advantage of anyone”…then be truthful. I take advantage of myself, of my body. I know that I need to be more mindful; to take better care of myself, exercise, and healthy eating. To acknowledge my gratefullness for my health.
I think my husband may be the one that I don’t extend gratefullness for. Thinking about not having him is a thought that I don’t even want to voice. He is my foundation, someone I can always lean on, the one I love and trust with my whole being. So, Kevin thank you for adding…”Could something change for the better?”. Indeed it can- I have now become aware to be thankful for who I am, to take care of myself in a better manner and to be more thoughtful and grateful to and for my husband.
If love be like light when passed through a prism all of its colours are held within. Although I thought I was attentive to extending appreciation, I can see what, where, when and who I have unintentionally and maybe even intentionally withheld this colour or frequency of love. The list of who may well be as long as my life.
If in deed one of the basic needs for a contented life is appreciation or recognition of our value- to experience knowing that our efforts and intentions are
valued. Will it then be a signal that we are connected, part of the great flow of a kind of love in the world? Then I shall begin with myself: to understand the experience of appreciation, given and received, within myself. I might then be better equipped to recognize when and where and how I can contribute to another’s
knowing that I valued their intentions and actions and words. Maybe this is an aspect of wishing a person be happy. As to the past, repair may or may not be possible outside of wishing them happiness. As to the present, it will require being present.
Last week, when I went to the pool to swim, all was well. Until I tried to take a shower. No hot water. At all. There was one shower head that had some lukewarm water, but that soon ended.
After dressing I went to the front and told the office staff. Sometimes, for reasons they could not explain, there just is no hot water. In a modern building! Now, someone must know why this happens, but the front desk has no idea. So that got me to thinking…how many other things do I take for granted? A whole. bunch! And I like being able to take those things for granted.
So I guess I am grateful for living where I CAN take these things for granted. I don’t think we can change this human behavior. And I don’t see a thing wrong with this. Perhaps thinking about places where hot water is a luxury and being grateful because I live where it is expected is enough.
For me it feels more like a “what” rather than a “who.” I do appreciate people – family, friends – and those who provide services to me – such as retail workers, professionals.
What I take for granted is that there will be time later to express my appreciation. “Next time I see her.” “I’ll send the email later.” “Oh well, I’ll do it next time.” I get too caught up in moving on to the the next thing. I will practice inhabiting each moment.
As I wrote that it struck me that there is so much to feel, do and observe in each moment. Maybe that’s what the expression “fullness of the moment” tries to describe.
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I tend to take for grated the access to education I have had that has enabled me to “get ahead” in life, compared to many of the people I serve in my professional work. I mentally complain day and night about not being “further along” in the comparison game with others, but that comparison is always with those who have, or have done, more. It’s good to remember that for someone else, the blessings I have had would be a dream come true.
I just realized I misread the question as “what”, not “who”… well, the sentiment still stands 🙂
Honestly, I believe to take my youngness as something that I take for granted.
I constantly tell myself “Oh, I’m young I can fix this” whether “this” is an unhealthy lifestyle or just blatantly treating someone poorly. I can’t be like that. It isn’t right for me or others that it may be affecting; I need to discipline myself and truly push my own limits and prove to myself that I’m worthy to be someone and become something.
The simple but highly reliable joy of sobriety.
Perhaps it is true joy of real depth and lasting substance I speak of when sober not bogus shallow controlled substance induced jollies that lead to grave follies.
I can keep coming back…
I don’t take my son or my younger granddaughter for granted now after hurting both of them a lot, quite unintentionally. I said a highly critical thing to my son about the laptop he’d recommended, and it turns out I was wrong, and I complained to my younger granddaughter about not letting me into their house when I had forgotten the door code. So be it. It is good to try to make amends. My younger granddaughter is taking lovely photos, and I’m excited about printing out several of them and putting them in the picture frames I’ve bought and not used – I’ll offer the pictures to her and her family and hang some of them in my back bedroom.
The enormity of space. The immensity of time. The incredible perfection of the design of all creation. This life unfolding in space and time. The robustness, yet at the same time, fragility of this Life. And how in an instant, one crooked thought here and it becomes THE most important thing? Daily practice (Zazen, Sadhana, Devotion, The Way, Dharma Practice – call it what you will) …
I take for granted that I can satisfy the needs of body and mind day by day. I could be grateful for air that I breathe, the space that I use, the right temperature that I need, clean water and food. Same thing with my mind and soul which need good food like nature, friendship, good books, music and so on. Thanks to that being who is offering himself as all of that which I need. . I feel very happy when I know there are people living on this planet along with me. I am shure I would feel very bad I f would wake up in the morning and I would be all alone having everything I like but nobody else would be there
Sometimes I so easily ignore How Blessed Am I , I know I am blessed but I turn so greedy and crib about what could have been. I just want things under control at all times. I can make an effort to change myself, to express love, faith and happiness with pomp and start celebrating life. I LOVE MY LIFE.
Sometimes, the kindness of my husband. He is quiet and unassuming, but he is doing things in the background that make our lives easier and happier. I thank him often, but I can do it more.
I know I take for granted my hubby, and try to remedy that, but have not found a way to make living in gratitude for him in my life “stick.”
I am going to read others comments on how they have learned to change as a way to help me.
The power of every individual and their vital role in contributing to the potential in this world. I can do better by looking, seeing and appreciating more consistently.
My friend/business partner/former employee/all round solid as a rock person in my life, Marty Wendt. I do tell him how important he is to me and what a great friend and partner he is, but I could do it more often. And I think maybe more celebrating our longevity and connection.
Ahh! Charlie, Thank you for sharing! Here is something I can put into practice in my life! I don’t think I actually verbalize to my hubby how important he is! I am going to try and find a way to actually mention this to him on some regular basis – and this will help me remember in addition to letting him hear how I feel!!
Thank you for something so simple that I missed:)
I would like to thank Kevin for his insight. The way he posed today’s question was beautiful.
My first thought is ..Me, I don’t take advantage of anyone”…then be truthful. I take advantage of myself, of my body. I know that I need to be more mindful; to take better care of myself, exercise, and healthy eating. To acknowledge my gratefullness for my health.
I think my husband may be the one that I don’t extend gratefullness for. Thinking about not having him is a thought that I don’t even want to voice. He is my foundation, someone I can always lean on, the one I love and trust with my whole being. So, Kevin thank you for adding…”Could something change for the better?”. Indeed it can- I have now become aware to be thankful for who I am, to take care of myself in a better manner and to be more thoughtful and grateful to and for my husband.
Thank you for today’s question.
If love be like light when passed through a prism all of its colours are held within. Although I thought I was attentive to extending appreciation, I can see what, where, when and who I have unintentionally and maybe even intentionally withheld this colour or frequency of love. The list of who may well be as long as my life.
If in deed one of the basic needs for a contented life is appreciation or recognition of our value- to experience knowing that our efforts and intentions are
valued. Will it then be a signal that we are connected, part of the great flow of a kind of love in the world? Then I shall begin with myself: to understand the experience of appreciation, given and received, within myself. I might then be better equipped to recognize when and where and how I can contribute to another’s
knowing that I valued their intentions and actions and words. Maybe this is an aspect of wishing a person be happy. As to the past, repair may or may not be possible outside of wishing them happiness. As to the present, it will require being present.
Last week, when I went to the pool to swim, all was well. Until I tried to take a shower. No hot water. At all. There was one shower head that had some lukewarm water, but that soon ended.
After dressing I went to the front and told the office staff. Sometimes, for reasons they could not explain, there just is no hot water. In a modern building! Now, someone must know why this happens, but the front desk has no idea. So that got me to thinking…how many other things do I take for granted? A whole. bunch! And I like being able to take those things for granted.
So I guess I am grateful for living where I CAN take these things for granted. I don’t think we can change this human behavior. And I don’t see a thing wrong with this. Perhaps thinking about places where hot water is a luxury and being grateful because I live where it is expected is enough.
For me it feels more like a “what” rather than a “who.” I do appreciate people – family, friends – and those who provide services to me – such as retail workers, professionals.
What I take for granted is that there will be time later to express my appreciation. “Next time I see her.” “I’ll send the email later.” “Oh well, I’ll do it next time.” I get too caught up in moving on to the the next thing. I will practice inhabiting each moment.
As I wrote that it struck me that there is so much to feel, do and observe in each moment. Maybe that’s what the expression “fullness of the moment” tries to describe.