I've been accused of having an easy life. I've been accused of being lucky. I might take this to mean that I'm doing it (life) right. It's both amusing and amazing to me that anyone can think another person's life is easy or lucky. Life is life. There was no perfect time to be alive. (although, I think being in college in the '70's was pretty darn good) Nobody gets a free pass in life. Life is hard. Just because I don't see the point in complaining about my lot in life, just because I don't tell everybody I meet all my troubles, just because I blog about being happy and not being miserable in my life does not mean my life is easy or I am lucky. The beauty of being alive and living this life is that we can learn something every day. There are a few things I've learned to be true while living this life.
Life is better with money. Working is a great way to get money. With money you can get health insurance, you can live in a safer neighborhood, you can send your children to better schools... Our family had to do a couple of things to make it appear we had an easy life. We had to work hard and deny ourselves. We don't have the latest toys and gadgets. We don't have the most fashionable clothes. We don't drive the latest model car. Our child didn't get everything he wanted when he was young. We rarely eat food at restaurants or order take-out and we never pay for delivery. We take care of the things we have. We don't believe in borrowing money from family or friends.
Life is better when you don't compare yourself to others. One of the ten commandments is not to covet anything your neighbor has. This is a tough one, but we choose to be satisfied with our station in life. We don't copy people. We don't try to live our life they way we THINK other people are living their lives. The truth is, you really don't know what goes on behind closed doors. Actually, we've found that being ourselves is the most satisfying way to live life. Sure, we try new things, and sometimes we like them and sometimes we don't.
Life is better when you know it isn't all about you. I am not the center of the universe. I don't get to have what I want when I want it. I don't even get to have what I want, ever, at times. My life isn't about me. I wasn't put on this earth to satisfy myself. I was put on this earth to serve God and, in turn, serve others. I found life to get better, almost immediately, when I came to an understanding of this truth. I didn't have to have my own way anymore. I call this time of my life, becoming an adult. It was childish of me to think that I deserved a certain lifestyle or treatment. In fact, I don't deserve anything. This is probably my biggest beef with those that think I have it so easy or that I'm so lucky. I cannot abide those that believe they are entitled to something..., or anything, for that matter.
I guess I should be flattered that people think our family makes life appear so easy or that we are lucky. I guess we are like ducks. We look all calm and serene on top of the water while we furiously paddle our legs underneath the water.
Most do not fully see this truth that life is difficult.
Instead they moan more or less incessantly, noisily or subtly,
about the enormity of their problems, their burdens, and their
difficulties as if life were generally easy, as if life should be
easy. They voice their belief, noisily or subtly, that their
difficulties represent a unique kind of affliction that should
not be and that has somehow been especially visited upon them, or
else upon their families, their tribe, their class, their nation,
their race or even their species, and not upon others.
M. Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled
My 1000 gratitudes
208. Discovering a better way to make quiche (put the cheese on top)
209. A conscience that is still tender
210. Waking up to thunder and lightning
211. Texting (I like texting a lot)
212. The bible on the internet and on my phone (available at any time)
213. Truth
Linking with Emily at Imperfect Prose on Thursdays
