Sunday, December 25, 2011

Count Your Blessings

Another Christmas and another year passes. After having watched a number of old classic Christmas movies and at the same time watching my 3-year-old niece open so many presents that she didn't care to rip the paper off one more gift, my thoughts wandered back to the simple life. When people were thankful for real relationships with people and time spent with one another. When children were happy to receive a sled for Christmas and not a pile of toys which would soon be forgotten, or the new Xbox to occupy their time as not to annoy their hardworking families with actual attention and play.

We are all guilty of this new way of life. The idea of entitlement. Myself included. I caught myself being bitter and jealous while witnessing friends receive extravagant gifts from their bosses while mine was modest to say the least. When you look at decades past, you begin to realize that no one is owed anything and the only way to remain this way is to be grateful for what you have and the things you are given. 

We must remember that the right to work is a gift. Having a roof over ones head is a gift. And so is the people who make up who you are. We don't need flat screened TVs or fancy phones or diamonds for value in life. We don't need expensive bags or Kindles to show our value in ones life. We need one another. To remain simple and happy for the smallest token of appreciation that someone shows. Money and spending more could never amount to the relationships we make.

To my friends and family, I love you all. You mean more to me than I could ever show. More than I could ever afford to buy. Anytime I become sad for not having or getting what I want, I promise to continue to bring my thinking back to this. For I am not owed or entitled to anything. I promise to try to remain modest and I hope the same for mankind. Perhaps this is my New Year's resolution.

Merry Christmas to ALL.


"What is it that you want Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down." - It's a Wonderful Life