Appreciation

As I lay here in bed, with the air conditioner blaring, writing you my inner most thoughts, I can't help but to think that I, myself, am a perfect example of what I want to write about tonight. I am an ungrateful spoiled brat. Don't get me wrong, I certainly work hard for everything that I get, but what does that really mean?

Jimmy asked me to write a blog today, so that he could have something to distract him from work. When I asked him for an idea, he said, "What was the longest day of your life?" Jimmy has been working overtime all weekend, so I am taking that idea and going in a different direction.

Unfortunately for Jimmy, I am going to speak briefly about his job. I don't know his official title, but Jimmy basically oversees all safety issues for the trains and rails department of the DOT in the Midwest region of the US.

This weekend there was a train derailment in Rockford, Illinois and Jimmy has been on site since the start of it, supervising the whole scene. Fortunately there was only one casualty. But needless to say, that one person will certainly be missed by all the people in her life.

This evening in Washington D.C., two Metro cars crashed head on. Currently there have been four casualties reported, with a multitude of injuries to other passengers. Once again, a tragic loss of life.

But I am not here to dwell on life and death. Death is inevitable and will come to us all when our time is up. I want to write about life, and appreciating all that we have.

FMyLife.com has become a pretty popular site around these parts. And I can't lie and say I don't read it. It is very amusing to read, but it just goes to show you how shallow and fickle we are as humans. We think minor inconveniences are the end of the world. We blow things out of proportion and expect sympathy. And to make matters worse, we get pleasure in reading about other's misfortunes.

We have all done it in our lives. We ask, "Why me? ", "What did I do to deserve this?", "Where is my good Karma?". All valid questions in there own right, but meaningless in the grand scheme of things.

Last night I was watching Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. If you don't know, the premise of the show, it is to rebuild someone's home (and sometimes other buildings as well) in an effort to help those who have been stricken with tough times and yet still remain positive.

The episode I watched featured a family of five, where the two youngest kids were both diagnosed Autistic. The family lived in what could be considered a small shack that was built on the site of a former garbage dump. They barely had the means to survive on their own, no car, no clean water, and minimal food. Yet they helped run a baseball league for disabled youths in the Pennsylvania area.

Could they not have questioned their own plight? What did they do to deserve the lives that they were living? But that was not the case. They were motivated by brightening the lives of these young children who were suffering. They said the only thing that held their house together was the strength of their love. Might sound a little cheesy to someone who doesn't have to deal with their situation, but very meaningful when you see just how hard they had it.

I work seven days a week, make minimal money, and live in my parents basement (no offense M&D). I could easily say that I deserve better than this. I am a good person, a hard worker, I should be enjoying a life of comfort.

In reality all that stuff is meaningless. We are much more than our possesions. I was left wondering last night, "Why do we ask for so much, yet give so little?" Where will that lead us? If everyone is looking to take, take, take, what will be left?

I know that I am the same way. I wish my life was easier. I don't want to work everyday, but I need to. Is that the worst thing in the world? I wake up tired and want to be lazy, how selfish is that? There are people right now that wish they could own there own business. Heck, there are people right now that just wish they could be working.

It is hard to appreciate all that we have, when it is so easy to want more. All I am asking is that we sometimes stop and appreciate all that we have. I should practice what I preech more often. I am very lucky to have everything I have.

Tomorrow I will likely wake up and hate the fact that I have to get into my car, and drive to my restaraunt to work all day. Poor me, how I suffer.

Next time you want to feel pity for yourself, think about what it would really mean to have a tough life. Don't dwell on the negatives, embrace the positives.

"My boyfriend dumped me."

"I have to study for a final."

"My boss is an ass."

Woah is you, and woah is me. Enjoy reading the blog on your computers at your nice desk in your comfortable room. And remember that there is always someone out there with less than you. Be thankful for all that you have.

"Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of mind than on outward circumstances."
Benjamin Franklin

I am not telling you what to do, or how to live your life. Just trying to enlighten you, and me, to the realities of our worlds, and the blessings that we all overlook.

Here is your mission, take one day of your week, and break down everything in your life that is good and everything that is bad. I think you will be dumbfounded by the results. If you care to share some thoughts, I would love to hear what you think.

~Joshua

P.S. - My deepest sympathies go out to all those who have suffered from these recent tragedies. Be thankful for all the good times that you were able to share.