Life is all lessons…ignorance is not a destiny…
Most of us are very vocal about our discontent in life. Instead of being grateful for the things we already enjoy we seek satisfaction on the things we don’t have. It has become our habit to long for things we think are essential yet little is our awareness that we already have the things we need to make our life worth while. Just how come we’ve become blind to these things essential? Could it be that our dissatisfaction has prompted us to take for granted the essentials we possess?
If I ask: Are you contented with your life? Would you give me a positive response?
The truth is we all want “something” in life that we equate as essentials. Our mistake however is that we don’t realize that we are longing for the wrong things. In our belief that the things we want would give us satisfaction, we fall on the trap of endless wanting. We are constantly seeking for something, but we don’t exactly know what it is. And until we truly open our eyes, we would never realize that it’s right before us.
What are these essential things I’m talking about?
Health
Without a healthy mind and body we cannot function well, thereby disabling us from making full use of our faculties. It is unfortunate that many are taking for granted the able state of their health: late are they able to realize its importance in living life to the fullest. More often than not, we value our health only after suffering from decrepitude and sickness. There are many people whom I’ve met who expressed their regrets about their wanton treatment of their bodies. I’ve witnesses their suffering—from their difficulty in performing simple task to living a normal life. Try to be with someone who have suffered a heavy blow on their health and feel their suffering, this will make you realize the essentials of a healthy body. Perhaps we may hold everything the world can offer but nothings more vital than the healthy state of our body. Think about your health right now, it’s very difficult to regain it once it’s lost.
The love of the people who care for you
There are people in our lives that truly care for us—our family, relative or close friends— but more often than not we fail to appreciate their show of concern. Instead of being thankful for the love we receive from these people we feel suffocated or irritated of their gesture. It is only during our vulnerable moments can we realize the importance of someone who truly cares for us. I believe that many times in our lives have we experienced the comfort and security of having someone who is always by our side no matter what happens. Think of how we could have been without these people?
I remember the time when my world seems to crumble and there’s this one person who has saved me. During the times of my irrationality she was there to keep me from breaking down. I would never forget the importance of her presence during my hopeless moments. From this I have learned that the adversities in life can be made more bearable by having someone who shares our burden. Learn to appreciate the essentials of having people who cares for you, they are our real treasures.
Peace of mind
The greatest possession we can ever have is peace of mind. Unfortunately, this basic necessity has been a struggle for many. In today’s competitive world we engage ourselves on useless endeavors. In our effort to satisfy the whims of our ego we go to great lengths on wanting the things that are unnecessary. As a result our peace of mind is greatly compromised. No longer can we have a good night sleep because our mind is continuously agitated. Instead of being content on what we already have we chose to give way to our greed, envy and dissatisfaction. If we could just set aside our ignorance and make an analysis of the object of our endeavors, we can discover that most of them are causing us anxiety. If we really want to experience piece of mind then we have to uncluttered our mind of worries caused by our false aspirations. What is there to gain if we acquire everything we want yet loose our serenity?
Blessing of a new day
Being able to wake up each morning is a huge blessing we should be thankful for. Many have taken for granted the essential of a new day. Instead of expressing gratitude, some start their day finding something to complain about.
Nobody can tell when our time will come. Whence we believe we’ll live long, death comes without notice. I have seen many times the betrayal felt by many when someone dear to them suddenly departs. This makes me realize how fragile life can be. Yet many have engaged themselves on precarious living, ungrateful of each unfolding day they are still breathing. It has become the habit of man to trouble himself of things illusory. Instead of living upon the blessing of the new day, he occupies himself more of the past and future.
Life as we know it will terminate the moment our body ceases to function. Therefore it is wise to appreciate every waking moment of our lives.
Take a moment to reflect upon yourself. Make an analysis of the things you pursue in life. Oftentimes, we appreciate what is essential only when it’s lost.
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One of the blessings of growing older is being more aware of these essential things. I spend a lot of time around elderly folks, so I am more grateful than ever for things I used to take for granted like flexibility, balance, and strength. Excellent reminders of what’s important in life, Walter. Thank you.
Jean Sarauer recently posted..Empire Building 101 Series: Growing a Prosperous Community
Growing older indeed makes us appreciate the essential things in life. As time goes the things we enjoy like flexibility, balance, and strength as you have mentioned starts to falter. We should be more appreciative of the small things we enjoy in life because those “little” things have played a big role on our life. And later on we will realize their importance.
Walter recently posted..What is essential is invisible to the eye. Are you aware of them?
Hi Walter ,
My biggest fear is to end up like Terri Schiavo. Remember the lady in Florida living in a vegetative status. They kept her on a feeding tube for 15 years even though she was a vegetable.
Scott Barron´s last blog…Terri Schiavo
I hope I go quickly and peaceful!
Scott Barron recently posted..Disappointed with Senate
It is sad to hear of such condition and frankly, I fear such state too. We need to be thankful for our able and mobile state.
Walter recently posted..What is essential is invisible to the eye. Are you aware of them?
That is why gratitude helps a lot. We always have to be thankful for everything in our life, health, family, friends, money, etc…Never forget to be thankful to God. Thanks for sharing Walter
Gratitude is a virtue most people forget to practice, until we experience loss and misery. You’re right Dia, we should be thankful, especially to God for our blessings.
Hi Walter,
I’m content with my life except for the blogging part. My ego tempts me to want more stats, commenters, readers etc. It takes me out of the precious moment. Do you know one blogger who things, I love where I am today?
Tess The Bold Life recently posted..Give and Do What You Want To Be and Have
Part of our tendency is to look far than seeing what’s in front of us. We should be very aware of this attitude if we want to see the important things we take for granted.
Walter recently posted..What is essential is invisible to the eye. Are you aware of them?
So true.
We are always so busy complaining about what we don’t have.
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Being thankful open us up to more blessings.
Walter recently posted..What is essential is invisible to the eye. Are you aware of them?
Walter,
You can’t take things for granted and reading your article just reminded me of many important things in my life that I have been putting away. Great stuff buddy!
Glad to be an instrument in reminding you of the important things in your life. Let’s be mindful of them, regrets always come last.
Walter recently posted..What is essential is invisible to the eye. Are you aware of them?
The ego is a big problem for most of us. One visit to the hospital usually does it for me; people are really suffering daily. I think that the “essentials” are not quite so obvious to the naked eye, but, maybe just maybe, once in awhile we should stop looking through the eyeglass in reverse…
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Walter, you write beautifully on the importance of cherishing this very moment and choosing our priorities wisely. While none of us wish to suffer or be ill, suffering and illness are a natural part of life. There are great lessons to be learned from illness, so I feel it’s best not to be adverse to it as best I can.
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I truly agree with you Walter. We all long for something that in the end isn’t what we wanted after all. It happened several times to me.
I believe that what is truly important in the end are your friends and the relationships you have built over your life time.
I deeply agree with this:
There is a wonderful mythical law of nature that the three things we crave most in life – happiness, freedom, and peace of mind – are always attained by giving them to someone else.
Peyton Conway March
Walter,
I am thankful each day for being alive, and be able to feed, cloth and shelter my self and family with rational minimalism.
Zengirl @ Heart and Mind recently posted..101 changes: Change 5 – Smile when you wake up
Yu really made me think, Walter.
We’ve all become so obsessed with ‘having stuff’but the pleasure it brings is only fleeting.
Our children ‘want’ the latest game for their x-box and before the day is out they’re on to the next ‘want’.
It’s not their fault if we encourage them…
Linda recently posted..Just One Step…
- after reading this..
i just realize that I already have all the things in life-(family, friends) and yet I’m still not contented with it..
-thank you for reminding me..
Definitely. Sometimes people tend to not notice the values of these.