Feeling Grateful
Sorry, I'm a few days late!
I'm feeling happy (but not content!) with my life for the most part these days. I don't think there have been many extended periods in my life where I would say, I'm Happy, generally speaking in a timeless, state of being sort of way (as opposed to situationally happy, like I just had a really good time doing X or Y)*. So, really that statement is quite incredible.
And that I am definitely grateful for.
What follows is a list of other things that never would have occurred to me (and that historically speaking I would find quite painful and groan about internally if other people listed them) that I am grateful for:
My health.
The fact that I can go out and run most any day of the week with my wife is incredible. The fact that I can plan and day dream backpacking trips for the future, and then actually do them is incredible. For most of my life I was invincible, and then in a fluke badminton accident I broke my toe and my nerves shrunk, and then everything thing I wanted to do was accompanied by varying degrees of pain and doubt. Will this make my leg ache more? Will this make my leg hurt more? Will this make my leg spasm, being some of the most painful things I have felt in life?
At this point, the doubt isn't completely gone, and neither is the pain, but it does appear that I have learned how to (if I am diligent about doing my exercises) do anything I want, and that I am still making forward progess.
Don't take for granted your health, and remember, it is easier to stay in shape than get into shape!
A steady source of income.
Last fall, when I didn't have work and was trying to get my tutoring business off the ground, I wouldn't have been able to pinpoint it, but my life was full of unease. Unease with the knowledge that things couldn't continue as they were, unease with not know how to change them, unease with frustration that things couldn't be easier.
Not having to worry about being able to pay the rent and the bills at the end of the month is one of the best things in the world. Both my jobs right now are quite unspecific, and for all I know I could be unemployed next month (frankly it is a mystery to me while they are still paying me!), so this is definitely something I don't want to take for granted. Let's just hope the wifey can get herself gradamacated and employed as soon as possible, so we can pass this particular responsibility on to her!
Now, I realize I'm being a bit "mushy", which makes me groan inside, but don't worry, I'm not going to get carried away and starting saying I'm grateful for family and friends and what not. I'm not feeling that mushy. Besides, you know who you are and you know I love you! That being said, I will say this. I think thanksgiving as a holiday has sort of religious overtones; who exactly are we thanking? But personally, it is the aforementioned family and friends that I an thanking. For without them, I would be nothing.
Anyway, let's all let out a groan about my behavior here, and I'll try and not let it happen again anytime soon.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
* I don't really have any details, but I think in the past I was just always looking for something but didn't know what that something was. Maybe I've finally found "it". Either that or nothing has changed but I've stopped looking. Either way is fine with me!
1 December 2011 07:25am UTC • 76 views • 2 comments
Tagged with thanksgiving, life, happiness
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2 comments
Seamonster Mom
1 December 2011 04:51pm UTC
I'm incredibly, unabashedly, and gratefully thankful for YOU! And, re: Thanksgiving, we are thanking the native Americans.
Ariel Swordfish
2 December 2011 12:31pm UTC
Wow, who are all these groany people you know?! Why shouldn't you be happy that you have your health and income? A lot of people don't. That last statement might be mushy, but considering you have been dissatisfied with both, I see nothing wrong with it. Plus, it's your blog, so we must care about how you feel, somewhat, right?