“My favorite things in life don’t cost any money. It’s really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time.” -Steve Jobs
For most of us the moments in our lives blur together like water color and form one large painting. It’s easy to forget that a lifetime is made up of a series of separate moments. It’s within these moments that what makes life worth living can be found. It is also within these moments that we can forget where we are. Not recognizing this, we take a lot for granted. One of my bigger frustrations was the realization that like many of you, I missed my moment. Before my life was inexplicably changed I was letting everything blur together. If I had but for a moment stopped to consider my circumstances I would’ve been filled with enormous gratitude. Not unlike Scrooge on Christmas morning when He realizes He is alive and the value of that life. It’s a wonder that more of us aren’t skipping down the street showering gifts upon everyone we come across. Because, quite simply had I realized the magnitude of blessings that I was living in, I never could justify being sad(or selfish)about anything. In fact quite the opposite, I’d be that annoying overly giving and happy person all the time! How little do we know what a gift our lives are. Even now, though my circumstances are less than desirable I am still blessed. When in times of self pity, I often consider those less fortunate than myself. While I was in my little corner of the world being angry my left arm was paralyzed, there was a young man(I met him) wishing He had an arm to feed himself with. Because by a freak accident He had become quadriplegic. Many years ago I scribbled the quote “The best thing to do with the best things in life, is to give them away,” on my bedroom wall. At the time I didn’t know how true this was. Had I known how truly fortunate I was before the accident, I think I would’ve very well done this! After all, you can’t take all those prized possessions with you. You can always make more money but you can’t aways make more time. Therefore, use your time well, and value experiences over material possessions. While I was bed ridden and trapped in a hospital, my previous life circumstances seemed like a dream. In many ways they still do. Little did I know at the time, that I was living a dream! And somewhere in the world, your life is like a dream to someone else too. Maybe at one point like me(but hopefully not) it will seem like a dream even to you. All I wanted in the hospital was for my life to be the way it was. To think that I ever spent even a day of it depressed or sad was a travesty. Because, in comparison to my current position the girl I had been had everything and then some. She was physically able to do everything, had an incredible job, lived in an amazing place, and most importantly was independent. From where I was standing,or rather, laying She was all I wanted to be. I used to gripe about the traffic, now simply driving at all would be a huge joy. I lived for the weekends when I was off from work, now I’d happily put in extra hours. Sometimes I wished I was somewhere else, but now I’d do nothing but take in my present surroundings. The point is, I had it all and didn’t realize it. Even now, you have it all too, even though you may not think so. I promise you do.
stop to consider!
