Be Thankful for the Things You Have..
WARNING: This a long post! But I hope you read it.. 
There are times I deliberately avoid watching TV and news. Why? I get so annoyed with people complaining about this and that but in reality they are not doing much to help themselves. You could see people blaming the goverment for their life’s misfortunes. I am not saying the government is exemplary, in fact I think they should be doing more to serve the people. What I am thinking is that some people are so quick to blame others for their situation but they themselves are not doing much to change.
Waiting for alms, for aids, is that really enough? Or should we rather take control of our lives and start making changes? When you look at a situation as a whole, it can be daunting, but how about if we start small, with ourselves. Big things comes from small changes.. We complain about Metro Manila being so dirty, but hey who put the dirt there in the first place?
I started to seriously think about this when my husband asked why there are a lot of Filipinos bemoaning about their life situations. You see my husband grew up in the era of Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. They lost everything that they had. Not only material things but family and friends were lost to them. All adults had to work in fields. They had only porridge to eat everyday and it was rationed. You cannot have more even if you are starving and you are not allowed to cook at home. He never owned a toy, he used to play with mud and sticks. When they started school they were already teenagers.
They have a lot to complain about and yet what I could see from them is optimism and struggling to overcome what the past have done to their country and their people. Yes they are scarred from the wars and sufferings but he says one thing he learned is to take stock of what you have and be thankful for it. When you appreciate life, you can dream more, and you strive hard to make that dream real. I simply wish we could have the same outlook.
Sometimes we could be really selfish. I for one have been guilty of this. I complain I have no new shoes, bags, when I just bought some two weeks ago. My younger brother complains his mobile phone is not the latest anymore. My cousins would routinely complain about not being to go on night outs. Our house helper complains she can’t send enough to her parents but she loads her cellphone like there is no tomorrow. We complain we don’t earn enough but you can see mall teeming with people. Perhaps we need to rethink about our priorities and learn how to be thankful for what we have been given.
Let me share an email I got from my husband. I always keep this on my inbox. Whenever I feel like being grumpy and complain about small things I read this and it does makes me thankful for what I have.
If you think you are unhappy, look at them..
If you think your salary is low, how about her?
If you think you don’t have many friends, what about him?
When you feel like giving up, think of this man
If you think you suffer in life, do you think you suffer as much as he does?
If you complain about your transport system, how about them?
If you think society is unfair to you, how about her?
Enjoy life as how it is and as it comes.. Things are worse for others and is a lot better for us..Let’s complain less and give more!
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You are actually correct about this kapatid. I must be thanksful and in fact this sense of dissatisfaction is always in us. I dunno why. Yesterday, I got accepted in some kind of part time job fiving me 1,000 euros for 72 hours a month but it seems dissatisfying..then a loved one comforted me telling that how many people are here, dying to get that job, they are even whites and they are even wanting it more but instead, i got it… so i realize, although i am supposed to earn better, still, being too new to the place (6 weeks) where i live and finding work that fast is already a blessing. And now, I read this as well with photos and i just realize, indeed all we need is contentment, di ba?
Rogues last blog post..My Drop Inbox is Still Holy
hi rogue, seems like contentment is something hard to find or at times we may find it we have a hard time holding on to it.
its probably human nature to want to have what we don’t have but complaining never really gets us what we desire. we should all work for it.
congrats on the part time job. keep working and for now you have that for sure tomorrow you’ll have more di ba?
This is a beautiful post and a great reminder for us all. Thank you!!
Lillys last blog post..Phew! What is that smell?
hi lily, thank you.
What a wonderful post – one that I’ll be sharing with my 13 y/o daughter, who thinks life isn’t worth living if her cell phone battery dies.
Thank you so much for sharing.
dianne, thank you. you daughter sounds a bit like my brother. he believes his mobile phone is his lifeline. he has two phones and I lost count of how many times he changed model yet he complains he doesn’t have much money for necessary things like food or clothes..
this is also one thing I want my daughter to learn at a young age. .
This is a very good reminder to all. That’s why whenever I feel like complaining, I always try to think that others’ plights and sufferings are greater than my own.
I have just read the Success Principle that in order the person to get what he really wants in life: stop complaining and blaming. You have to take 100% responsibility of your life. There should be no roam for complain to a successful person!:) After reading that, i started to change without complain of the things happen on the past.:)
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yep, i think that’s the right message to send across…be thankful for the things you have…
edelweizas last blog post..Ambo is the Man!