a lesson...a blessing.

“It's a troublesome world. All the people who're in it
are troubled with troubles almost every minute.
You ought to be thankful, a whole heaping lot,
for the places and people you're lucky you're not.”

I stumbled upon this quote yesterday and it really made me think about some things, it made me put myself, my life and my inner thoughts into perspective. There are times that I wish for certain things, wish I could be going certain places, yadda yadda, you know the rest because I am sure that we all do it at some point. Aside from the fact that I'm not off backpacking thru Italy or a world renowned photographer, my life, is REALLY REALLY good.

I was talking with a "co-worker" I guess you could say (he worked for my dad) yesterday and he was telling me about his recent troubles. He has been unemployed since before Christmas- almost a year now, had been promised a new position which he was over joyed about. During a meeting yesterday he found out that the position was no longer available "due to lack of work." He was devastated. I was at a loss for words and really didn't know what to say to him. What could I say that would encourage him? "Everything is going to be ok, everything will work out in due time," just doesn't seem to cut it. I felt guilty for the "always wanting more" mentality that I have sometimes. I try extremely hard to be a grateful person, but when I looked back over my thoughts I saw that how could I be grateful when I am always wanting something more. I was, and am ashamed to admit that about myself, I feel so...selfish for having that type of mentality. Gratefulness immediately overflowed from my heart for all the things I have, for all the things that I don't have, for all that I am and for everything that I will be.

Back to back I have had an eye opener...Is there a lesson for me to learn?!? Obviously. I guess that I spend more time thinking about what I'm not doing or what I don't have then all the blessings that have been bestowed on my life. I am an overly happy person, I have the love of two completely amazing guys, a wonderful family, great jobs, a beautiful home, a means of transportation, quality time, memories and memories that are in the making. I don't (really) want for anything. I am going to make it a conscious decision everyday to wake up and show how thankful I am for...everything, and not take anything for granted. Life's little lessons to us are sometimes the things that we teach ourselves. I have a grateful heart and am counting my blessing one by one. I can't tell you how truly happy I am to be exactly who I am and exactly where I am.

Count your blessings, readers...sometimes they are in disguise or in the form of a lesson needing to be learned. Take the time to stop, take a look around and say thanks for it all.