What are you taking for granted in life . . .

What are you taking for granted in life?

Tim Connor

It constantly amazes me what so many people take for granted in life every day; whether their health, career, someone’s love or even the 60+ beats of their heart every minute of every hour of every day.  Have you ever really thought that in any given moment you are less than five minutes away from death?  Not trying to be morbid here but the average number of deaths every day in the US alone is over 8000 people.  Could you be one of them tomorrow?



Why do people take things for granted and fail to have gratitude for little daily blessings or victories?  Yes, when you win the Lotto, do you say thank you or do you say, “I deserved that?”  Are you routinely filled with appreciation for the over three trillion chemical reactions every second in your body that allow you to laugh, hear, walk, see, learn, smile or just think without conscious effort, awareness or attention?



I’ll bet if you suddenly lost your eyesight you would feel gratitude for the years you could see.  If you were in an auto accident and had to use crutches for three months, I’ll bet you would feel appreciation for the ability to walk before that unexpected event.



Is it ego, a belief of entitlement or something more that causes people to take so many things in life for granted?  I think it’s something more.  I have lost many things during my life, but I can tell you that several times a day I thank God for each and every one of my life’s gifts and blessings no matter how small or seemingly insignificant.



I believe that most people are so self-focused these days that they never even think to thank life or God or who or whatever you believe in for all of the blessings you have received, are receiving and possibly will receive.  So many people expect that life should happen the way they want, expect or believe they deserve, that bad stuff won’t happen to them for any number of reasons.  They feel like they are even invincible, and that life should only happen on their terms.  Well, I have news for you, unless you have discovered this for yourself and don’t need my reminder, that nothing or no one is immune to life’s adversity, trauma, uncertainties or unexpected negative events.



Just look at the hundreds of people who have lost their homes in the past due to tornadoes, hurricanes or floods.  Do you think that one minute before or even a week before they lost everything that these folks said thank you for what they had?  I seriously doubt it.



How about you?  What are you taking for granted?  That your children will grow up safe and happy and secure?  That you will have a job next week?  That your health will not become a burden?  That you will always have your sight, the ability to remember or just enjoy each new day and each new event?



Millions of people every day face adversity that they didn’t expect or feel they deserved but, in the end, Tornadoes or drunk drivers don’t give a rip about your personal views.  When the economy is in chaos millions of people lose their homes and jobs.  Did they deserve these outcomes?  I’ll bet in most cases no, but in the end, our expectations, beliefs, and attitudes about what we deserve or are entitled to is a very fragile set of circumstances.



I have friends who have died at an early age - relatives who have had to deal with serious family challenges and have met total strangers during my travels that their stories would bring tears to your eyes in a heartbeat.



Life is a very fragile gift and the sooner you stop taking things for granted the sooner you will have inner peace, happiness, contentment and feel gratitude every minute for all of life’s gifts and blessings no matter how small or insignificant they might seem to you now.



Just start saying thank you more often to everything and everyone and you might be surprised at how it lifts your spirit as well as theirs.