The Crazy In My Head: What I Don't Have

I won an iPad.  It's fabulous but it doesn't have 3G and my beach house doesn't have wifi.

Is that the most fucked up, selfish sentence you've ever read?

Because I was sitting at the beach house (it's not technically mine but I have access to it) on Friday - with my laptop (and aircard) and iPhone (with 3G) thinking, "Wow, it's sure sucks that my new (FREE) iPad doesn't have internet."

And because it was SUCH a RIDICULOUSLY ABSURD complaint I realized that I often focus on what I don't have instead of on what I do have.  And I'm SO incredibly lucky that I REALLY need to stop that.

Because sometimes it makes me miserable.

Sometimes I think about my brother and how much money he has and how he can afford great things.

But I don't think about the fact that he works from 7am to 7pm every day.

Or I think about how my boss lives in a HUGE house.

But I don't think about the fact that he lives in a town that I have chosen not to live in.

Or I think about how my friend goes to the Cape for the summer.

But I don't think about the fact that her "Cape house" is her parents house and she is living with them FULL TIME.

Or I think about how my neighbor always seems SO relaxed and carefree.

But I don't think about the fact that her 9 year old daughter has diabetes.

It's so easy to focus on what we don't have.  Or on what other people DO have. 

I know that I would be happier if I focused on what I DO have and remembered that those other people have burdens I would not want to take on - not for all of the riches they appear to have.

So today, can you please leave me a comment telling me 5 things that you are thankful for?

(I was going to ask you to leave 1 thing but let's really count all our riches, shall we?)

I will choose 1 comment and donate $25 to the charity of the commenters choice so that we can share some of our good fortune with others.

I'll start.

I am thankful for:

My family
My happy marriage
My job
Having enough food
Having time to spend with my children

Comments

[Tracy@TheComfortZone]

I am thankful for my God.
I am thankful for husband, our happy marriage.
I am thankful for my daughter, no words can express just how thankful.
I am thankful for always having food.
I am thankful that I have a home, car, a job that I love, both my parents are living and, my sister, the preschool, and every single thing that I have. My needs are met, my wants either will be or won't be. :)

[DHArza]

I am thankful for:

1. Having a job
2. My Health
3. My babies
4. My hubby
5. My sisters

[Andra]

1. The fact that I can feed myself but was given the opportunity to feed "Charles".

2. My ability to walk on my own accord but was blessed to help "Darlene" move from the bed to bedside commode, saving her the embarrassment of a bed pan.

3. My husband because today I realized that maybe he ISN'T the biggest jerk in the world after my patient spoke so rudely to his loving, caring wife.

4. My daughter's health even more now that we learned her close friend's baby brother has cancer.

5. The opportunity to care for and laugh with "Wilma" before she unexpectedly took a turn for the worse.

Thanks for making me reflect on what I thought was a crummy day at work, but now I realize it was actually pretty amazing.

[ChrisBra']

1. My smart, beautiful wife who makes me laugh.
2. My smart, beautiful son who farts and makes me laugh.
3. My dogs who make me curse way too much, even the dumb ones.
4. Yosemite National Park. The most beautiful place on Earth.
5. India Pale Ale. It's so good when it hits my lips.

[Abbey0512]

I am thankful that my children had a happy 1st day of school today.
I am thankful that my husband has been allowed to take off work to help me recover from my latest surgery, which has had a not-so-good outcome.
I am thankful that things have fallen into place over the past year to make me see how great my life really has been and how great it really can be in the future.
I am thankful that my husband is great at his career, which affords us the opportunity for me to stay home.
I am thankful for second chances.

[Lala]

I really do only have one thing. Without it, the rest doesn't matter.

I am thankful that my husband is alive, when there have been at least 3 times that he should have died. He has beaten some pretty crazy odds. We are so lucky.

[KBHouston]

1) A job I love
2) My health
3) Amazing friends
4) Supportive Family
5) The four crazy dogs running around my house right now.

[Downloadable08]

1) My faith. It's not for everyone, but it gives me hope to get through the tough times, and compassion and drive to make the world a better place.

2) My loved ones. My best friend and I have been like sisters since we were six, and her sons now call me "Auntie". I have friends on four to six continents, depending on the year or season, and I have learned lessons from my grandmas and great-grandmas that I couldn't have learned anywhere else.

3) My education. I was encouraged by family and teachers alike to devour every book I could get my hands on, and college was where I truly found myself. Now, after three years on the work force, I'm going back to school, and while I may be somewhat scared, I also couldn't be more thankful for the opportunity to do so.

[Nicole Hutchison]

I love this post! I'm thankful for so many things, it's hard to choose just FIVE but I'll try!

1. God's grace
2. My husband and family
3. Our home
4. Food on the table
5. the opportunity to work alongside the Haitian people and help them rebuild the Methodist School in Port-au-Prince

My charity of choice is UMVIM/UMCOR (that is United Methodist Volunteers in Missions and United Methodist Committee on Relief).

[Walkingborder]

1. My red headed 3yo (BAD combination btw) may be headstrong, but he is the BEST hugger in the house and gives them freely!
2. My 3yo may be terrified of monsters and in a stage where he refuses to sleep in his own bed, but his warm little soft body gravitates to mine in the night causing me to miss him on the nights when I can coax him into his own bed.
3. I have officially been pregnant a week longer than I wanted to be, but she is healthy, strong and won't be a preemie.
4. I have been off all my psyche meds a week longer than I wanted to be, but I'm surviving and the first script is filled, packed in the hospital bag, and it's already on my charts those pills are being popped, baby! And that light at the end of that tunnel is glorious.
5. My husband and I are at wits end living up each other's butts for the past 2+ months because I had to stop working and have at least 6 more weeks before I go back, but we've had less than a handful of screaming matches and that's actually pretty good for us. Plus they blow over fast and the anger never lingers. Also good for us.

and because I can

6. I'm being induced on the 29th if I don't pop first, so my OMG THIS IS TAKING FOREVER has a clear end in sight.
7. With this being my third, I'm officially more scared of the first post birth poop, than I am the actual labor and delivery (they don't provide an epidural for that shit) and that thought amuses me and calms me.
8. My 8yo goes back to school on Wednesday and thank god because I wasn't sure he'd make it. My 3yo, on the other hand, doesn't. And well, thank god for #1 on this list...

[Barbara]

Kit, you are an amazing woman, kudos to you!
What a wonderful idea and here are the 5 things I am most thankful for

1. my health
2. my family and friends
3. living in a country where everything is within reach: food and water, education, health care, culture, freedom of speech
4. a job which supports me and my family
5. my dog teaching me every day what is really essential through simple gestures: a friendly wag, a trusting look ...

I will double your contribution to any charity, if I may suggest something: there are so many children going hungry and devoid of all chances of growing up in a safe environment, with no proper education. Why not choose such an organisation?

And I am sure that other commenters would love to contribute to it as well. What do you think?

I am grateful for my life
Barbara

[Karen]

I am (*always*) grateful for..

1. My happy, healthy, energetic daughter.
2. A loving husband who is the best father.
3. Parents who will still bend over backwards for me.
4. Friends who will always be there, no matter how neglectful I've been.
5. Jobs that pay us well enough to afford many things in life.

[Denise]

1. My loving, devoted husband.
2. Supportive parents.
3. To live in Middle TN today, but to have grown up in Texas.
4. Amazing friends.
5. Being able to pay our bills.

[Fauxnoc]

Things I am thankful for:

My boys, who love me even when I tell them it's a bad idea.
My fiance, who asked me to marry her on a whim because she doesn't want me to leave her. Ever.
My sister, who raised me to be whatever the fuck I want. (Her exact phrasing)
My family, who don't understand me and love me anyway.
My shitty childhood, without which I would be a selfish, arrogant coward. I know it sounds weird, but I like who I am and think if my life had been better, I would be worse.

[Jennifer Grace Cook]

I am thankful for...

1. Everything that comes into my life, all the good and even the challenges too, because that's when I really grow.

2. That every home I've ever lived in had an amazing view that I could daydream, create and imagine from.

3. My literacy.

4. My curiosity.

5. Being lucky enough to be born into the family I have. The complicated, brilliant, loving, prosperous, damaged, hopeful, willing, passionate, generous, gorgeous family I have.

And if you pick me, I would choose The Smile Train as the charity, because (6.) I am especially grateful to see children smile.

[Book4MyDaughter]

I am thankful for:

1) My children
2) Being able to work from home, so I can pick up my kids from school every day
3) My husband is able to find happiness through having his own business
4) My brother-in-law living with us, and being able to know his niece and nephew
5) My 12 year-old car that hasn't given up, even after a 3 hour road trip this weekend.

[John]

I am happy for:

1) My family
2) The relative health of those closest to me
3) The weather this morning - cool, with just the hint of summer leaving and fall arriving
4) My sleep deprivation, because it means that I'll sleep and appreciate sleep...some day
5) Words - be they mine or someone else's - such a wonderful little release they provide when a release is necessary.

[Lucinda]

1) Kit, because she unfailingly hits the nail on the head every time
2) Everyone who has just posted, because your gratefulness brought me to tears
3) Myself, because I nourish myself by reading posts and comments like these
4) My husband, because he has seeped into my bones and contains me
5) Freedom in its many facets, because today I spoke to a young man who got out of prison yesterday

[alejandra navarro]

I am grateful that:
• I have the money and access to food that allows me the fortune to eat more than I need and be overweight, if I choose, which unfortunately, I have.
• I have the education and knowledge to know how to lose that excess weight, even though I most of the time do not to follow it.
• I have the time and opportunity to work out to try to lose that weight.
• I have the access to health care that I use when I injure myself working out.
• I have a loving spouse and family who appreciate me as I am.

[Bizcommunicator]

1. the most wonderful son on the planet!
2. technology and all it gives me on a daily basis
3. having my own home office
4. finally finding the perfect paint color for my home!
5. my health and feeling and living much, much younger at 54 than my mother did!

[Krystle Wainscott]

Wow Thanks for those thought provoking words. I just read a comment the other day that said "What if you woke up today with only the things you thanked God for yesterday" really makes you think about being grateful for what you do have. Well I'm thankful for:
1) My Savior
2) My hubby - there is noone else who would truly get me
3) My stay at home job
4) My flexibility & creativity that is abiling me to start a crafting business :)
5) My amazing church!

[Srtjm]

I'm Thankful for:
My Parents who passed in Jan. and Feb, 2011.
My wife of 30 years.
My two grown sons, 23 and 25, (They are available).
My Home, Cars and all bills are paid off.
My Faith in God and all the Blessings that I enjoy as a result of that Faith that was taught to me by the parents mentioned above.

[LeAnn]

1. Losing 67lbs and no longer being diabetic
2. Being able to have a baby after 2 miscarriages
3. Health insurance that pays for chiropractic adjustments
4. My basement/house isn't flooded. I live in a Midwest city where A LOT of people are dealing with flooding.
5. I have a family that helps me out even if I'm cranky

[Hannah]

I love this post, and I love reading everyone's comments!

I am thankful for;

-My safety
-My boyfriend (he's my best friend)
-My family, who love and teach in equal amounts
-My Amazing job with people who support, inspire, and amuse me every day
-My dog. She's supposed to be his (see #2), but she loves me first & best. :)

[Brenda]

Late to the party; but I LOVE this! Congrats to the winner; and better late than never. Here's what I'm thankful for...

My entire family; those that are related by blood and those that aren't. This includes our pets. (I know... you're not suppposed to humanized animals!)

Friendships

Laughter; especially the sound of a child laughing.

All of nature; especially the feel of the sun, sound of ocean waves. sunrises and sunsets

Getting up in the morning; knowing I've had a warm bed, a roof, more than enough food, and more than enough clothing to get me through one day; and even a week.

[A]

Things that I'm lucky to have...

1. A husband who loves me even though I'm bossy, pushy, independent, critical and kind of a bitch sometimes. In fact, the crazy bastard might actually love me BECAUSE of those things!?!?

2. An awesome mom, dad and sister who love to spend time together and with me.

3. A job that may not pay well, but includes a great health insurance plan and a healthy dose of laughter every day.

4. No food allergies.

5. You, my dear Kit! :)

[Esther]

I'm thankful for:
1) Living in a country where many of us have it so good that we often CAN forget how good we have it. We can say pretty much whatever we want without getting in trouble with our government. We have access without censorship to everyone else in the world to hear what they have to say. And we have an incredible standard of living.
2) That my son chose to start college locally, thus buying me a couple more stolen years before my nest is empty. AND he threatens (er, promises) to come back after he completes his BA at his transfer school of choice. Bringing me to my key point - my son rocks!
3) I'll admit it - a spoiled Silicon Valley lifestyle with near perfect weather and lots of high tech jobs while close to some of the best hiking and skiing ANYWHERE! (Yosemite & Tahoe...need I say more?)
4) Having a brain & body that both still work pretty much like they're supposed to even if those who know me best tell me I have "issues" at least once a week.
5) And last, but surely not least, the Internet! I remember (with considerable angst) the days before email, Google, Wikipedia, dictionary.com, Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, online news/weather/movies, blogs, etc. Kids today just don't know.