Blessings and gratitude

Stop and smell the flowers.

A week or so ago, as I was walking down the street from where we are currently living (a temporary home until we move in to a more permanent one), I caught myself humming and smiling.

My life is blessed.
Not for one moment do I ever forget that. Outwardly, it is always so easy to be expressive and vocal when things go wrong. The previous posts about my hyperemesis would be a case in point. But how often do we actually verbalise our gratitude and joy?

We must be careful not to mistake pride for gratitude though. It's all in the intent. Do we talk about how good life is as a means to keep up with the Joneses, or to be 'one up' over everyone else? In this day of over-sharing (and with that I am referring to Facebook status updates!), it is so easy to use that platform as a place where we brag and show off what we have, what we do, who we are.

What is more important, really, is to internally truly appreciate what we have, what we do, and who we are. And also who we are with. I truly believe I have been given all that I can ever ask for, and much more than I can ever deserve. And for that, I am eternally grateful. I am not an outwardly pious person. You don't hear me speak of God and religion as much as some. But in my heart of hearts, it is always Him that I thank.

In this time and in this world where there are so much ugliness, we all need to make a real effort to focus on the beauty. The news is depressing. It's all doom and gloom, really. The chaos in the Middle-East, natural and man-made tragedies in Japan and so many other regions, political mess in, well pretty much everywhere, financial uncertainties, the list goes on. If I may quote the Black Eyed Peas, of all people (for the record, we like the BEP ok), where is the love?

So have a good look around. Count your blessings. Appreciate the people around you. I myself, can't get over how many good, good, people God has thrown my way. To feel so loved, so cared for. What more can we ask for. Spare a thought for those who do not have what we have. Maybe that'll give us a bit of pause before we voice out our next tirade of complaints.

i love you more

"there are places I remember

all my life

though some have changed, some forever, not for better

some have gone and some remain

all these places have their moments

with lovers and friends i still can recall

some are dead and some are living

in my life

i've loved them all

but all these friends and lovers

there is no one compares with you

and these memories lose their meaning

when i think of love as something new

though i know i'll never lose affection

for people and things that went before

i know i'll often stop and think about them

in my life

i love you more"

in my life ~ the beatles