Life is the most important gift we will ever receive. It's one of those gifts that keeps on giving if we are willing to accept it and if we aren't willing then the gift of life keeps on giving anyway. Appreciate the gift by living life...
My April posts are looking at my life not only as it was, but as it is and where it might go in the future. I like my life most of the time and even when I'm not liking it so much, I tend to not hang on to the bad things as much as look forward to the next good things and, more importantly, appreciate the good things that are right in front of me.
There have been a few dark times in my life when I thought it might be nice to cash in my chips and drop out of the game. Those times never lasted long thankfully. They were passing phases of dealing with loss or disappointments. Then I'd see the sun shining, hear the birds singing, and sense the good all around me. It's always best when the good expunges the evil.
No point in letting other people, bad circumstances, or anything else drag me down. I've got a lot to live for in respect to my dreams and experiences yet to be had. And of course there are my grandchildren. I want to live life because there is so much still to live for...
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| Four of my NJ grandchildren after Marley (in sunglasses) performed at a concert. |
I plan to be living life for the rest of my life which I hope is a long time to come.
2051 here I come!
Have you ever considered just giving up in life? Do you think the value of life is lessened when the quality goes down? What keeps you focused on goals ahead of you (even if you don't know exactly what those goals are yet)?
I don't know of many people who haven't wanted to drop out of life at some point. (Remember "tune in, turn on, drop out"?) For most people those feelings don't last. I've gotten to the "Screw it! I'm just gonna sit here and wait for God" point a couple of times in my life. I've always managed to talk my way through it, though.
ReplyDeleteJohn, anyone who doesn't have some ups and downs would be a very unique person. I don't think they exist.
DeleteLee
There are good times to comment on such a post, with wisdom and agreement. Right now isn't one of those times. I'd really like to go through a gaggle of protesters (general, not specific) with a wiffle bat right now. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteCW, don't let 'em get you down. Thank goodness you're only thinking wiffle bat over a real bat that could cause some real damage.
DeleteLee
Life is very precious Lee, having just lost a son I know only too well we don't appreciate the good times until a tradgedy occurs.
ReplyDeleteA gooD "L" word and post.
Yvonne.
Yvonne, we must stay focused on those good times as much as we can. Negativity can destroy us.
DeleteLee
Your first paragraph resonates deeply.
ReplyDeleteMyra, glad my post was able to touch you.
DeleteLee
not hang on to the bad things
ReplyDeleteas much as look forward to the
next good things
Very good principle Arlee. Life certainly is a challenge. Appreciating what has been accorded is appreciating divine blessings. This will invoke good tidings ahead. It has worked that way somehow! Great!
PS Thanks for your kind responses to Hank's earlier postings.
Hank
Hank, Being thankful is a pleasant act. Useless complaining is not.
DeleteLee
I love the moment in Charlie Chaplin's 1952 film Limelight, when he tells despondent dancer Terry life is just as inevitable as Death, if only one has courage and the will to use it.
ReplyDeleteCarrie-Anne, I've still got to watch that Chaplin film. I keep recording it on my DVR and then it drops off the queue when the hard drive fills up.
DeleteLee
Guess I've been lucky since other than thinking I'd never get a boyfriend in high school, I've never been so low as to want to give it all up. Nicely done L, Arlee.
ReplyDeleteJanet’s Smiles
Janet, when I was in high school and college I thought I'd never have a girlfriend. Yet now I've had girlfriends and been married three times. Things do happen if we are patient.
DeleteLee
Tina was an amazing person. I remember her posts. And man, could she comment! I remember stopping at blogs and nearly every one had a comment from her.
ReplyDeleteGood to know what dreams you hope to achieve and set up goals to reach them. I work on that every month (other hop). It reminds me of where I'm going and where I've been.
Half way through April. How'd that happen so quick?
J, everything seems to go so fast anymore.
DeleteLee
I've had rough times when it was hard to slog through the days, but I always had faith I'd get to the other side. I love life and hope to hang around for a long time.
ReplyDeletePatricia, Faith is a mighty fortress, but negativity tries hard to chip away that faith. The rough times are when we really have to stand strong.
DeleteLee
I think we've all been there in your shoes at one time or another. Life is like that. Throwing things at us, and sometimes we catch them and sometimes we get gobsmacked right in the face. I, too am always glad when the sun shines on the other side of the darkness...
ReplyDeleteLisa, sounds like a cosmic game of dodgeball.
DeleteLee
Good not to be dragged down - hope the challenge is going well. I'm playing 'catch up'
ReplyDeleteDavid, hang in there my blogging friend. For me I've been playing "keep up"--not behind yet, but not ahead of the game either.
DeleteLee
I think we've all had difficult periods where it was tempting to just give up, but life likes to twist and turn, and there is always something wonderful around the corner if you're willing to wait for it.
ReplyDeleteOA, I think it would be an unusual person not to have been at a real low at some point in their life. A bad day today is often quickly forgotten when a really good day comes tomorrow.
DeleteLee
I have had times when I wanted to go to bed and sleep through the bad times because all bad times pass. When I am sad I focus on the things that make me happy such as my grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteJo-Anne, grandchildren can make a lot of troubles seem to disappear, though I guess for some folks grandchildren have become a burden for some sad reason or another.
DeleteLee
Lee,
ReplyDeleteLife is indeed good. We need to remember to live life and not let it pass us by. There's so much life offers us daily. We just have to see through the rainstorm to see the rainbow waiting.
Oh sure, I've thought about just giving up but giving up really isn't an option. I not only love life but those in my life, so why short change them of someone awesome, right? What keeps me focused is I know everything that goes on around me is temporary and that God holds everything in His hands. He's always been faithful to bring me through it all, so why stop believing now. ;)
A2Z Little Mermaid art sketch Chef Louis
Cathy, the good Lord has left me waiting at times, but has always known what is best for me. God has definitely watched over my life.
DeleteLee
Yes never ever let yourself drag down in life, life comes in chapters it's how we read it. nice post.
ReplyDeletePr@, I hope my life turns out to be a very long book with a lot of chapters.
DeleteLee
Life sucks sometimes but the art is seeing the sun and hearing the birds - as you seem to do and juggle back. I have dark depressive thoughts - comes with poor health - but even resorting to alcohols is not an option.
ReplyDeleteOh yes, when I was so bullied, threatened and told I was worth nothing and one even said I should just “do it” since my parents would be better off, yeah, I considered it until I heard the birds sing. Nature can bring people back from the brink and one becomes stronger as a result. I wish to be able to walk in nature, go to Europe and to feel life to the fullest..yes, feel. Live, of course, but when one has severe pain and other crap stuff, smelling flowers, watching a good movie or reading a good book, feeling the petals and feeling the pages of the book, is truly magical
ReplyDelete