Are you happy? You should be.

[Alyssa Rose]

Tonight I saw two homeless men on the side of the road. I was stopped at a red light and I watched them for a minute. They took turns helping each other make a bed with their sleeping bags on the sidewalk, both were smiling and laughing. One of the guys didn't have a pillow so the other one put his in the middle of their "beds".. Then they shared water from what looked like a well used water bottle. When the light changed I didn't even want to move because I was so interested in watching these homeless men. Two people who literally have NOTHING yet they care enough to help one another. Even though both of them knew that the other person couldn't offer them anything more than half a pillow and a little water, they still treated each other so kindly. We drive by in our cars and go home to our houses that are filled with furniture and pictures and food. If we see someone crying on the street we avoid eye contact and keep walking. We don't even share a pillow with our significant other let alone a friend who doesn't have one. We get upset that our paycheck is less than what we thought it should be so now we can't afford to go out to eat this week. We get mad because we're not getting enough hours at work or because we're not making enough money but you know what? At least we aren't on the side of the road sharing a pillow with someone waiting for a miracle. Each and every one of us have it better than those two men yet we somehow still find stuff to complain about.. We still find a reason to be upset. If two people who have literally nothing can find a reason to smile, why can't we?

Let's try that thing called happiness♥

What is one thing that you know you take for granted?

I personally take my shoes for granted.. I'm obsessed with buying new shoes and in a months time I forget about them..

 

[~~whimsy~~]

Life.

 

[BCT]

Definately my bed, I had slept at other relatives houses who had bad beds that were only good for hurting my back :1orglaugh I realize when i see a homeless person sleeping outside such as the one you describe above really puts things in perspective and makes me know that I take my warm comfortable bed for granted. It's definately eye opening.

 

[Alyssa Rose]

Life.

I feel like everyone kind of takes life for granted ya know?

Definately my bed, I had slept at other relatives houses who had bad beds that were only good for hurting my back :1orglaugh I realize when i see a homeless person sleeping outside such as the one you describe above really puts things in perspective and makes me know that I take my warm comfortable bed for granted. It's definately eye opening.

I definitely agree! Just the other day I was complaining about how much I hate my bed because it has no support for my back but now I'm just like, wow, at least I have a bed.

 

[gunslingingbird]

I've pretty much given up trying to find happiness in my life. After years of looking for it and not finding it I'm pretty sure I'm not gonna just stumble upon it one day. What I've found that sort of fills the gap (not replaces it) is doing things for others. I've been known to give large amounts of money to people if I see that they have a need, and I'm able to help them financially. I can't say that I feel happiness doing it, but it gives me some sort of personal satisfaction. I don't do it for love towards people, because I tend to dislike people in general, but more because it helps fill a void in my life. Meh. Whatever.

 

[squallumz]

goes to show you. they're bums. but they still hitting that wacky tobaccy!

if i was homeless, and i had a joint, life would be juuuuust fine.

 

[PirateKing]

IMO happiness is the opposite of loneliness. I'm happy enough to eat good food and sleep under a roof because I never had much growing up so I learned look at things from a positive perspective and realize value in solidarity. The pursuit of happiness is a cognitive. You'll never really feel happy if you don't realize what you have.

 

[Vanilla Bear]

In Germany nobody needs to be homeless. Yet we have homeless people, too. It is their own choice. I guess it's their pride or whatsoever.

 

[ApolloBalboa]

GSB's post eerily sounds a lot like me, but because I want to more than quote it and say "This", I'm going to use my own words.

I'm happy that I know I have a great family (despite whatever flaws they might have), what I feel like are real and true friends for once in my life, and the opportunity to make money so I can start working on supporting myself more and more as I get older. I'm sure I do and have taken things for granted, but I'm really not that materialistic and can't honestly say I feel the need to appreciate more than what I've already listed. I can be thankful for other things, such as my computer, books, cable tv, etc., but I honestly think I'd be okay without them in my life because I know they're not what truly makes me happy. I've given up on finding happiness when it comes to other people, like girls and meeting friends other than the ones I have now, and while it sometimes bothers me, I find that overall it doesn't because I really don't want to have anything to do with people in general.

My parents make a joke about how I like individuals, but I hate humanity. Honestly, I can't think of a better way to describe it.

 

[L3ggy]

Some might tell me to grow up, but I take my videogames for granted.

 

[Xombie3000]

I've never tried to take anything for granted. I am grateful for everything I have, and if something ever happened and I lose everything I own, while I would be sad at first, I believe I have the power to start everything over from stratch.

This board is familiar with the problems in my life. I have been homeless. I have been without a car. I've been without a job, twice now in the past four years, and I'm currently laid off as of two weeks ago. Just yesterday I received my 54th job rejection so far for 2012.

Life does throw us for a curveball sometimes. If we swing and hit it, that's awesome! If we swing and miss, we get more chances. There is always someone worse off than we are. Just like Nikki said, these guys had absolutely thing. While I was homeless, I couch hopped from place to place. I had a roof over my head and friends that fed me and asked for not a single thing in return.

 

[LukeEl]

I have brief moments of unhappiness, but they are very brief. There is too much amazing stuff going on, and the simple things make me happy.

 

[PirateKing]

Sometimes I wish we lived in a more interesting world.

 

[Deepcover]

Food. So many ppl today can't afford and don't have food and i've wasted food before. Good food that so many starving ppl would love to have. So I learned not to waste food because I may never see a next meal again.

 

[Elwood70]

There's a difference between "happy" and "thankful".....

 

[Togath]

Tonight I saw two homeless men on the side of the road. I was stopped at a red light and I watched them for a minute. They took turns helping each other make a bed with their sleeping bags on the sidewalk, both were smiling and laughing. One of the guys didn't have a pillow so the other one put his in the middle of their "beds".. Then they shared water from what looked like a well used water bottle. When the light changed I didn't even want to move because I was so interested in watching these homeless men. Two people who literally have NOTHING yet they care enough to help one another. Even though both of them knew that the other person couldn't offer them anything more than half a pillow and a little water, they still treated each other so kindly. We drive by in our cars and go home to our houses that are filled with furniture and pictures and food. If we see someone crying on the street we avoid eye contact and keep walking. We don't even share a pillow with our significant other let alone a friend who doesn't have one. We get upset that our paycheck is less than what we thought it should be so now we can't afford to go out to eat this week. We get mad because we're not getting enough hours at work or because we're not making enough money but you know what? At least we aren't on the side of the road sharing a pillow with someone waiting for a miracle. Each and every one of us have it better than those two men yet we somehow still find stuff to complain about.. We still find a reason to be upset. If two people who have literally nothing can find a reason to smile, why can't we?

Let's try that thing called happiness♥

What is one thing that you know you take for granted?

I personally take my shoes for granted.. I'm obsessed with buying new shoes and in a months time I forget about them..

Sssshhh, dont tell big business this, we might just see the collapse of the stock exchange if it gets out.
Sarcasm here. Me and my wife have actually started practicing this. We keep picking one thing out every other month to see what we can get rid of. So far we have cut out a car payment, a phone bill, and I just started a little garden. When we get a few more things paid off we are going to try and stop working as much. I have gone to part time and am home with my kids more now. I love hearing the come bounding in my room yell/whispering "Dad make me french toast".

 

[Sam Fisher]

I'm all for charity. If it's me doing the giving out of my own pocket. However, I don't want Uncle Sam (gubment) using my money to feed, clothe, shelter, etc., those who are down and out. Ever notice how the same people keep returning to the Free Lunch Programs for those who are down on their luck or, even if they are bums, alcoholics, druggies, etc? They are no different than a stray cat or dog. Feed 'em once and they will be at your door wanting more the next day and the day after that.

This is true compassion -- "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for the rest of his life."

What isn't compassion is the government feeding someone EVERY day on someone else money.

 

[Rey C.]

The two things that I've taken for granted for much of my life: my health and relationships. But in recent years I've been trying to do better on both counts.

BTW, I liked Nikki's story. It sounds like those two guys didn't have much (or anything) in the way of material possessions. But they did have a real friendship with each other. Family and (real) friends are worth more than we often realize. Also, it's interesting how what's a problem to one person would be a luxury to someone else. When I was in banking, I'd pass homeless people while driving through D.C. And when I'd get to the office, I'd hear people whining about having to get their BMW serviced or their kids' private school tuition.

 

[PlumpRump]

This thread made me think about the "First World Problems" memes. So many people ungrateful for what they have. I've been given a lot in my life, and had an above average amount of privilege, which I am thankful for everyday. I'm sure there are things that I do take for granted, and I know I complain a lot more than I should about meaningless, everyday things. I'm trying to work on it.

First World Problems:

 

[vodkazvictim]

I feel like everyone kind of takes life for granted ya know?

Good point, but I feel that a caveat is necessaty: We should look after our lives by stopping the parasites taking from us.