By Benjamin Custer
Texarkana Gazette (Published August 2011)
Some of us are so focused on our problems we regularly fail to count our blessings.
There is often something to worry about, something to desire or something to regret.
The state of the economy seems to be the most pressing concern among Americans. The tentacles of the recession have reached the young and old, white- and blue-collar workers and everyone in between.
College graduates saddled with thousands of dollars in debt are straining to find work in an anemic job market. Retired seniors are struggling to survive off what little life savings they’ve managed to salvage. Millions have lost their jobs, their homes or both.
It’s easy to compare ourselves to those in more fortunate situations. It’s much harder to appreciate certain aspects of our lives as often as some of us take them for granted.
At one point or another, some of us may have been agitated by the piercing wailing of a baby in a restaurant, a cellphone ringing in a movie theater or a neighbor blasting his music at midnight.
Perhaps we’ve complained about poor song selections on the radio or the incessant chatter of a coworker. Derisive remarks cast our way are, on occasion, emotionally damaging.
However, for those fortunate enough, at least we are able to hear.
Some of us look in a mirror each morning and long to look like somebody else. Maybe some have looked at their spouse at one point or another and wished he or she looked like somebody else.
Countless students have complained about hefty reading assignments. Moviegoers have complained about wasting time and money after watching a certain film. Homeowners have complained about local eyesores bringing down property values.
However, for those fortunate enough, at least we are able to see.
Especially in East Texas, the dog days of summer render anything outside of an air-conditioned area virtually uninhabitable. The heat is unrelenting, and the insufferable humidity adds insult to injury. When winter rolls around, the weather is the polar opposite but the severity of the elements remains the same.
Many of us have cursed a stove after burning a finger, a door after stubbing a toe or a rock after spraining an ankle. Millions have fallen victim to arthritis or other painful ailments.
However, for those fortunate enough, at least we are able to feel.
Sometimes heartbreak can feel like the end of the world. Some of us may have experienced a period in which we merely went through the motions because we could do little more than sulk after being jilted by a significant other or cheated on by a spouse.
Many have been crippled by a friend’s betrayal or the death of a family member. Even the loss of a pet can bring great heartache. Tremendous sorrow can result from the severance of strong emotional attachment.
However, for those fortunate enough, at least we are able to love.
The world is rife with negativity. Some people feel life has dealt them a bad hand. Several fill with envy when they consider the glamorous lives of celebrities and professional athletes.
Many detest the car they drive, the house they live in or the job they’re stuck with. Some loathe the aging process and constantly live in the past. Others awaken each morning and wonder why life has become such a nightmare.
However, for those fortunate enough, at least we are able to live.