To Get Nowhere, Follow the Crowd

"I am thankful...
For the wife who says it's hot dogs tonight,
because she is home with me,
and not out with someone else.
For the husband who is on
the sofa being a couch potato,
because he is home with me
and not out at the bars.
For the teenager who is
complaining about doing dishes,
because it means she is at home,
not on the streets.
For the taxes I pay,
because it means I am employed.
For the mess to clean after a party, because
it means I have been surrounded by friends.
For the clothes that fit a little too snug,
because it means I have enough to eat.
For my shadow that watches me work,
because it means I am out in the sunshine.
For a lawn that needs mowing,
windows that need cleaning,
and gutters that need fixing,
because it means I have a home.
For all the complaining I hear
about the government,
because it means we have
freedom of speech.
For the parking spot I find
at the far end of the parking lot,
because it means I am capable of walking
and I have been blessed with transportation.
For my huge heating bill,
because it means I am warm.
For the lady behind me in church
who sings off key,
because it means I can hear.
For the pile of laundry and ironing,
because it means I have clothes to wear.
For weariness and aching muscles
at the end of the day,
because it means I have been
capable of working hard.
For the alarm that goes off
in the early morning hours,
because it means I am alive."

I found this poem my freshman year and I have loved it ever since.
I truly am grateful for all the little things in my life.
I think I have more than A LOT of other people in this world.
Sometimes I think that Americans loose the sight of what really matters.
Because we have so many things to block our vision,
to get us distracted.
But if we each take one minute to take a step back in our lives
and realize that even in the hard times, we always have more than someone else.
For example, you are reading this.
Therefore, you have access to a computer.
I bet there are thousands of people who have never even seen a computer.
So try not to take everything for granted.
Once a day think about what you have.
And be grateful for it.