My last blog post was titled, “Have We Become a Nation of Whiners?” I got a lot of responses, all positive, and most agreeing that we have and that they count themselves amongst the whiners! Okay, me too.
But that got me thinking. Are things really so bad? Sure, the wars in the world are terrible. Climate change and what it means for future generations gives me pause. The political situation and the divisiveness in this country are troubling.
Then I decided to focus on some of the everyday things in life that are reasons to be grateful. It didn’t take long to come up with a lot of things I’m grateful for.
Cars
I note that during the recent heavy rains, I was driving down the freeway at or above the speed limit, dry and in perfect comfort. Modern cars are so reliable, I don’t have to worry about carburetors as I did 40 years ago. I don’t have to warm up the engine. I take heated seats for granted. Now one car has a heated steering wheel, which seemed silly until I tried it. Now, I wouldn’t want to live without it. My wife’s new Kia has ventilated seats, which are wonderful on a hot day.
House
At home, we’ve got a lovely house that overlooks a small lake. It is heated of course, but 100 years ago that might not have been taken for granted. A few years ago, we added a heat pump and air conditioning, which is wonderful as we get more hot summer days. Everything is reliable and comfortable.
Business
I’m grateful for my business, which is going well. I love helping my clients and being my own boss. And I love working from home, working indoors and not commuting.
Amazon
I mentioned Amazon in my last blog and, it is true, they have made us spoiled. Almost anything is available at our fingertips, quickly and reliably. It was only a couple of decades ago this wasn’t possible. Despite the complaining, I’m grateful for Amazon.
Food, Drink
The quality and variety of food and drink available to us readily and at reasonable prices is another thing that is easy to take for granted. Exhibit #1: Take a stroll through Costco this time of year. Exhibit #2: While I don’t drink a lot of alcohol, I do like to have high quality wine now and again. My official ‘house wine,’ that I offer to guests on a regular basis, is Veuve Clicquot. Magnificent stuff at $50 a bottle. I just love it.
Modern Medicine
I’m also grateful for the miracles of modern medicine, especially as I age. Most surgeries are getting simpler with shorter recovery times. And while I never wanted to be taking a bunch of prescription drugs every day, well here I am. And every pill does what is supposed to do and helps the quality of my life. Many were not available as recently as 30 years ago, when my father had most of the same symptoms I have.
Money
One thing that has become harder is buying gifts at Christmastime. In my family we’ve given up and just enjoy some time together. The reason is that anything anyone wants, they usually just buy for themselves as soon as they realize they want it. It is pretty hard to find a gift that someone ‘needs,’ as we’ve all progressed well beyond any ‘need.’ I’m not complaining, I’m grateful that we have affluence and easy access to material things, that gift giving has become something we have given up, except for the children.
Conclusion
That’s all for the better. Around the holidays we can enjoy the company of friends and family, share a good meal, and open a bottle or two of Veuve Clicquot. Life seems pretty good in America as 2023 ends.
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