Overwhelmed with Gratefulness
 

Maybe I have had more than my share of hard times in life, so I am constantly looking for the good, but as I am sitting on my back patio smoking some chicken breasts it occurred to me how good most of us have it in life. We can work and get most anything we want... be it cars motorcycles, power tools, toys... I have a wife that after 35 years I still stare at, and think how lucky I am that she loves me. 3 grown kids who are relatively successful in life and some that have overcome some schit in life that they didn't expect but they handled it well.

I have some great friends, some who post on these forums, and some that have stayed at my house that have had a huge impact in my life by how they overcome challenges and influenced me in many ways. Contemplating existence, and although I have had some huge pain over the years, it has always been overshadowed by all the good stuff. As I have lurked and posted a little in OT, I have seen some other people here that I don't know personally, but i get the impression that they have made decisions to play the cards they were dealt as best as they could, and have reaped the rewards. I saw a spare tire cover on a jeep that said "Life is Good"

I am sure some of you if you stop and think would agree that although it can be tough to be positive about life... Overall it has some really fun and exiting times, if we choose to look for them. BTW beer and smoking meat is high on my list.. :)


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Nicely done!

But I thought this thread was about Jerry :D

Nice porch! :)

And you’re right, most of us here have it pretty good, just based on the kind of things we talk about. People have property, vehicles, families, the whole nine. A lot of people in the world have lives that suck...sometimes due to their own actions and decisions but not always.

Be grateful.

My wife of 32 years, and I have certainly overcome many terrible situations with grace, and also have 2 successful grown kids, who still like us. We enjoy the quiet times on our 10 acre farm, have good friends, and family, and do try to appreciate all that we have, and can look forward to as well.

Thank you for posting this, we sometimes forget, and get caught up in the details.

I feel fortunate every day. I retired a year before Covid hit and just can’t imagine trying to keep my employees on and paying my overhead in these crazy times. I’m stacking my 15 cords of wood that I split this winter and loving being left alone.

Agreed. We got it good. Thanks for the heads up. Good to contemplate.

Nice back yard area!
Can't tell the beer brand...but it looks wrong!
(See other thread below)

Moosehead. I had just ridden my MTB for a couple hours and wanted something light. I have other brands. :)




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Very Nice!!SmileWavy

My wife's friend just lost her husband of 51 years Saturday.
The brother in law of a friend of ours died suddenly of a massive heart attack (in his 50's)
If you have a loving spouse, cherish them. You aren't promised tomorrow.

^^^^^^ Yes. a few of my friends have lost loved ones. no guarantees

Yep.

Great post at a crappy time. We all forget what's good and dwell on the negative. It comes at us from both sides and it sucks.

Screw it. Banana Splits for dinner tomorrow night. I've been promising myself that for 52 years.

Great post..thank you.

I'm not a beer drinker but that pic is awesome!

Great post. We can easily forget how blessed we can be.. Thanks

Given that state of mind, that backyard and that beer fridge - I´ll be right over! :)

There is no tomorrow.

Carpe Diem!

Thanks, Bill....cheers! SmileWavy

That is my take as well...

I don't now why this makes me happy every time I drive by the barns, but it does. My wife throws stuff out every Spring and we see what happens.

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Very nice post OP. It's good to stop and adjust your perception now and then. You gave me the impetus to do a little of that myself. Thanks.

Every once in a while I get to thinking about all the trouble in the world right now and look at my own situation.

I'm one of the very lucky ones. My kids are off and doing their thing with their own families now. We don't have much to worry about since the cars and house are paid off. My wife seems happy working on her quilts and she even asks my opinion once in a while too.

Things could be a LOT worse.

Thankfully, they aren't.

Being grateful requires a man to be humble, which requires a man to be thankful for what he already has, in order to have 'peace'.

Nice to see so many positive and thoughtful responses. Just realized how good the roses smell when we stop and think about them, and wanted to pass the thought along. :)

Well said AG.....amen, brother!

The good thing about leaving for work at 4:45 in the morning from my farm is seeing a dark sky full of stars, Mercury low in the Eastern sky this morning, and a harvest moon on my Westward drive in.

I tend to stand in the driveway for a minute or two looking up, and thanking God !

I'd medal if there was a contentment Olympics SmileWavy

Right on Bill, in every point. It's also a blessing to have people you know you can count on for support. Whether it be material or emotional I know that I have a few of them in my kit.

Hey Jim! Are you going to Falling Leaf this year?

your Cup floweth over bud!!!

Nice to see the positive on this board. Thanks for kicking it off.

TG
LITTLETON CO

Ha.. you were one of those positive vibe guys I was thinking about when i posted this thread... Then I saw your evacuation thread... So glad your home was spared!

Thanks for reminding me of all that is good in my life.

Every once in a while it's humbling to make a gratitude list and post it on a mirror to reflect (pun intended) on the list.........we are blessed.

Great thread and a great reminder to be thankful/grateful for what we have. IMHO there is too much whining about what we do not have and not enough appreciation for what we do have and take for granted. There will always be stuff or situations we would like to have and don't; that's life
I spend a few moments virtually every morning before I get out of bed reflecting on my gratitude list and have come to realize how damm fortunate I am. It is humbling and provides some needed perspective that was sorely lacking in my life for many years.
Read a while back that it is better to want what we have than to have what we want. Spot on!!

Contentment is what allows long, happy marriages, less family turmoil, a steady job/retirement, longtime friends/neighbors, happy children, and grandchildren.

Discontentment ruins all of the above...be grateful for what you have !

I have to agree. I certainly worked hard to be where I am now, but I do feel very lucky to have had totally normal parents, that lived a full life and taught me that only by working for my goals will I succeed.

I live in a paid for house, and the only debt I have is for the airplane my business purchased. It is already worth more than we paid for it, and it will not go down in value. The business is making more than enough to pay for the aircraft, and I work from home, for myself and make a comfortable living with only a few hours per week of simple work.

Life is short. Be content and enjoy!