Kinda puts things in perspective.

[THOR]

I was sitting here tonight feeling kinda depressed about Xmas, you know the usual not being able to buy as many gifts for folks as I want toetc. Then I run accross this article about this guy and what he is going through and I felt pretty shitty for being depressed when I have a nice house, nice car, nice stereo, hell I even have a couch and lamps, even an XBox under the tree for the boy and I still have a few hundred dollars left to buy more for him and I dare to be depressed when there are others out there with a lot less to be thankful for.

http://espn.go.com/ncb/s/2002/1210/1474907.html

 

[ProAc_Fan]

Well said Thor. I venture to say that every one of our AK brethren is in the position to give thanks for all that we have. Not everybody lives in a warm house with ample amounts of food. I am by no means wealthy but I don't know the feeling of wondering where my next meal is coming from. I sometimes ponder why fate allows this to be so when others suffer in poverty simply as their birthright.


Mike

 

[Wardsweb]

Thor - you have a heart of gold. I know you kid around alot and have fun, but we have seen deep thought in some of your posts. Now, you take us to the simplest common denominator- family. From your actions I see a great man. I too take care of my mother who is 73 years old. I'm fortunate enough to have been able to buy a house two streets over from mine and move my mother here. My father died in 1986 at the age of 53. My mother was the typical Japanese housewife. This means she devoted her life to my dad and us kids. She still speaks broken english, never learned to drive and has multiple sclerosis leaving her legally blind. Now you know why I relate to the story. I have so many things to be thankful for but most of all I'm thankful for parents who loved me enough to bring me up right. Not always the easiest thing with a "rebel without a clue" in the 70's. Maybe it is my Japanese heritage or my upbring but I will take care of my mother until she dies. Not because I have to, but ...where would I be without her...

 

[ckelly]

I come from a part of the world where poverty is common, too common in fact. I am not wealthy at all - I have to live with my parents, had to sell my car and one of my systems to pay off bills due to my long unemployment, but still am grateful for what I have; some people don't have a roof undcer their head or a hot meal every day.

I am grateful for having a great family, that I have food and shelter. I am grateful for them giving me an education, grateful for making me a decent man with principles. More than grateful to be able to have luxuries - suck as a nice stereo rig.

Christmas should be a time for meditation, and a time to be grateful for what one has and try to help those people that aren't as fortunate as us. it's not about spending money trying to get big shiny gifts for our kids or family, but more about being there for the ones you care.

Chris

 

[THOR]

Ward I thank you for your compliments but it is you who have the heart of gold, not only for being the family man and son we could all apsire to be but also as you've shown many times with your help and genorosity to other AK members.

Ckelly I too have lived in the peaks and valleys like you, it is either feast or famine but even when it is famine I often need to be reminded that even when my life has been at its worst it has still been paradise compared to what others are going through. Hey and you gots a woman now so you know what that means :smsex: :boink: :smlove:

 

[ckelly]

Originally posted by THOR
Ckelly I too have lived in the peaks and valleys like you, it is either feast or famine but even when it is famine I often need to be reminded that even when my life has been at its worst it has still been paradise compared to what others are going through. Hey and you gots a woman now so you know what that means :smsex: :boink: :smlove:

Thor. you couldn't say it better - I put some perspective into my life, and heck, I AM DOING FINE - I have a shelter, a family that loves me, I can enjoy a hobby which is in itself a luxury (audio), and the hottest girl in the world loves me... ****, if that's a valley, then I'm in for a FINE life once I get a good job and start walking on my feet again.

As I said, thanks for the article, it gave me lots to think about and appreciate what I have, not what I don't have

Chris

 

[MikE]

To accomplish anything one must first "see it"

That story was uplifting. Sure, this young man has accepted more than his share of burden and responsibility. In that he is only evolving from the child of his youth to the man of the present. He has a family to not only care for, but also to love and be loved. He has hope, hope that things will be better for him and those he loves, and that he is making strides toward that day. While he may not have many of the trapping of luxery he is not without the greatest gifts life can give - hope and love. Life has given him a severe test, and asked him to search for answers beyond his reach. He succeeded, for no other reason, when he accepted this challenge - with only his faith and a dream to guide him.

MikE

 

[Wardsweb]

I must say Mike that was most eloquently said. You are a man of great depth.

 

[millerdog]

Thor, I think you have made more than one person reevaluate their positions in life.
that in itself is an awesome deed.
have a good holiday season.
md

 

[Thatch_Ear]

My mother lost her kidneys and lived the long slow death of dialisis and it was hard to watch her decline. But as sad and hard as it was I remember the people that were diabetic and know that they had it much worse.
The ability to keep people alive in such dire circumstances is a blessing and a curse. Many were blind and more than a few had lost their legs or arms. The treatments are long and cause much pain.
During all this when it looked like my days were numbered I once asked my mother if it was worth it.
Every day was her reply.
Her advice to me was that no matter what happened was that not to be bitter and to cause pain to those that loved me.
As much as I have missed my Mom these years I know that she gave me an example of how to live by the way she died.
You do not get to choose your family but I was certainly blessed with the parents I was born to and my mother was a shining example of a human being that was able to show her very best under the worst circumstances.
She was willing to go through litteral torture to remain as long as she could with the ones that she loved.
Family can be a blessing or a curse or just be ignored. I hope that all of you have someone that was as good a person as my Mom was. I miss her very much.