Could you? I know I couldn't. I feel like there are times when we think things couldn't get any worse. Well guess what...they most certainly could. Why is it so hard for us to be positive sometimes? Why is it so hard to just pause for a minute and appreciate the good in our lives? After watching a documentary about 4 students going to Haiti to experience life for 30 days how the Haitian people did..on $1 a day, it made me not only appreciate all I take for granted, but it made me want to do more good and serve others. Why does it seem that people who have so little are willing to give so much more than those who seem to have "everything"...?. I think when it comes down to it, it doesn't matter how much wealth you gain or how beautiful your house looks. What matters most is whether you are happy. Working at a fast food restaurant part time, it's easy to become frustrated at times, but I've come to realize it's all in how you look at it. We all have the choice when we wake up in the morning whether we will be miserable or happy. In being able to appreciate the littlest things; a compliment from a stranger, a warm smile, or even a simple "thank you", I've found life to be much more meaningful. We walk through a majority of our lives blinded sometimes finding it a trial just to "get through the day". I know I'm guilty of it too. We are so concerned with our busy schedules, we can never take a moment to appreciate the good.
One afternoon after leaving my grandparents, as we drove down the street my dad commented on the beautiful trees. I barely noticed them or even cared..I meant they're just trees right? Well they were just trees..until my mom remarked that we should take a video to show my granddad who hasn't left his house in over a year due to ALS. I think at that moment I realized the beauty surrounding me everywhere I go not only in nature, but in people as well. We encounter so many different kinds of people throughout our lives. Some are easy to love, but lately I'm realizing how true it is that those who are hardest to love really need love the most. My mom always tells me when I struggle to give people the benefit of the doubt to be patient because you never know what someone's day has held. I've found these words to be so helpful and instead of getting angry at those causing me most frustration, I try to practice loving them instead. What if each day we treated every person we encountered as though they would die tomorrow. Yeah, it does sound morbid, but let's be real, if we woke up each day thinking "I'm going to change at least one person's life today for the better" or "I'm going to try to make someone's day today", our world would be such a better place! If only we could all just embody the compassion of a child or the kindness of a stranger putting a few coins in an expired parking meter to save someone from receiving a ticket.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGeFpz10baw
here's a link to the $1 a Day video!! It's long, but, trust me, it's worth it.
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