Do you take your situation for granted?

[nunqual]

Let me start by saying that everyone takes their situation/life for granted at some point. We don't live our lives in constant knowledge of our mortality and luckiness, we forget it sometimes.

This topic came up after a conversation with my girlfriend. There are a lot of people who complain about how awful and terrible their parents are, and I want to shake them. They love you, and you are extremely lucky to have them. You have no idea how fortunate you are to have money, to live in the country you do, to have a family who cares for you, and to even exist at all. I wish to say these things, but it would be a useless battle.

I recall one site that gave me perspective on the randomness of life: http://www.thelotteryoflife.co.uk/

Please visit that site, and look at it. I am not a man to preach about charity, but I find it a very interesting place.

So I will close this opening post by asking: Do you realize your good fortune, or do you take your life for granted? And I wish to say that I have no ill will against those who take things for granted, sometimes one just hasn't thought about it.

Edit: I apologize for the overly-general post, but that wasn't really directed at the escapist, more at the people in my life, who are far more fortunate than I. They complain about getting rid of cars and buying new ones, and they are very materialistic. I am sorry to those who have abusive parents, I truly am, and obviously you have far more perspective on life.

 

[CheesusCrust]

Despite having a terrible illness, my life is pretty damn good. I don't take it for granted other than being lazy because nobody expects a lot from me.
It does trouble me to see people complain about their lives when they have everything they need. Its especially troubling for me on a personal level to see them complain when they also have a clean bill of health while I, completely content with my life, will be lucky to see past my early twenties.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

Sometimes my difficulties with commuting, illness and the stresses of being a university student on the go make me forget that I'm so lucky to be in university without a huge student loan debt.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

I hate you too internet. (Ignore this post)

[sub]Hello Fargodog...[/sub]

 

[Shivarage]

It's all relative... some people complain about not being able to afford a second holiday while others work all hours to put barely enough food on the table

 

[nunqual]

Let me start by saying that no-one doesn't take their situation/life for granted at some point.

...that no-one doesn't take their life...

...that everyone takes their life...

I hate grammar nazi's but that's honestly going out of your way to make your post harder to read

Sorry, I didn't notice that. I'm from the American South, so that'll be my excuse for the double-negative. I'll fix it.

 

[CheesusCrust]

It does trouble me to see people complain about their lives when they have everything they need. Its especially troubling for me on a personal level to see them complain when they also have a clean bill of health while I, completely content with my life, will be lucky to see past my early twenties.

This actually makes me very sad. I'm terribly sorry, I wish there were something I could do. You seem like a nice guy and deserve better.

Sorry I made you sad but thank you for the kind words.

 

[Cogwheel]

There are a lot of people who complain about how awful and terrible their parents are, and I want to shake them. They love you, and you are extremely lucky to have them. You have no idea how fortunate you are to have money, to live in the country you do, to have a family who cares for you, and to even exist at all. I wish to say these things, but it would be a useless battle.

Exceptions to every rule. My parents, while generally good people, have repeatedly told me that they'd rather I was dead/never existed in the first place. And yes, I know about sarcasm, but they're quite serious. Since I do everything around the house (cleaning/dishes/laundry/cooking/whathaveyou), though, they at least admit that I can be useful. Ish. Generally means I get by on about two hours of sleep, but still.

I have a job and earn quite a bit working from home, but my parents claim the lot. Means they don't need to work. Also means I will basically never have enough money to go to college/university or move out. Which works fine for them since I'll be here working, without any chance of doing inconvenient stuff like, say, being elsewhere.

I won't be keeping this up for long, since I "suffer" (really, I've had it all my life, so I'm used to it enough that it's not too bad) from a rare, incurable auto-immune disease. Behchet's Syndrome, in case you're wondering. It has a variety of physical and mental symptoms, and also means that I'll be dead in about fifteen years, which I discovered recently. I may well go blind, crazy, unable to walk or a combination of the above before that point.

That, and I've had quite a few brushes with potential death already. I seem to have a knack for getting stabbed, nearly drowning (I got swept away by the local river, admittedly only once) or getting hit by cars. On the bright side, broken bones and so on rarely slow me down much, so I can keep working.


So yes, I disagree with part of your post. There are always exceptions. As for the spirit of the post, I'm definitely with you on that. People take things for granted, myself included. I'm quite aware that I'm still lucky compared to a lot of people, and my situation isn't all that bad. People should realise these things, but all the same, it's far from healthy to think about it constantly. It's probably some sort of mental self-defense mechanism.

Really though, I'm in no position to say anything much. Far too whiny, as you can see.

 

[DuctTapeJedi]

There are a lot of people who complain about how awful and terrible their parents are, and I want to shake them. They love you, and you are extremely lucky to have them.

First off, I would just like to say that not all of it is just selfish complaining. There are those of us with legitimatly abusive parents.

Don't be too quick to judge others for complaining, some of them have good reasons.

Back on topic:
It's one thing to be grateful for a prosperous life, it's another to actually try to improve the lot of others. Just "being grateful" and without actually doing anything is being self-righteous and lazy.

Last note: Does anyone else appreciate the irony that this is a thread that complains about complaining?

 

[Mullahgrrl]

Last note: Does anyone else appreciate the irony that this is a thread that complains about complaining?

I hate it when people do that.

 

[Tsunimo]

I used to like to think I didn't but I do...
I realized how much I take for granted on tuesday, when the mayor of our towns sister city in Uganda came to visit, and told us about how life is there, and I guess I wasn't shocked, but it reminded me how lucky many people are.

 

[DuctTapeJedi]

Last note: Does anyone else appreciate the irony that this is a thread that complains about complaining?

I hate it when people do that.

I know, right?
I've always been a fan of the Bible verse, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." Devoting a whole thread to critcizing others seems a little self righteous.

I'm sorry if I sound cruel, it's almost midnight, I've been in the library for the past eleven hours working on final projects, and there's this really annoying girl across from me who won't shut up.

 

[Icarion (aka Stockholm)]

I take my life for granted alot, but sometimes I drop everything and gain perspective. Usually happens over the summer. My life is amazing, compared to alot of others. I love it. I take somethings for granted, but that might also be the apathy. Although I do complain for the sake of complaining. That old saying about how some people aren't happy unless they can complain? Thats me sometimes. But I try not to take my life for granted.

 

[Mr.Pandah]

Every single day of my life ever since I pulled myself out of my depression I have been thankful for everything given to me. I am so grateful for what has been given to me. I will never forget that turning point in my life.

 

[Tdc2182]

I have a great life. My family is doing well, my parents are still together. I have an Xbox, internet, TV, Vivo, food, a nice clean home, 2 brothers that I love very much despite the fact they drive me insane. I never post a downer facebook status and have a very high moral compass.

Do I wish it was better? Of course. But I came to the realization that the man who has everything in the world has nothing. Many rich actors are proof of that.

I also complain about the small things all the time. but I then realize I have those things to complain about.

Despite having a terrible illness, my life is pretty damn good. I don't take it for granted other than being lazy because nobody expects a lot from me.
It does trouble me to see people complain about their lives when they have everything they need. Its especially troubling for me on a personal level to see them complain when they also have a clean bill of health while I, completely content with my life, will be lucky to see past my early twenties.

I am sorry. I feel guilty.

If it means anything, you have one of the more creative usernames I've seen.

 

[BlindMessiah94]

Anyone who has ever written "FML" as their facebook status over some asinine minor inconvenience in your life is probably one of those people who "takes their situation for granted". I find people who like to complain about how hard their lives her in such a manner really are only out for attention.

My dad was dirt poor growing up and struggled hard to give us the life we have now. We're middle class but I am very grateful for what I have and to know that no matter how hard I frak up my life I will always have them to bail me out so I won't have to live on the streets.

I think there is nothing wrong with acknowledging that your life has difficulties though. To constantly invalidate them by saying "well things could be worse" just suppresses the issue. Then again, complaining about it constantly is just as bad. It's about balancing - accepting your problems and being grateful.

 

[Nouw]

Well you can't make someone not take their life and things for granted, so don't go on forcing them. I try and have the right mind but it's hard unless it's taken away!

I probably take things for granted but at least I work hard to get those things. And since I believe in Karma and some other things, it gets really philosophical from there.

EDIT:Now that I think about it, I hardly complain about my life.
DOUBLE EDIT: Isn't saying your life is bad/awful and etc is 'taking it for granted?'

 

[Judgement101]

My life is pretty awful soooooo no.

 

[Cogwheel]

I see you trollin.... And some other witty remark to extend that to a viable statement.

:/

Ouch. Didn't realise it was quite that bad. Wasn't my intention to troll or anything, though. Sorry if I offended you.

Shutting up now before I annoy anyone else. Again, sorry about my last post. I was being honest, but I can see why it would look like I made that up.

 

[Irridium]

My life is absolutely amazing. My parents are insanely patient with me, I'm allowed quite a bit of leniency, and its just fantastic.

I love my life. Because I know that even my worst days are miles better then most people's best days.