[lenjan]

It's all about perspective.

I once had occasion to talk at length with a homeless gentleman. He was quite an interesting guy -- not in the least because he insisted he wasn't homeless: He owned a tent.

Where I live, we got over a foot of snow between Sat. afternoon and Sunday night. How'd you like to live in a tent on a riverbank, like that guy, in those conditions? If you have a solid roof over your head and a better means of warding off extremes of weather, there's something to be grateful for right there.

All your loved ones OK? There are a bunch of people who thought they would be seeing theirs for the holidays, only to have them die in accidents on the bad roads from that storm.

Is there food in your fridge? Is your fridge running? Congratulations: You have electricity, which often is a means of heat, and the ability to go to the store and buy what you want to eat instead of digging through a dumpster for people's leftovers. There's something to be grateful for.

A couple weeks ago, I was an idiot and stepped on a glass, which ended up requiring stitches in the bottom of my foot. I drove myself to the doctor in the middle of the night, handed over my insurance card, and got it taken care of. Do you have access to health care and transportation to get you to the doctor when needed? Hey, there's something to be grateful for.

Are you able to read this post? Do you agree with it? No? Congratulations: You have an education, and you live somewhere your communications aren't monitored, so you won't be jailed or murdered for expressing your dissent. There's something to be grateful for.

"Though much is taken, much abides;
And though we are not now that strength
Which in old days moved earth and heaven,
That which we are, we are:
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will:
To strive, to seek, to find,
And not to yield."
--Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Alf had it all when it came to perspective.

Peace and blessings to all.

Candy

[nowheretorun]

hi Candy bear... thanks for the helpful reminders.. it can always be worse.. i love the Tennyson quote... love the classics...

the first paragraph caught my attention.. one of the smartest men ive ever known is homeless.. wont take much help from anyone, like the one in your story, outside in every extreme...

if he finds pennies on the ground he saves them... he's rich if he has enough for a cup of coffee...

he goes around to the shelters and is fed...

he was a musician and scientist, then cut off his thumb.. kinda retreated from life after that..

when i was down, he listened... he wanst comfortable in that role, but he knew i needed it... i might have died w/o him..

God Bless You Gene..

(((((((candybear)))))((((((darrell))))))

2 very 'rich' posts ...thankyou for sharing....

love Jinny xxxxx

[Yoda]

Wonderful thoughts. Our attitude can change our lives.

[Perna]

[(JD)]

There's a lady who is now quite rich, having designed (and is selling) her line of clothes (Quacker Factory) on QVC. She used to live under the bridges in South Florida.

Every Christmas the Salvation Army sends out, with their monthly mailing, a flat piece of folded cardboard. It's really a tree ornament that you open up and make into a "box." It's to remind us that there are homeless among us, this Christmas. My thoughts went immediately to that when I dismayed somewhat over my desktop computer dying.

[Fuzzybear]

((((((((((((( Candy )))))))))))))

I love the Tennyson quote!

[sassypants]

I sometimes look at these mansions and wonder in amazement, if they really need to live that way. In Mexico ,
there are lots of women,children, babies, men that live and sleep on the steps of a store. They do not even have tents. So, I know , I have always been very thankful for everything that the Lord has provided. There were times
that I had to put cardboard in my shoes. Nowadays,I don't
turn my heat on to save money. I just think if the homeless can live in boxes without heat, I can live inside a home
without heat also. Yes, I am very blessed.

[radio_flyer]

Amen, Candy..