live well, laugh often, & love with all your heart

just thought i'd share with you an email my Godpa sent me,
reading it stirred some feelings in me,
such as the Cambodian children and families,
they are facing POVERTY, not just mere poorness.
here we are in Singapore, with hardly any worries, no natural disasters,
yet those in our neighbouring countries are stricken with so many plagues and diseases,
yet here we are, thinking about buying each other Christmas presents,
going shopping in the mall, what to eat, what to wear, getting fussy over this and that,
complaining and whining abt our "sad" and "pathetic" and "full-of-worries" lives,
really, don't we understand what contentment is? or are we just too complacent? or are we too proud to admit we fall within this 'materialistic' category?

the email goes like this: -
I AM THANKFUL:
FOR THE WIFE WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,
AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBAND WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME
AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.

FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES
BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,
NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES I PAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED.

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE.

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING, AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME .

FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT
BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING
AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION .

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH WHO SINGS OFF KEY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS
BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.

AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL
BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF ME.

SEND THIS TO SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT. I JUST DID.

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Thessalonians 5:18

there is a reason why people celebrate thanksgiving.
it is to thank God for everything and everything He has been providing us right from centuries ago till now.
who are we to complain abt a lack of anything?
whatever happened to acts of charity?
imagine what we could do with all the unnecessary shopping money,
the money spent on excessive eating and eating at restaurants?
of cos it's easy to say: "i need to spoil myself after a long day." or "i worked so hard, so i deserve to enjoy." don't we all fall prey to statements like these?

every year end is the most emotional for me, this is when i start recollecting events that came and went, and what the next year would hold. time to start planning my life ahead.
some pple adviced that i shudnt think too much or too far; others say 'ya, it's gd to plan ahead and know what ure doing.'
it's all abt being in control isn't it?
as we mature or grow older, we're suppose to be wiser. it is very much a cause and effect situation - such as decisions and environmental factors affecting our lives, mold our belives, mannerisms, thoughts and actions and the things we do.
in my own little world, i wished things were different. i wished we didn't have to be so pampered and bratty. i wished we cud learn more abt humility and perseverance.
we have everything and more here on this island. yet it is never enough.
things will never be good enough for us, isn't it?
according to what we're taught in schools, theories such as Maslow's hierarchy of needs...
we know that we are on a constant search for better things, to constantly improve our needs, wants and desires.
time for a reality check people.

1st things 1st, let's do some soul-searching this year end, and truly, be thankful for everything we have. God has been very kind to us. indeed, we are truly blest.
i hope u all realise that.