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Fractalated
There's no onehome up there...

Registered: 07/22/06
Posts: 640
Last seen: 17 years, 4 months
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Taking Things for Granted
#6047676 - 09/10/06 06:40 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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I've just returned from backpacking and canoeing in the wilderness for about three weeks. One thing that really struck me as poignant was a sense of appreciation for the comforts and ways of life that I normally take for granted.
How often do I stop and appreciate the roof over my head? The nourishing AND tasty food in my belly? The loving friends and family I have around me? The education and skills I have? The health of my body? If someone were to ask me if I appreciated them, of course I would say that I do, but how often do I really take the time to think about how such conditions came to be? How many causes and other conditions needed to come together? How often do I take the time to acknowledge and make peace with the transiency of everything; that at any moment any of these comforts could be swept out from under me? How often do I really think about the people who don't have what I have? How often do I go out of my way to help others who aren't as fortunate?
From now on I will strive to be mindful of the contingencies and transiency of reality.
-------------------- "Now that the principalities and the powers stockpile weapons of mass destruction, contaminate the earth with their feverish industry, release floods of images to trigger insatiable desires, treat animals and humans as commodities and functions of a market, the devil must be grinning from ear to ear."
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Huehuecoyotl
Fading Slowly


Registered: 06/13/04
Posts: 10,685
Loc: On the Border
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Re: Taking Things for Granted [Re: Fractalated]
#6047683 - 09/10/06 06:42 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Never take anything for granted. NEVER assume.
-------------------- "A warrior is a hunter. He calculates everything. That's control. Once his calculations are over, he acts. He lets go. That's abandon. A warrior is not a leaf at the mercy of the wind. No one can push him; no one can make him do things against himself or against his better judgment. A warrior is tuned to survive, and he survives in the best of all possible fashions." ― Carlos Castaneda
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AlteredAgain
Visual Alchemist


Registered: 04/27/06
Posts: 11,181
Loc: Solar Circuit
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Re: Taking Things for Granted [Re: Fractalated]
#6047686 - 09/10/06 06:43 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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not only do we not always think about the people who don't have what we have, but also we must be consider all the people who make our standard of living possible, the people who craft our material goods and the lives of human beings that are sacrificed so we can have a warm meal on our table. thanks for posting, you reminded me to express gratitude.
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Edited by AlteredAgain (09/10/06 06:44 PM)
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Icelander
The Minstrel in the Gallery


Registered: 03/15/05
Posts: 95,368
Loc: underbelly
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Re: Taking Things for Granted [Re: Fractalated]
#6047746 - 09/10/06 07:01 PM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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What a great post. You took something worthwhile from your journey.
-------------------- "Don't believe everything you think". -Anom. " All that lives was born to die"-Anom. With much wisdom comes much sorrow, The more knowledge, the more grief. Ecclesiastes circa 350 BC
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MarkostheGnostic
Elder


Registered: 12/09/99
Posts: 14,279
Loc: South Florida
Last seen: 3 years, 27 days
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Re: Taking Things for Granted [Re: Fractalated]
#6049052 - 09/11/06 05:39 AM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Simple. Move to south Florida and live through a hurricane ot two. You'll see how an appreciation for the roof over your head develops rapidly, and for an appreciation of air conditioning, which is NOT a luxury when your home gets 94 degrees and 65 percent humidity even with ceiling fans in every room. Or again, live without electricity in your home for 10 days and then you can appreciate the people who allow you to shower and cook and enjoy the air conditioning in their still powered homes. Transiency? People who move to Florida from every third world nation define the term transiency. I've been in my house 10 years. There's been two families to my east, three families to my west, two directly accross to the south and three just east of them. Making friends in south Florida? Rare indeed owing to the spirit of this place. Want to help? Contribute a dollar or two every month on your Florida Power and Light bill for those who can't afford the incredibly high electric rates. We keep our thermostat at 78 degrees (sometimes 79 by day) and summer rates easily exceed $250 per month with conscious effort to turn lights, fans etc. off. Some people average $500 per month in average homes with dual area AC systems.
"Pablo, honey, move to Miami...you bastard!" -The Jerkey Boys
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MarkostheGnostic
Elder


Registered: 12/09/99
Posts: 14,279
Loc: South Florida
Last seen: 3 years, 27 days
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Re: Taking Things for Granted [Re: Fractalated]
#6049053 - 09/11/06 05:39 AM (17 years, 5 months ago) |
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Simple. Move to south Florida and live through a hurricane ot two. You'll see how an appreciation for the roof over your head develops rapidly, and for an appreciation of air conditioning, which is NOT a luxury when your home gets 94 degrees and 65 percent humidity even with ceiling fans in every room. Or again, live without electricity in your home for 10 days and then you can appreciate the people who allow you to shower and cook and enjoy the air conditioning in their still powered homes. Transiency? People who move to Florida from every third world nation define the term transiency. I've been in my house 10 years. There's been two families to my east, three families to my west, two directly accross to the south and three just east of them. Making friends in south Florida? Rare indeed owing to the spirit of this place. Want to help? Contribute a dollar or two every month on your Florida Power and Light bill for those who can't afford the incredibly high electric rates. We keep our thermostat at 78 degrees (sometimes 79 by day) and summer rates easily exceed $250 per month with conscious effort to turn lights, fans etc. off. Some people average $500 per month in average homes with dual area AC systems.
"Pablo, honey, move to Miami...you bastard!" -The Jerky Boys
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