Art of Life/Donna Parker
Three Unappreciated Things in Life That Are Worth More Than You Think
Most of us are privileged and there is no reason to deny it. I live in an environment of entitlement myself. I am able to afford a nice home and neither I nor any of my close family and friends are struggling to buy food at the end of the month and so on.
We often do not take notice of how blessed we are. Traditionally our daily motivations are affected by wanting to make our own lives better by earning more money and chasing our dreams. In reality, the only reason the sky is your limit is that those things you take for granted have offered you the most significant advantages and provided you with more valuable opportunities than you might know.
Here are the top three areas, most of us take for granted.
*The Option to Choose
As you go through life, you have and make numerous choices. Do you want to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea? Spend an evening at home or go meet friends? Whereas some people find it annoying, to have a number choices or options actually gives you freedom. The freedom to make a life of your own making.
In many countries, people are forced to say or not say specific things and who you spend your time with may be pre-determined. We are blessed with free speech, numerous living options, educational opportunities, even when we utilize our own personal choice for a partner.
Many people choose to live as minimal as possible and not take advantage of the many possibilities. That too is part of the freedom. Your options and opportunities are tools to help you be yourself. I invite you to cherish your decisions. They are your pathway to building the beautiful life you want for yourself.
*The Freedom to Create a Life with Belongings
It is a life lesson to know that you do not actually need many things to be satisfied. And that having nothing is not also a choice.
We often take our belongings for granted. It does not matter whether it is a filled fridge or the book on our bedside table. However, the joy of buying something new diminishes fast and often leaves behind the longing for something else.
However, the possessions you see as normal can be out of reach for others. Wealth is always subjective. More than 700 million people, or 10 per cent of the world population, still lives in extreme poverty today. They struggle to fulfil the most basic needs like health, education, and access to water, food and sanitation, to name a few. The pure fact that you have a roof under which you can sleep makes you one of the luckiest people, in the world.
The belongings you own make you rich. Rich in memories, excitement, and expertise. Rich in creating a life you imagine for yourself. Belongings can make your life simpler, easier, and/or more productive. Imagine a life without a computer and no access to the internet or without a nearby store.
The things you own offer you the chance to build your best life. Your belongings can provide you with multiple opportunities if you use them wisely.
*The Ability to Broaden Your Horizon
The ability for us to receive an education, does not seem extraordinary. It is part of our daily lives to collect information. We spend hours looking at the latest news, browsing through social media, or apps on our smart devices. However, being able to dive deeper into topics such as politics, foreign countries, medicine, or food, is a luxury. Worldwide, nearly 58 million children of primary school age do not go to school.
Having the ability to learn more about everything gives you a significant advantage: You can build your own truth. You can form your own picture of the world. You improve your chances of becoming emotionally, physically, and financially healthier, happier, or stronger, with every piece of information you retrieve. Along with education comes knowledge and the ability to find solutions to encountered problems and to build a better life.
Sometimes it makes sense to stop for a second and look around. We take many, so many things for granted that we often view our own life as nothing special. I challenge you to consider how different your life would have been if not given the three mentioned opportunities.
