The “how lucky am I?!” moments
Yeah, this is going to come off as cheesy, but I have to get it out there.
I had a lot of “how lucky am I?!” realizations this year. Without going into too much detail, I will just say that 2009 involved some changes in our financial situation, and I had a hard time adapting. Not that we were spendthrifts before… we weren’t. We just didn’t have to think twice about going out to the movies, to Subway, or where to buy groceries.
Now we rarely eat out, only see movies if we have a gift card, and do most of our shopping at a discount store.
And it’s no big deal.
But change is hard.
I am embarrassed at how long it took me to adapt to being more financially aware. And embarrassed at how long it took me to realize how lucky I am as it is.
I have a roof over my head. I can still afford to make payments on a luxury car. I don’t go hungry. I have a gym to use. I have a wii to play. We can still afford Netflix. We’re healthy. I can run!
And most importantly of all, I have wonderful people in my life. People who love me enough to come all the way out to the Chicago suburbs to see me. Friends who send me emails and snail mail. Blogger friends who actually read what I write and leave me wonderful and thoughtful comments!
And of course, my partners-in-crime – Steven and Data. I cannot even count how many times this year I have looked at my husband and thought, “How did I get so lucky? How is it that I ended up with him? How lucky am I that we ran into each other at that random party at college?” We have so much fun together. I think we help each other be a better person. We support each other. We let each other be themselves. We work through things the best we can. I just feel so lucky to have found a wonderful partner.
Yeah. I told you it was cheesy.
I don’t want to make resolutions, but this seems to be something I am thinking about a lot (last week too), so I’d like to work towards being more grateful and mindful in 2010. I want to live in the moment. No more looking forward. I need to be grateful for what is in front of me. What I already have. Aspirations and goals are great, but I need to keep in mind how lucky I already am.
Do you have the “how lucky am I?!” moments? Share them!
And how could I NOT be grateful for this little furball? He even helps me with blogging. Hmm, maybe that should be “help” in parenthesis!
Themocracy
Oh yes I have these everyday…I mostly use my running time to think about them, maybe that’s why I love running!
Today I am grateful to not have to stand on the busstop with the kids.
To be able to go out and reload our fruit/veggie stores.
And to start Boston training!
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I love a little cheesy every now and then 🙂 (more now than then probably lol)
I’m grateful especially for the running part. A lot of people think that they “can’t” run when they really just never try so I’m thankful that I CAN and I never gave up. I need to start working on my resolutions. I can’t believe it’s so close to 2010!
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I have them all the time. 😀 I’m so grateful and happy with life that I sometimes have to pinch myself. 🙂 This is a great post!
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I have “how lucky I am” moments and days too. I am defiantly grateful for my wonderful husband.
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I think dramatic change, in general, makes us take a step back. Whether it’s a financial change or health change. Relationship change or geographic change. We tend to reflect during those times and often come away with a greater appreciation for what we have. It’s amazing to have watched you in 2009 adapt to said changes. Not once have I heard a pity-me tune come from you. You’ve always held your head high because there are good things going on in life. You’re an inspiration, you know?!
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It’s definitely easier to think about what you don’t have rather than what you do have, even if what you have is pretty great. We always want more! But it’s great that you can recognize the little things (or not so little things!) and be thankful for them.
As for movies, Redbox is a glorious, glorious thing.
Whenever I’m with my parents, I can’t believe how lucky I am to have them as my parents! Especially when I hear about other people’s families, I realize just how lucky I am to have such great support and love.
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Awww…I definitely have these moments! They make me feel cheesy too 🙂
Lucky for family, friends, animals…and also for all of the basic stuff that we take for granted every day.
Thanks for posting! I’d like to work on being more mindful/grateful in the new year as well.
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I had to laugh at Data! My puppy does the same thing, only she’s about 50 pounds!
Your goal of just being more mindful in the moment is a fantastic one, it’s all too easy to overcome by the big picture and let the small things slip by. While it’s been a hard year, there are still some fantastic things to smile about 🙂
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oh, and I wanted to comment on comment-responses. Your commenting in bold after a comment is perfect, since it sends an email to the original commenter. I wish blogger could do that!
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I am sending the comment then posting it in bold. I wish I could get wordpress to send it automatically, but I can’t! 🙁 I think I need to update my theme but I love this one so much!
I like this post : ) I definitely have those moments too! I’d like to be more grateful in the New Year as well and complain a little less.
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I have the same moments too, where I’ll look around and wonder how I got so lucky 🙂
I love this post by the way. I’m just getting caught up on blogs after the holidays! The pictures of your family are amazing! What a great looking bunch 🙂
PS-It is SO hard to change to living more frugally, we are working on it but still arent great at it!
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I definitely feel that way! I’m one of the youngest people I know to buy a house! It’s very exciting! But this has definitely made an impact on my financial situation (obviously). No more going out to eat on a whim etc. But I’m much happier. This is something that my bf and I decided to do together and we’re much happier paying ourselves than a landlord. 😉
I absolutely LOVE the kitty pictures. That is just too cute!
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aww you are SO LUCKY! you are! i’m lucky that my parents support my crazy exercise antics and running. =D
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I loved this post, but maybe because I’m a big cheeseball around the holidays. 😉
No, but seriously, reading your post reminded me of how infrequently I stop and remember how lucky I am to have a healthy family, financial security, etc. and so I want to thank you for putting your thoughts out there. 🙂 And I have to say, Data is just too cute!
It’s great that you appreciate the things you have. I would like to read a post about how you met Steven at that party! I would also like to read a post on your tips for reducing spending, as that will be one of MY 2010 goals.
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I love your goals/resolutions. I have had three colleagues affected horribly by cancer this year, we are financially in decent shape, our kids are relatively well functioning and I need to be GRATEFUL more regularly about the simple things.
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I bet Data is having “I’m so lucky” moments all the time. He has two loving people and two warm laps to curl up in!
I feel lucky that I was adopted into such a cool family, but in general, I need to be more thankful on a regular basis for all that I have and can do. Thanks for the reminder, Kim!
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What a great idea to think about “how lucky am I?” moments. I’m a big believer in taking time to be grateful. I was laid off for part of this year so I understand the financial adjustments. I’m working again now, but I still have this fear of being “without” again (though, really, we had plenty).
Thanks for this post. I’ve been in a funk today and this helps!
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Great post! It never hurts to remember how lucky we are. I try to volunteer once a month at the food bank. It really keeps me grounded and a reality smack that when I’m complaining about not being able to go out to eat that weekend, there are people there that haven’t gone out to eat…ever. It’s a wake up call for sure.
Data, you are the cat’s meow!!!
It is not cheesy at all! I to am so grateful for the very things you mentioned. Thank goodness for friends and family to love. Thank goodness for a husband that tells be to list the positive things when all I want to do is complain. 🙂
Aw, what a sweet post. I am not a fan of resolutions but yours is great. Something for me to think about. It’s difficult to incorporate mindfulness when I’m so used to being anxious about one thing or another, being set in my routine, or being a negative nelly. What is the best way to rework these patterns to live in the moment?
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Ahaha.. I love your cat! My sister’s loves to get as close as possible too and if you don’t let her on your lap while your sitting on the couch, she’ll settle for sitting by your head.
I think more people need to start thinking about how lucky they truly are, me being one of them. It seems that most people get stuck thinking about the unimportant things and what they DON’T have instead of what really matters.
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I dont think about how lucky I am as much as I should. But yah, I totally have those moments. Its usually when I go and spend more money than I need to at the grocery store because I get so excited about all the fun things they have. I’ll see the price and cringe a little, but then I think how lucky I am that I CAN pay it. I mean, Im not rolling in money by any means, but I have a place to live and my bills are all paid.
We should think about these things more. Its so easy to get caught up in all the little things, that we forget about what matters.
Great post!
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I definitely have moments like that! Namely when I wake up on vacation and realize that I can sleep in, have warm blankets to cover me, a dog who loves me, a great supportive family and network of friends. A blog that people read. A job that keeps me gainfully employed and allowed to save and cover the basics. That I’m growing and learning each day.
Change is hard, but it’s so rewarding and good at the same time, at least once we are used to it.
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I am grateful for the furball sitting in that exact same position (entangled in my arms as I type) looking exactly like that (she is also all gray!) .. cute coincidence.
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those pictures of you and Data are killing me. hee! so “helpful!” 🙂
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I’m lucky that regardless of my lack of exercising this past year, that I am in still relatively good health. I’m also lucky that even though I get distracted by many things easily, that I still have creative ideas and remember to write them down for those times I can break my distractions.
And I’m lucky to have some great online friends that read my writings. 🙂
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These realizations are so important and I’m constantly realizing that any complaints I have are minor compared to the majority of the world. I’m healthy, able to travel anywhere, have a loving family and incredible friends… there is so much beauty in the world!
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What an appropriate post for me! Today is Jason’s first day back at college and he had to drop to part time at work in order to take classes. It’s going to mean a lot of changes in our routines (and finances) that I’m going to have to get used to. I’m going to try and take your lead and look at how luck I am in the moment instead of worrying about the changes.
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