The luckiest man on earth.
Friendo 17 comments Poll
In the past I have asked questions like: “What is success in our lives?”, “Should I consider myself successful”, “What-if any-mark will I leave on mankind when I'm gone?”, and “How do we measure ourselves, our lives, and our legacy?”
These questions have elicited many answers, and-in general-I have happily been able to lower my bar in reference to these questions, and have happily been able to surmise that not only am I a success, but a positive force in the universe, regardless of how small.
After pondering for months (maybe years), I have determined that not only am I successful, but a very, very lucky being. Surely I, and millions like me are the most fortunate organisms to have ever had the privilege to enjoy life on this planet. Not only can we move about at will, see our surroundings (in color), have some vague comprehension, have limited understanding, touch, feel, smell, communicate, converse and share things and ideas...well, it's really quite amazing. I like it!
Now I will grant you, there are billions who have miserable lives, but I cannot claim to be one of them. I did not ask to be born where I was, nor did I request the era that I am trapped in...Nevertheless, poor as I am by many standards, I am rich, very rich. Not money rich, no, for I have no savings, but I am so very rich in so many other ways.
Compared to billions who have ever lived, I would be the richest person they could ever dream of. Just look at what I have. And this is but a partial list.
- A house to protect me from the elements, warm in the Winter, and Air Conditioned in the Summer.
- Clothes to wear that are cool when it's hot, and warm in the Winter.
- A Buick Le-Sabre that transports me further in one hour than billions ever traveled in a lifetime.
- Fuel to put in that car.
- Satisfying employment so that I may purchase my needs and desires in the society I reside.
- Fresh air to breath.
- Medical care.
- Two refrigerators filled with food to support my living body.
- My son to live with me, and my daughters happily living, one in Mexico, and one with her Mother.
- Moderately good health.
- Most of my teeth.
- A few true lifelong, and more recent friends to support, care about and enjoy, to share experiences with.
- The love of a women, and other women who care.
- Priceless memories of wonderful times spent as a youth...Beaches, camping, holidays, family.
- Computers, huge flat panel monitors, cameras, and tons of stuff I love to have around me.
- Beautiful city and vast outdoor nature for thousands of miles in all directions.
- The wonder of plants and animals.
- Two pet Rats that I adore.
- A Bat flying about my living room as I write, it scared the shit out of me. I caught it and freed it outside.
- Internet access that connects me to everyone on earth, with access to all the knowledge of Mankind
- And so much more.
I could write on for days, making this list longer that can be displayed in this forum. All these wonderful pieces of my life have either been carried with me through my life, or acquired within the past few months. A year ago I had nothing, only the memories, and the drive to live and be happy.
Is it the country I live in? Is it the era of my existence? Is it my attitude? Is it the law of attraction? Is it luck? (I don't believe in luck.) Is it Gods will? (I don't believe in God.) Is it real or imagined? How much power do I really have over it? What combination of Time, Location, Universal Law, Chance, and my own will have brought me to this point?
I want to point out that none of this was provided by God. I did not ask him for any of it. I do not attribute any of my wonderful life to him, as there is no "Him."
These are questions that I am unable to answer to my own satisfaction, but I do know that My will, Era, Location and Chance have much to do with it, and within it, I am what I think I am. I am the luckiest man on the planet. Today, my regret is that life is too short. Why couldn't I see that? Why didn't I listen.
In this world, I am in the richest, luckiest being to ever exist. I am in the top ¼ of 1% of all the people who have ever lived on the face of this planet, or probably any other. In my late 50's I begin to revel in it.
I am the luckiest man on earth.
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Henk V
Friday 1st October 2010 | 04:17 PMA Niners v Raiders superbowl would be nice...
...in response to this comment by Henk V. Henk...
What the hell is that? Sorry, I don't follow Basketball that close. However I need to ask if that is a movie quote?
f~
schabe
Friday 1st October 2010 | 08:18 PMI became much smarter and cooler once I realized I was neither as smart, nor as cool as I thought I was. That was my lesson in life... Looks like you found yours too....
Henk V
Friday 1st October 2010 | 09:29 PMNo, just looking to the west coast ascendency as it was late seventies, eighties and early nineties.
PS... a half hour claymation thinggy, Wallace and Gromit "a matter of loaf and death" is hilarious. The wallace things absolutely rule!
It will peak your man-dog relationship where the dog is always smarter than the bloke who is supposed to "own" him.
Its a pretty good play on real life dog-human relationships where dogs actually think they are somewhere in the house hold hierarchy. Tis why I could never own a cat. A cat hat maybe or cat boots.
Anyway, back to topic and this post... anyone with pets is probably better off than those without. The cost of living goes up for sure but animals give a lot back. Kids love animals.
hag
Saturday 2nd October 2010 | 12:54 PMGreat points. Life always feels better when looked at from a positive angle.
Don Callas
Sunday 3rd October 2010 | 02:52 AMYou are the luckiest (or at least the 2nd behind me) man in the world, due in part at least to the "Thankful" attitude you choose. But if life is so great, why the hell don't we have portable cable? If I just had that, then I would be happy!
There are not many realizations more fulfilling than to affirm your place in the universe and to feel truly thankful for it.
I know you couldn't include, as you said everything on this 1 list, but there is an entry made conspicuous by it's absence, that although not included, I'm sure you often still think of. It dates back to the 70's and that is the love of 2 smart little black dogs- whose names I forget- but whose mutual dedication I never will.
Not only am I thankful for the blessed life I have, but for the chance to see friends around me living theirs richly. And you my friend are.
...in response to this comment by Don Callas. Brisket and Bijou...
f~
Henk V
Sunday 3rd October 2010 | 07:35 AMCrows are free!
I just made a facebook entry about birds.
We are so lucky to live in this time of relative peace and political stability in the west. I am happy just to be able to look at what I like and what I don't like and have the time to cogitate over it.
I am also lucky to have received a good education (free). I cant be more grateful. To think that I have kids and people in my life who can debate with iron clad arguments makes me a very lucky man indeed.
I just wish I didn't have to own a car!! I suppose each event that requires the tool box is another step on the learning curve so I shouldn't whinge.
Aw Henk...I love you too...
f~
Hey Henk...I wanna' be your FB friend, but I can't find ya. Can ya' help me out??? You can email me on my RL "profile" page.
f~
Henk V
Sunday 3rd October 2010 | 02:20 PMmy facebook pages are worse than rusty
...in response to this comment by Henk V. Yes, I have quite a few very smart, yet sleazy FB friends. I like to think of it as an eclectic collection. Trust me, you'll fit right in, and be a welcome addition.
Sinceramente,
f~
rifleman
Wednesday 6th October 2010 | 07:43 AMFood to put on the table and rice is being rationed here in the US
Life seems to be taking a very big U turn
Indeed Sir,
You make a good and valid point. Not to mention, while we complain about $2.90/gallon gas for our new or late model cars, and buy $5.00 Latae's, billions of people are not even able to buy rice with the money they don't have. We live in a world where petroleum and its products have caused the World population to zoom upwards through many various scenarios, from food production (that doesn't get where its needed) to fuel, to plastic and everything else. We live in a bubble and when it bursts, the lives of Billions will be at stake. We live in a world that has has six billion people, and without petroleum, can only support one billion. And as I'm sure you know, that issue is just the tip of the iceberg.
That being said, as I get close to 60, I have found that I will most likely not change the world. Probably, the best I can do is to try to say good words, be encouraging, do a few good deeds, and treat others with dignity and respect. My expectations for myself used to be higher, but I have come to realize that whatever mark I am likely to make is on a one to one basis.
"In our lives, we can make no big changes to the world. But small ones for the better, I hope, in the lives of those we love, and care about. This is success."
f~
Henk V
Wednesday 6th October 2010 | 10:44 AMI gave Goldilocks a good dressing down on the US situation a month ago. Are you guys just noticing?
Henk V
Friday 1st October 2010 | 04:16 PMIts only going to get better...Just hope I never get time to say "what the hell was that?"