All Things But None

Well it ain't Thanksgiving. But I am grateful. Every day. Least I try to be. Driving to work this morning I was thinking about my car and a few other things. Next week my car will have 150k miles on it and it's less than 7 years old. A lot of times when I get to my destination, I would say to my car, "Thanks car!" and tap on the dashboard a bit as if I'm petting it. I know, one would think I would at least give it a name [or that I'm a loon!]! It's not like it can hear me, but maybe it has to do with the energy that you give back to yourself. I dunno. It has taken me to many places and I really, really love my car. Seriously, if I could drive it 'til I die, I would. Then I also thought about driving is actually a form of time travelling... But I digress.

I'm grateful for many things. My parents being alive and healthy. That they don't have to work anymore since they're retired. Since my mom didn't drive, I remember she used to take the bus around 5:30 in the morning for an hour and a half to get to work. Not that it's terribly bad, but it was bad for my mother in her 60's. I thought.

This is crazy but a lot of times when I see a custodian [especially an elderly] at the mall, at my job or wherever they may be working... I get a little sad! What if that was my parent! I think that would be heartbreaking for a child to see their parents working so hard. Picking up trash or cleaning the urinals. I know there are a lot more horrible jobs out there... I just get a little sad.

I also thought about having food on the table. I'm very fortunate that I can make myself a decent meal. I was sick earlier this week, and I'm even grateful for that because it reminded me to take real good care of my body [while I still can]. Sometimes we just take the simplest things for granted - a hot shower, money in our pocket, having a job, driving, eating out, listening to music, to be able to walk... Given maybe just a few feet away, things may not be so easy for others.

I'm not a buddhist but like I said, I'm quite fond of the subject itself. It teaches just a few of the simplest things: Be awake. In other words - just see. It's not too difficult. For instance, don't just eat and put food in your mouth... But while eating, think about the food that's going into your body... Where did it come from? The labor it took to produce it? How is it going to affect your body, etc. I know I know, if we think about things like that all the time while we're doing the things that we do, then who the hell has the time to do whatever that we're supposed to be doing anyway!!! But you know what I mean. Right? Just be a little conscious about your surroundings and eventually, things will become clearer... things will reveal themselves more openly, things will make more sense. But even if the idea didn't come from Buddhism, I still think it's a healthy and enriching way to see yourself and the world around you.

I'm rehashing images, at least it's a new post. No music today though, so you guys should be grateful for that! ahaha! Have a good weekend everyone.

Update: Okay, I lied about the music part. I can't help it.

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Currently listening:
k.d. lang - Hallelujah