Twisted thankfuls

[8 Bit WWBG]

My cat is sick. Nothing major. It occurred to me that I live in a country that, and am at a place in my life that, I am able to take a pet to get care. My cat is getting a level of care in America that some people in other places in the world do not have access to.  I am thankful for that.

I'm a bit overweight.  This is mainly because I have access to, and can afford, pretty darn tasty food.  I'm thankful for that.

I can spend my nights playing video games and posting on message boards.  I'm very thankful I don't have to be out working a late shift or second job.

I don't mean any of this to put down anyone else.  Its more thinking through a situation that on the surface seems like a negative (sick pet, overweight) but how it can actually be traced to a cause, or related to a situation that shows things can actually be pretty darn good.

Do you have anything in your life that on the surface seems negative, but is actually the result of something good and that you are thankful for?

[swamp]

Yes. I wrecked my new van. I didn't think fixing it would be a good idea based on the extent of the damage.  I was able to come up with $1100 to pay the lien off and another $5000 for a down payment for a new van. 

While its annoying to spend the money, it's not a financial hardship. 

[zibazinski]

I'm thankful that DF and I are going to do some more stuff on our mutual bucket list. I'm grateful that we have the time and resources to do it. No one knows what the future will bring. I'm going to live more in the present!

[busymom]

I live in one of the colder states in the US. (For now.)   But, I'm blessed to live in a home that's reasonably warm in winter.  I have a warm bed with warmer comforters to sleep in at night.  And, the pantry has enough of a variety of food that not only will I eat, but I won't be bored. And, if the weather gets ugly, and I can't drive anywhere for a few days, my family will still have something to eat. That's a lot to be thankful for! 

[quince]

My biweekly paycheck is <$150.00: I can afford to work part time and max my 401K, HSA, and DCA accounts.
Sleep deprived: Healthy, happy baby.
Within the next year I will be paying rent that is 3-4x my curent PITI: Moving to be nearer to my family, and income will be able to handle this with a still reasonable rate of savings.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

I learned my lessons well in childhood.

I regularly inflict the same Irish Catholic guilt on my children that my parents inflicted on me.

So, ANY inconvenience or whine or gripe or complaint is usually met with a "YOUR glass is not only half full compared to the rest of the world it is freaking OVERFLOWING" kind of response (and a healthy dose of commiseration and empathy as needed because I am not a totally heartless, numb, biotech).  

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

LOL.  

Apple's (the computer company not the poster) Autocorrect changed "biotch" to "biotech" in my post.  

I am fortunate enough to have the means to buy an Apple computer that edits my thoughts to forward its own agenda.  

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

This one is not so philosophical. 

I  was totally annoyed with the tech guy Friday afternoon. But, the reason I was annoyed was because he showed up to fix something and interrupted what I was doing. 

It it took me a while to realize that the reason he was there bothering me was because I had asked about why some things were not done. 
Once I got there in my head, I was thankful he was there and less annoyed about his approach. 

[drivingaround]

Jan 11, 2014 23:03:37 GMT -5 8 Bit WWBG said:

Do you have anything in your life that on the surface seems negative, but is actually the result of something good and that you are thankful for?

Marriage!

[midjd]

Jan 12, 2014 9:03:29 GMT -5 quince said:

Sleep deprived: Healthy, happy baby.

Yeah that!

DH had a meniscus transplant 2.5 weeks ago, and it's been tough juggling an immobile spouse and a 6w old infant. But I'm thankful he was able to have the surgery, he is too young to suffer from constant knee pain.

Also thankful for the generosity of the families who donated their loved ones' tissue (he has bone/tissue from 2 cadaver donors now). Finally, thankful we were able to slip his surgery in before January 1 since we'd already reached our max OOP for 2013!

[Nazgul Girl]

   Oh, I am still going back and forth on whether I should have retired, but am very happy that I set the date !    Although the snow and cold were absolutely miserable, I'm glad to have experienced such an unusual phenomenon in my lifetime, and happy that the house, and our rentals and DD's house all came through with flying colors.

   I am unhappy that I spent $ 750 on new tires and a break job recently, but am very glad that everything was completed before that storm.

[Nazgul Girl]

Also, although everyone in my immediate family thinks I'm nuts, I want to experience livng in Iceland for 12 months.   I'm grateful that I'm more adventurous and think outside the norm of most people.   Adventure is good.

[Deleted]

Do you have anything in your life that on the surface seems negative, but is actually the result of something good and that you are thankful for?

Yes! No longer needing to work, sometimes DH and I get very bored, especially in the Winter. We grumble a lot but are very thankful that we don't have to work and have all this free time. 

Is that the example that you wanted?

[Jaguar]

Yes my blood disorder, I've learned and seen a hella lot about both myself and the world around me.

[8 Bit WWBG]

...:::"So, ANY inconvenience or whine or gripe or complaint is usually met with a "YOUR glass is not only half full compared to the rest of the world it is freaking OVERFLOWING" kind of response (and a healthy dose of commiseration and empathy as needed because I am not a totally heartless, numb, biotech).":::...

Seriously.  We HAVE glasses to drink out of, and the water in there (even if half full or half empty) is clean and potable.

[MarleyKeezy78]

I am thankful for DS. We had decided not to have kids and when I found out I was pregnant I freaked and wanted to not be pregnant  So happy DH acted so favorably and was excited, he helped me through the shock and by the end of the weekend I had baby furniture picked out  Best oopsie ever!

[toomuchreality]

Good thread!

[zibazinski]

I never wanted children. DS was an accident and even my mom counseled me to get it taken care of. So glad I didn't because he is my pride and joy. Yes, I wanted him to be a girl but I got my girl later and GOD has a sense of humor and that's all I'm going to say about that subject!

[tskeeter]

Jan 11, 2014 23:03:37 GMT -5 8 Bit WWBG said:

My cat is sick. Nothing major. It occurred to me that I live in a country that, and am at a place in my life that, I am able to take a pet to get care. My cat is getting a level of care in America that some people in other places in the world do not have access to.  I am thankful for that.

I'm a bit overweight.  This is mainly because I have access to, and can afford, pretty darn tasty food.  I'm thankful for that.

I can spend my nights playing video games and posting on message boards.  I'm very thankful I don't have to be out working a late shift or second job.

I don't mean any of this to put down anyone else.  Its more thinking through a situation that on the surface seems like a negative (sick pet, overweight) but how it can actually be traced to a cause, or related to a situation that shows things can actually be pretty darn good.

Do you have anything in your life that on the surface seems negative, but is actually the result of something good and that you are thankful for?

You're right.  This is an indication of how good we really have it.

It wasn't until I had traveled to other "first world" countries that I started to appreciate how good life in the US is.  By looking at employment opportunites posted in the windows of employment agencies, the homes for sale in the windows of real estate offices, the price of groceries, and price of gasoline, or the size of most cars, I figured out that we get paid significantly more for the same job than folks in Europe, and most of the things we buy cost quite a bit less.  Even when you consider the social safety nets of Europe, we have it pretty good.  When my Dad and my MIL needed cataract surgery, Medicare didn't put them on a three year long waiting list, like my MIL's cousin in Ireland had to do.  My MIL had two surgeries done about six months apart.  Her cousin died before she got to the top of the waiting list the second time to get the second cataract surgery done.  Nearly six years with vision in only one eye (and limited vision in the good eye at that), where we get the problem dealt with as soon as our recovery from the first surgery allows.   I have known for a long time that we had it pretty good.  I just didn't realize how good we have it compared to the rest of the world.