“Tomorrow is not promised to
anyone… you only have today.” This is what I was taught from my youth as a way to
view life in general. However and most
of the time we forget or take for granted what we have. Believe me… I have been around a while,
traveled to a number of countries while in the Navy… and what some people
complain about… is nothing. Just trade your place in America with someone
else from another country and you will see.
In many countries around the world it is pretty rough and I don’t think
some of us would be able to survive or get accustom to living without all of the
modern conveniences.
So much of what we are accustom to does not exist in
other places around the world. The average American enjoys traveling on paved
streets, drinking clean water, walking in the park, taking a shower, air conditioning, shopping in a grocery store,
a visit to the mall, museum, a nice restaurant, and children attending a nice school,
and in house plumbing and… you get the
picture. It is truly a stark
contrast in lifestyles and cultures. Of
course that does not mean we live in a perfect country, far from it, and yes, we
still have quite a few issues to work on.
We can never turn our heads from the high level of gun violence,
poverty, voter suppression, homelessness, joblessness, underemployment, abuse,
war on drugs, greed and racism.
What is truly amazing about people from around the
globe is the fact that regardless of where you are from, we all share a common
humanity and a desire to have a livable wage job, live in peace, and enjoy life,
our families and friends. However, this
is not the case and it seems that we are always chasing after what we desire
and not taking the time to enjoy what we have.
For most people this is the greatest dilemma, to always want something
that is out there and not really enjoying the present moments and to be
thankful. Dr.
Benjamin E. Mays, once the president of Morehouse College (1940-67), Atlanta put
it this way …. “It’s not what you keep,
but what you give that makes you happy.”
And so here we are, my suggestion is simple… let’s work together to
overcome our differences and make our world a better place. Are you with me?
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