Overlooking forests to argue about trees.

   Something that has been on my mind lately is remembering to be grateful for what we have.  Here in the west, there is this cultural belief that we must always be seeking more, creating something newer, better, bigger and that somehow our happiness should be tied to it.

   Eckhart Tolle said that "Happiness seems quite shallow in comparison to joy."

   As I listen to the debates of the up and coming Presidential Election, there is this tenancy to hear people in great discussion and even arguments about various topics, that to me, seem like they have chosen to overlook forests to argue about individual trees.  Our current administration has this overall behavior that seems to say "Spend and acquire debt without retribution.  Spend how I want, damn the consequences." This would seem to me to be a fundamental issue that demands to be addressed, a forest if you will.  Yet many people feel quite content to overlook this and debate or argue about specific policies and points of view that feel much more like individual trees.

   I am not saying that some of these topics may not matter, I am saying and suggesting that they do not matter near so much as the basics that determine the overall well being of our country and it's people.  Do we have the right to argue about whether people who love each other should be allowed to marry or not when we cannot even feed our country's children?  Or is it acceptable to argue about whether the government should provide healthcare to the masses when more families than ever are homeless?

   I know that there are many people that read my blog and not all are from America, I'm sure that the same issues face them as they consider who should represent their people in their lands as well.  On a scale that may matter even more, do we ignore the bigger issues in our own lives to battle over details and specific ideas?

   I have discovered that whenever there is disquiet in my heart about my life, it usually is because I have forgotten to be thankful and grateful for the many blessings, liberties and joys that currently make up my life.  I could complain if I wanted to about not earning what I used to.  It is by my own choices that I do not make what I used to.  There is something to be said about quality of life versus the quantity of time spend earning.

   Yes, I would rather be out speaking and writing to the masses about how passionate I am about the value of individual lives and souls.  Yes I would rather be out heading or furthering some cause that effects humanity as a whole and  yes, one could call many of my life's activities mundane.  That does not mean that there is not great cause, reward or joy in the mundane, in the everyday, in the life of a simple family that get's to spend time together.

   I am grateful for life! for love! for family and for our basic freedoms!  I am thankful for you and the time you take to read my banter about life and living.  Most of all, I am grateful.  Grateful to be here, now experiencing life with all of it's joy and pain, all of it's ups and downs and with everyone of you.

   Do you take time to be grateful?  Do you find joy in the mundane? Can you, look within your heart and say that there is purpose in each day lived?

   I challenge you to be grateful.  To thank someone today for being who they are and most of all, for being part of your life.

   I wish each one of you great joy, great love and great challenges to overcome. May we do this together.

Peace.

Billy B