It is true that I often don't recognize something good until I have experienced it and then no longer can. The book by Tara Brach has a nice title: "Radical Acceptance". It is radical, unusual, to accept what comes. I have been toying with the notion that we actually live in wonderful times. No doubt, if I suffer a catastrophe, I won't think so, at least for a while. I will be moaning and groaning about the difficulty of life and the nastiness of some angle of it.
Still, when some unhappy person, real or fictional, says, "It can't get any worse", I see a red flag. Give us a second and we will probably show you something you are enjoying or benefitting from, that you haven't noticed. When you lose that something, access to that something, you will probably feel deprived, downhearted, unlucky and unfairly dealt with.
If you can write, you already have an advantage. Get a pencil and make a list of what bugs you. Then, try a list of treasures and pleasures you have. Got a tv? Computer? Bathroom? Running water? Electricity? Car? License? How about a liver? Lungs? Heart? Heartbeat? See? That is already eleven items! Don't forget: today is 12/4/2021. Those digits add up to 12. Think of one more good thing you have to make this your lucky day. Sure, you are bugged about your tax bill, the rising cost of popcorn, the lack of birds at your feeder, the way China is behaving. We are biologically built to notice downsides. We are Americanly built to complain, demand, seek perfection.
Perfection might be having many good things but also having some serious complaints. If you are over fifty, you have some good experiences and some achievements already. I am not advocating being bewitched by the memories, but they do at least deserve a nod. Did you get a diploma? Have you been blessed ? Did you have a parent who thought you were a fabulous gift to humanity? If you aren't over fifty, you are headed for some wonderful years ahead. Plus, you have a very good one here and now.
