4 Things We Take for Granted That We Shouldn’t
We often pay little attention till it’s too late
Life is a journey and as long as we are alive, we have to make the most of it.
Since the pandemic started, a lot has changed and we are beginning to see how fickle life truly is. Being at home has been eye-opening because it has presented the perfect opportunity for self-discovery and more deep thinking about life.
When we don’t pay enough attention to something, we are bound to underestimate its value and presence in our lives. There are so many things we may not appreciate, except we attach a form of importance to them.
The truth is, many people wait for the perfect moment to come before they give recognition to what truly matters, but fail to realize that time is fleeting and nothing lasts forever.
While there is no assurance of a better tomorrow, we can only make the best use of today. With each day that passes, we are getting a step closer to the grave and time continues to show its fleeting nature.
On psychology today, Juliana Breines explains that when we take something for granted, we assume that we won’t lose it anytime soon. Hence, we are attaching a certain sense of security to something that isn’t permanent.
“Most human beings have an almost infinite capacity for taking things for granted.” — Aldous Huxley
As humans, there are so many things we take for granted. Here are some of them:
1. Time
Time passes faster than we can ever imagine. It waits for no one. Truly, life is short.
We won’t be alive forever.
Time is a valuable resource and once used, it can’t be recovered. It leaves no room for recurrence.
We often think that time is limitless and as a result, we make little effort to do the right things at the right time.
Most times, we keep procrastinating because we think there will always be time to do what could have been done.
People often act like time is nothing and we will never run out of it. What they do not realize is that time is everything.
The summary of our purpose in life is based on time.
At some point in our lives, we may have underestimated the value of time because we feel that we have it at our disposal.
“Time is free, but it is priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it, you can never get it back.” -Harvey Mackay
2. Our Health
Indeed, health is wealth. The gift of sleeping and waking up is one of life’s greatest blessings.
Sometimes, we work ourselves too hard and then break down because we leave little time for relaxation and self-care.
Many people tend to wait till their health has hit rock bottom before they start taking proper care of themselves.
Living a healthy lifestyle is one of the best ways to treat one’s body. Make your health a top priority.Your body is your powerhouse and it deserves all the love, attention and pampering.
“If you don’t make time for your wellness, you may be forced to make time for your illness.” — Joyce Sunada
We shouldn’t only show concern towards our bodies, but also to our minds.
A mental health check is just as important as anything else.
Being alive is a blessing and having perfect health is a miracle.
3. Freedom to Choose/ Free Will
Life would be more difficult if we didn’t have the liberty to make our choices. The freedom to do whatever we wish is what makes our lives interesting. Imagine how uncomfortable it would be if we had to rely on everyone else to make simple decisions for us.
The ability to go and come as we please, comes with so much liberation. However, many people make wrong choices and live the remainder of their lives dealing with the results of their mistakes.
Whether huge or small, every decision tends to have its impact in ways we can’t even begin to imagine.
Life is all about choices and it comes from every single decision we make every day. Our choices impact all areas of our lives and sometimes, the lives of those around us too.
Sadly, our decisions won’t always be right all the time. While some may turn out to be really good, there will be other not-so-great choices.
Know this, you are only a decision away from a totally different life.
4. Family
We sometimes tend to take family for granted, but at the end of the day, they are the ones who will always be there for us when life gets rough and tough.
Family plays a huge role in one’s life and quite frankly, no one cares like family does.
Our loved ones are there to cheer us on, give good advice, to criticize and to lend a helping hand. They usually have your best interest at heart and would go the extra mile for you if there is a need to.
“No matter how bad things get, no matter how wrong things go, family will always be there. So treasure the family you have and don’t take them for granted.” — Nishan Panwar
Agreed, life could sometimes get in the way, but we must consciously make efforts to make time for our loved ones.
Now is the best time to call your parents as often as you can. Be there for your loved ones because life moves really fast. Cherish the good moments spent with them because you may never get to re-live those moments.
Spending quality time with your family is one of the best ways to show that you truly care about them.
Life is transient and we should take advantage of each moment it gives us to love one another and make beautiful memories that will last forever.
How can we appreciate what we have?
We can show more appreciation by practising gratitude.
The best ways to practise gratitude is by showing love to the people around and cherishing the fantastic opportunities that have come our way.
We are so busy focused on getting more out of life that we are blind to what we already have.
Oprah Winfrey once said :
“Be thankful for what you have, you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.”
If we stop for a moment to look around, we would discover that we have been blessed with much more than we can imagine.
Sometimes, we get too comfortable and complacent that we take the little pleasures of life for granted. We lose the consciousness that we stop paying attention to the things that really matter.
Don’t let time pass without making the most of it.
Learn to appreciate what you have before time makes you appreciate what you had.