A Key To Appreciating Life
An essential tip for obtaining perspective and appreciating life lies within...
In my brief time on this Earth (so far), I have noticed one common theme amongst, not all, but many people. The one thing I have noticed is that people fail to truly appreciate what it is that they have. Everything from the comforts of their own home, their job, and their loved ones just to name a few.
There are even times where I have caught myself out on not appreciating just how much I have in comparison to so many. Simple things such as having clean food to eat, water to drink, freedom, opportunities and many more.
Let me share a piece of how I obtained a better perspective on life. I grew up in a family who experienced much violence during the 1980s – 1990s. My family came from war torn Iraq which my father, through no choice of his own had to serve in the Iraq-Iran war and Gulf war which in total, was 11 years of his life. When my family managed to escape the country and come to Australia, their perspective was a lot different to the people around them. My parents explained to me that they would see many people complaining about the smallest and most mediocre of things. They would always say “if only they knew what other parts of the world were like”.
Growing up with parents, siblings, uncles and aunties who all experienced the same thing, it gave me an insight as to how truly lucky I am to simply be living and breathing in a country such as Australia. I was lucky to be given this insight, others are not so lucky.
However, there is a philosophy I believe one can follow to obtain more perspective in their life and ultimately, lead to more appreciation. That philosophy is this:
Do things which people who are less fortunate than you have to do.
I believe if you can simply follow this, your ability to put yourself in the shoes of the less fortunate will grow and ultimately lead to a greater appreciation for your own life. If more people did this I believe the world would be a better place.
Many things that you could do include possibly volunteering in projects that are in less fortunate countries. This would not only allow you to help those who need it but also get a different perspective on life. You could even go to a homeless shelter and volunteer to feed the homeless. These are just a few suggestions but there are many that one could do.
Please reflect on your life. Think about all that you do have instead of what you don’t have. Seek perspective and learn to appreciate your life!