extreme suffering

Animals can deliver the best kind of humor. Especially when they ask the BIG philosophical questions of life.

Counting my blessings

The past several months have been an interesting time for me. Well, there are several reasons for that but I want to focus one thing in particular: food. I have changed greatly how I eat. I take great strives now to eat in moderation and to eat healthy. I exercise often and enjoy the fruit of my labor! I have been reading several books on nutrition and weightlifting and have gained an ever growing wealth of information on the subject.

I go to the grocery market and buy fresh fruits and vegetables, lots of them. I buy lean cuts, healthy fish, whole grains, and I am actually totally enjoying soy milk. I love eating healthy. No doubt there have been challenges a long the way as I create new habits, get rid of old ones, and learn to unmask any form of emotional eating. It has been an extreme battle at times, but one I am glad to be overcoming. I am not ashamed to admit that my success all started when I got on my knees one day and prayed to my Lord for help. My change in direction started with Him and Him alone.

Explaining my new way of eating is not the point of this blog, however. I am writing this blog to say I am rich. Yes, you heard me, rich! I don't mean metaphorically either. I am FINANCIALLY rich. Allow me to explain my wealth: I live in a great apartment. I have a car that works. I have tons of food in my fridge. Everyday I have a full belly. I have shoes that are not worn out. I have tons of shirts, pants, socks, jackets, sweaters, and much more. I have 200 movies and hundreds and hundreds of books. I have several computers, a tv, dvd player, and two great stereo systems. I have a pet! (yep, believe or not, a pet is a luxury). I have a cell-phone, high speed internet, I have vitamins and supplements for my health. I have several computer games and have an education. I could go on, but I believe I proved my point. Of course looking at others with "more" can always make one thing they don't have enough. But I am telling you that I truly believe the Lord has made me financially rich. How many in this world don't even have a fraction of what I have? Hundreds and hundreds of millions...possibly billions.

Going back to food though, I believe I am so incredibly blessed in this area. I have NEVER starved in my entire life. I have always had as much food as I needed (and some more on top of that). How many continually die of starvation? A process that takes weeks, sometimes months and yet I have never missed ONE meal due to being unable to afford it. On top of this amazing blessing (probably the blessing that is taken for granted the most here in America and the rest of the Western world), I have options! It's not like I have plenty of food of one kind. I don't have to survive on bowls of rice. I can go to the grocery store and pick from a bounty of foods. Not only to I have the option of an immense quantity of food, but I can afford good quality food. Like I mentioned earlier, I can buy HEALTHY food! This fact has been on my mind for the past 6 months and it still deeply moves me at this very moment. Many people may make annual incomes with 6 digits and even 7 +, but that only means they are MORE rich. That doesn't change the fact that I am rich as well. The Lord has blessed me indeed.

So stop wanting more and instead, count your blessings!