There are two kinds of people in this world. I am not
thinking about rich and poor. Nor “oppressors” and “oppressed.” Neither am I
talking about black and white, or male and female, though the distinction
between the latter two is black and white…and the most important and
fundamental physical difference among humans.
Rather, I am speaking of the entitled as opposed to those
filled with gratitude. And this distinction makes all the
difference. In personality, success, and, especially, in happiness. It will
likely and largely determine if you are devout or secular, Republican or
Democrat, content or bitter. It may well be the determining factor as to
whether you are generally optimistic or gripped by despair, rioting in the
streets or on your knees giving thanks. It will certainly determine whether you
are at peace or at war with others—and, deep down—yourself. And one’s
circumstances do not determine one’s outlook. Many relatively healthy
and wealthy celebrities, for example, are permanently angry and miserable. In
fact, there are far too many to name here. (Think Robert De Niro, Sean Penn,
Rosie O’Donnel, et. al.)
On the other hand, most of us know friends or family
members who have lost their jobs and/or dealt with devastating health issues
with grace and humor. And there are many more about which we may only read or
hear. Some we may see, such as Johnny “Joey” Jones, who lost his legs to an IED while
serving in Iraq. Yet, here he is, making jokes about his prosthetic legs,
hosting Fox News shows, and writing books. Many more we do not hear about.
For some, the eminently entitled, nothing and no one is
ever good enough. Any and everything even remotely bad that happens is the
fault of someone else, and probably deliberately meant to take advantage of
them. These people can never be happy. Nor do they bring joy to others.
Quite the opposite, in fact.
Others are grateful for any and everything they have,
each moment, every memory. (Think Charlie Kirk, for example.) Most of these
folks are grateful for their gratefulness.
And I am grateful for that.
What a wonderful world it could be.
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