It's Easy

It's easy to get caught up in our own lives.  Our routines of work, housework, grocery shopping, laundry, bills, emails, Facebook!  Add in taxes, extracurriculurs, holidays, before we know it, another year has passed.  Right? 

 

We look back and wonder where time went, with whom we spent it, or without whom.  We might realize we haven't heard from a family member or friend in some time and wonder how in the hell that person is doing or we see that we didn't run that 10K, write a novel, take the ultimate vacation!!

 

It's also easy to forget how good we have things.  That web of busy-ness keeps us in a state of suspended animation. 

 

It's easy to be reminded how tenuous our lives are.  At these times, it is easy for me to be thankful for what I have and where I am.  I don't have a lot by some standards, but I don't live in that world.  I have enough, which is more than others. 

 

I have seen friends & family members brought to the breaking point financially.  I can't share details; they are too personal and particular to those I care about.  I will share that it's hard to know when to offer help. 

 

Charity begins "at home" means, to me, family & close friends.  Tho being closer to the situation, then, say, feeding the hungry in third world countries whom we assume are completely unable or lacking the necessary resources to help themselves, the situations our loved ones find themselves in might be easy to judge.  Like, "Where did their money go?" and "Why didn't they put away savings?".  We assume they could have done something to avoid their current circumstances; that where they find themselves is 100% their fault, but sometimes, that just isn't the case. 

 

Yes, we each have to accept our part of the responsibility for the choices we make in our grown lives.  For sure!!!  Rarely is one placed in a financial disaster without having played some part.  It is easier to offer help to the ones who own up to their role and actively want to move forward with different priorities. 

 

So, it's easy to fall into daily life.  It's easy to be grateful for that daily life. 

 

It's also easy to practice compassion & kindness.  Being a caring ear or shoulder is a simple and easy way to help out your loved one, when you don't have the resources to give them a hand up.