This week, I had an epiphany about all the things I or we take for granted.

 

As I was standing in line at Walmart, something was unusually different.

 

It just so happened that all traffic for those waiting for check-out was limited, with only two check-out lanes open.

 

As I walked past the first group, there were at least 10 people in each line.

 

Finally, after about ten minutes, management decided to open the three closed kiosks and check-out lanes.

 

What a blessing that was.

 

The line disappeared within seconds, even though at least 12 kiosks were open for transactions.

 

Sometimes, when we’re in a hurry and think it’s going to be a quick turnaround, it isn’t.

 

In that moment, I thought about how automated we have become.

 

Even as we prepare for our Zoom meeting, we take for granted that our computers will be okay in the middle of a storm, until the power goes out.

 

We can’t predict the weather or what happens in grocery stores; however, we can be more cognizant about our surroundings.

 

I’m always amazed at how, some days, I can wake up without an ache or pain, and then the next day, something changes and reminds me that life is full of curveballs.

 

Speaking of curveballs, I was thrown one last Wednesday when the recycling people skipped my house.  I heard the truck at about 4 PM and noticed it was going around me.

 

Around 6 PM, I saw the truck return again; this time, it was across the street, and I thought it was going to turn at the corner and head to the other side.

 

Sometime around 9 PM, after checking to see if it was emptied to bring it in, it was still full.

 

It was at that moment that I said I couldn’t take the small things for granted when the recycling people skipped my house.

 

I know that last Monday, I couldn’t take things for granted, even though I’d bought a ticket weeks ago to attend the Moth in Birmingham.  Unfortunately, the weather warnings were telling me to stay home, which I did.

 

It just so happened that the city was under a Tornado watch, and I didn’t want to take things for granted.  It stormed up until 8 PM

 

The Moth StorySLAM is an open-mic storytelling competition where anyone can share a true, personal 5-minute story on the night’s theme.

 

The Moth in Birmingham: REVENGE

 

I’ve learned to count my blessings and be grateful at the same time.

 

This past week, I’ve taken in many lessons about taking things for granted, while having a few curveballs being thrown along the way.

 

What about you?

 

I’ve learned over the years, and not just this week, that our health is something I took for granted when I was young, thinking I was 30 and bulletproof.

 

It’s not until we get thrown that curveball that we’re reminded we are not the same person and are now older.

 

Today, I challenge you to take a moment to reflect on those many lessons about taking things for granted, while having a few curveballs being thrown your way.

 

When you take things for granted, you diminish their importance and may even jeopardize their very existence. – Frank Sonnenberg

 

Happiness is a simple game of lost and found: Lose the things you take for granted, and you will feel great happiness once they are found. – Richelle E. Goodrich