The Cup

That old cup everyone talks about--is it half empty or half full?  Well, half full of course!  What I really think about that cup, though?  I think that I would like that cup to become a carafe, a pitcher, a pond, a lake, river, ocean--filled to its very rim.  Spilling over.  Spilling over with all the good things that cup was holding--blessings, good fortune, health, happiness, and contentment.  And what I think is that I would like for everyone to see the world and our lives within it in an equally positive light.

We, as creatures of the earth, are immensely fortunate to exist on a planet so beautifully diverse, both visually and climatically, yet so perfectly in sync with each of our personal needs.  All creatures of the earth have been given the ability to adapt to and excel in their own individual environments.  Take for example, the polar bear and arctic fox of the bitterly cold Antarctic and the reptiles and birds of the rain forests.  Larger, more dense (physically)  peoples of northern lands and smaller, more agile peoples close to the tropical equator.  All of earth's inhabitants have been given different senses with which to experience all that she has to offer as well.  All living things upon the earth are created to be so perfectly in tune with their environment.  How fortunate for us!

As human beings we have been blesesd with the highest functioning intellect of all creatures.  We are at the top of the food chain, which affords us the peace of mind not to have to be weary of any natural predators that we could not outfight or outsmart.  We have been given the ability to feel with both our hearts and bodies.  We feel such a wonderful variety of things that no other earthly creatures can.  How very blessed human beings are.

As human beings of the western hemisphere we are doubly blessed as we have evolved into a people who appreciate the contributions of all people: men, women and minorities in politics, science and every other aspect of our lives.  The majority of people of the western hemisphere are free to feel, worship, work, and play as we please.  We should all feel fortunate for the freedoms we possess.

As Americans, we are just about the freest and most fortunate people in the world.  We, even as children, are free to do just about anything we wish.  We are not restrained by birth or social status from moving up the social ladder.  I had a neighbor from Pakistan who brought with her to this country a slave girl of 9 years old.  She did not understand why she had to send her to school when she needed her at home for housework and caring for her young children.  I told her she was in America now where slavery has been outlawed for many years.  This girl has since graduated high school and lives on her own--free of her "owners."  If we are unable to provide for our children, find a job, attend college or technical schools, quit addictions, or are being repressed in any way, the government will help us.  There was a young lady in the news recently who grew up homeless on "skid row" and has just graduated from Harvard.  In America no one has to go hungry.  How incredibly fortunate we are to be a part of one of the greatest nations in the world.

Now, as North Carolinians, we have some of the mildest weather, oceans as well as mountains, big cities, farms and very small towns, some of the very best colleges in the country, and definitely the kindest people I've ever encountered.  Wilkes County goes even one step further as it lives the motto, "It takes a village to raise a child."  Yes, this is a life that is bubbling over.

We are all afforded so much opportunity to excel in any area we could possibly choose.  With hard work and a dream we can be anything we want to be, go anywhere we want to go, and live any life we choose to live.  Yes, the cup is definitely half full.  Half full of all the good things life has to offer--so drink it up!

Jen ;-)