Healthiest Outlook on Life

Yesterday I saw a quote on facebook. It says, " People are made to be loved and things are made to be used. The confusion in this world is that people are used and things are loved." I don't know if this is what you are talking about or not. Life is short and that I am more aware of everyday I age and now I think 70 is young. :-) Anyhow, I think it comes down to priorities. What you put first and you can teach that to your family by putting others first, doing for those in need. In other words living each day and putting people first and things not first but still you can have things you accomplish and value in your life. Does this make sense at all? God put us here for a reason and purpose to I think we can enjoy things and just not make them #1 priority. Don't dwell on the shortness of life but on the joy in it.

Suzanne L you said it so well I could not add a thing to your post.

I think the issue has to do with the orientation of the thinking. Why are we trying to succeed? For ourselves only or for the greater society?
I believe everyone should strive to contribute to society to their utmost ability for the betterment of the world. Since most of our time is spent trying to make a living it usually ends up being career oriented contribution. However, raising decent contributing children is an automatic legacy. I'm currently somewhat disgusted by what I see as invasive self-centeredness. People evidently think they should be able to do whatever and behave however and not have any consequences for themselves regardless of who else may be hurt. The problem is that society as a whole pays the price. When individuals cease to hold even life itself as precious our entire society is circling the drain. Clearly it's time for me to take a break from mamapedia.

You only have today, right this minute. Nothing is promised and as much as we can "plan" for the future, its still just a plan. I try to view life as a journey and wherever I am on the journey, is ok. We all have different seasons and so I try to live my life to the fullest each and every day. If I model the things I want my kids to possess, then they will follow. I try to live life positively and to not sweat the small stuff---cause its all smalll stuff.

M

I have a habit of always seeing the 'glass half full'. :) I swear I don't know where it comes from...its just how I see things. I've been in storms of life and have come out to see the sunshine again and laughed again, so I know storms pass. Its just the hanging on part thats hard, but have been thru them enough to know they do pass.
I think we choose everyday how we face the world. I think what we give out comes back to us. It dosen't take the moon and more to make me happy. I don't like to look 'over the fence' so to speak . Right now right here is where I am and its a very good place. :)

Are you familiar with Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs?
You are moving toward self actualization (which is a good thing) and no longer stuck in the "comfort" items (or what you once thought were comfort items).

Goals are goals and goals are important. Some goals are just more important than others at different stages of our lives...
Strive for WHAT things?
WHAT "minutia"?

I don't think about reaching my full potential, I think about doing the best I can each day with what I have. I will never reach my dream of getting my PhD and becoming a professor, but I have accomplished raising four awesome kids that love life and the world they live in. And I started my own business that gets more successful each month. That's enough for me, if I accomplish not much else, I will die happy. Material things don't mean much to me, they can be gone with a moment's notice, so I try not to get attached. It *is* over so fast, which is why you should be happy with every day you have (says the bi-polar chick who has been known to hole up on a sunny day because her brain has decided to take her elsewhere...lol).