We go to school. We hug our children. We feel the soft skins of our lovers. We go running. We listen to music. We go to our jobs. We taste our favorite foods. We enjoy our freedom.
These moments, these fragments, these accessories come together and form the big pictures we know as our lives. They form our timelines – birth, school, job, and everything in between. We live. We make plans and expect our timelines to go according to those plans.
We’re so, understandably, accustomed to our ways of life that we don’t even imagine not being able to see, smell, hear, touch, or taste. We couldn’t picture not being able to speak or listen to music. It’s difficult to imagine life without legs. We rarely think about the possibility of something screwing up our routines, messing up our timelines, or shaking up our lives.
But what happens if something does shake up our lives?
One can lose his job. Another can lose his father. One can become paralyzed. Another can be unsure of her career. One can get cancer. Another’s country could be under attack.
And then, unexpected things are added to our timelines. Birth, school, uncertainty, job, and everything in between. Birth, hopelessness, school, job, and everything in between. Birth, school, job, grief, and everything in between.
So, when we’re in the midst of tragedy, grief, hopelessness, or uncertainty, how will we know that everything will be okay? When we lose ourselves in tragedy, what will bring comfort to our souls?
I’ve found comfort in shoes and many of life’s accessories.
We’re not entitled to education, families, happiness, or jobs. We’re entitled to our organs and our unalienable rights. Anything else would be under the “accessories” category. When it comes to our lives, accessories, like peanut butter or a loving embrace, play a more important role than we realize.
In those times when we lose ourselves in hopelessness and fear, in idleness and uncertainty, in routine and regularity, we can thank God that we can find reassurance in a loving embrace.
Or a kind gesture. Or a familiar smile. Or a painting. Or a song. Or a prayer.
Let’s not forget chocolate.
And stethoscopes. And nail polish. And movies. And earphones. And inside jokes. And guitars. And books.
We must always remember that all of these things – the subtleties, the quirks, the accessories which we assume only complement our days – are actually here for a much bigger, more beautiful purpose. They are here to enhance the quality of our lives.
Not to say that chocolate, earphones, or books are the pure, unadulterated sources of life’s quality; but maybe, the absence of these accessories – or perhaps, the mere appreciation of them – will spark some sort of gratitude for the lives that are lived. And when we are grateful for life, for existence, for breath, for a heartbeat, the quality of our lives are enhanced because we will not take life, or its accessories, for granted.
12 Comments
Anonymous 15 January 2013
You shoulԁ take part in a contеst fοг one of the best blogѕ on the net.
Ι most certаinly will hіghly recommenԁ thiѕ blog!
Have a look at my blog :: getting twitter followers
Anonymous 15 January 2013
Үou should taκe ρart in a contest foг
onе οf the beѕt blogs on the net.
I moѕt certаinly will highly recommеnԁ this blog!
My page: getting twitter followers
Cambria 15 January 2013
Beautiful post, hon…I completely agree!
<3 Cambria
jupefashion.blogspot.com
Real College Student of Atlanta 15 January 2013
haha i love this post and your writing style <3
Anonymous 16 January 2013
I was wоnderіng if you eveг сonѕіԁered chаnging the page layout οf your webѕite?
Its verу well written; І lοve what youνe got to say.
But maуbе yоu could a lіttle more іn the way
of contеnt so people could connect ωith it bеtter.
Youve got an aωful lоt of text for
οnly hаνіng 1 or 2 pictures.
Maybе yοu could ѕpace it οut bettеr?
Аlso visit my homepage: elgaffney.com
Also visit my web page … rpy
Bianka Sch 16 January 2013
Hi 🙂
Would you like to follow each other?
Check my blog: bibischw.blogspot.sk
Sheena A 17 January 2013
Very nice post! Keep up the great work! 🙂
http://silverliningbysheena.blogspot.ca/
Anonymous 18 January 2013
Hello there! I know this is somewhat off topic
but I was wondering which blog platform are you using for
this site? I'm getting fed up of WordPress because I've had issues with hackers and I'm looking at options for another platform. I would be great if you could point me in the direction of a good platform.
Visit my webpage : locationvehicule utilitaire entre particulier
Annmarie Pipa 19 January 2013
something to think about….
in one of our book club books the main character was abused as a child and the only way she ever felt pretty was if her nails were painted.
Anonymous 22 January 2013
Hey there, I think your site might be having browser
compatibility issues. When I look at your blog in Chrome, it looks fine
but when opening in Internet Explorer, it has some overlapping.
I just wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other then that, wonderful blog!
See lose weight quickly
My web site :: lose weight quickly
Janice Lunes 22 January 2013
Wow !
Love the way you wrote this:)
It's very good Nia!
Xxx
Janice
Anonymous 24 January 2013
Superb blοg! Do you have аny hеlpful hints foг аspiring
writers? I'm hoping to start my own website soon but I'm a little lost on
eveгything. Would you аdviѕе staгtіng
ωith a free platform like WordPress or gο for а
paid οрtion? Theгe are so many оptions
out theгe that I'm completely overwhelmed .. Any recommendations? Cheers!
Here is my blog post: broker forex
My site :: vapornine