Seriously. I just finished talking to a friend I haven't heard from in almost a year; he's got three kids and has adopted two more from Kenya, found God, and is playing in a Christian metal band. We spent an hour talking about how Mac users are kind of like Orthodox Jews, and made plans to get together the day after GenCon.
We got back today from visiting my wife's family. Her sister got married a few weeks ago to a paramedic and firefighter who looks almost exactly like Tom Cruise, and she's worried about paying back her heavy college debt now that she's graduated and trying to find a job with a degree in social justice.
Before she went to bed, my daughter ran up to me and hugged my knee and said, "Daddy, come down here." So I dropped to one knee myself, and she hugged my neck and whispered into my ear, "I love you."
And now I'm lying here next to my wife, who's breathing softly and rhythmically in her sleep. And if I start getting into how incredibly, insanely lucky I am to have her, I'm not going to be able to stop.
So it occurs to me that, despite all the hassles and concerns of everyday living -- the bills, the pointy-headed bosses, the in-laws, the stressors and concerns -- I love my life. I love being alive. I love this freakin' planet and most of the people on it.
I spend a lot of time complaining and grumbling about the little things, mainly the ones I can't really fix or do anything about. Here's hoping that the next time I feel the urge, I can remember posting something like this.
Posted by TL (Member # 8124) on :
It's nice to be happy. Family is important. Good for you.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Please do post something like this as much as you can. I love to read it and I'm happy for you. You have a great life and the sense to recognize it. Those are indeed wonderful things. Posted by Leonide (Member # 4157) on :
You reminded me how much happiness there is to be found in the little things, and in the acheivements and joys of others, as well.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
quote: I love my life. I love being alive. I love this freakin' planet and most of the people on it.
It warms my heart to hear people say things like that. They doesn't get said much, but it makes life good to hear it said.
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
Good for you, Tom.
Posted by Joldo (Member # 6991) on :
Posted by JennaDean (Member # 8816) on :
Thanks, Tom. You've reminded me how great my life is too. Particularly my husband. I don't deserve him.
Thanks for sharing your happiness, and reminding me of mine. Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :
<glee>
Posted by Papa Janitor (Member # 7795) on :
Thank you for posting this, Tom.
Y'know, I think I'm gonna sticky this for a little while. Just because.
Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
quote:how Mac users are kind of like Orthodox Jews
I don't have a Mac, so I have to ask. Do Macs only work 6 out of 7 days of the week?
Anyway, thanks for the sweet post. I knew it. I just knew it. You really are a marshmallow underneath that gruff exterior.
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
quote:Are you a pauper or superstar, so you act, so you feel, so you are.
That's when I learned a lesson, that it's all about your perception.
One of my current favorite songs, off of the new India.Arie cd.
Posted by Joldo (Member # 6991) on :
Wow, you got stickied out of general awesome.
Posted by genius00345 (Member # 8206) on :
Wow. That made me happy just reading it! Posted by Derrell (Member # 6062) on :
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Posted by suminonA (Member # 8757) on :
That is great!
Keep up the good work/life.
A.
Posted by Squish (Member # 9191) on :
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
at Tom!
Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :
Your life is actually a televised life-immersion contest, a la "The Truman Show," and the In-Laws and bosses were actually sent in a while ago as a desperate attempt to try to cool down your intense winning streak.
Much to my consternation (I've been betting against you in Las Vegas) -- they have failed.
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
Cool, Tom. Glad you know it.
And I love my life, too, and it's nice to be reminded of it. Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
Gotta love that warm fuzzy butterflies feeling. Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
quote:Originally posted by TomDavidson: We spent an hour talking about how Mac users are kind of like Orthodox Jews
Eww.
Posted by Jeesh (Member # 9163) on :
Glad to hear it Tom! Posted by MyrddinFyre (Member # 2576) on :
Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
Ni!
Posted by Shawshank (Member # 8453) on :
Congrats Tom, it's good for me to hear people being happy than just complaining for a change. Your post made me happy on the inside.
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
Wow, that just made me smile so much it brought tears to my eyes! You know what? I have a great life too and you've reminded me that I need to talk about that more, rather than complaining. Thanks.
Posted by Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy (Member # 9384) on :
quote:Do Macs only work 6 out of 7 days of the week?
If you're lucky.
Posted by xnera (Member # 187) on :
Posted by Earendil18 (Member # 3180) on :
Speech! Speech!
Posted by narrativium (Member # 3230) on :
Ummm, why was this pinned?
Posted by Eduardo_Sauron (Member # 5827) on :
to you, Tom.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
Thanks for the post Tom, it brightened my day.
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
That made me smile, Tom.
Posted by Hamson (Member # 7808) on :
Lol, I think it was pinned because it was TOM that made the thread.
But hey, I'm very glad for you, and it makes me happy when I see other people really living a life they want to live. Keep up the spirit!
Posted by Chanie (Member # 9544) on :
quote:Originally posted by TomDavidson: We spent an hour talking about how Mac users are kind of like Orthodox Jews
I don't get it. They both like Snood?
Posted by Stan the man (Member # 6249) on :
Tom, I agree. Life is good. An' it may be hard at times, but the good things in life should always be appreciated.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by Chanie:
quote:Originally posted by TomDavidson: We spent an hour talking about how Mac users are kind of like Orthodox Jews
I don't get it. They both like Snood?
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
"And now I'm lying here next to my wife, who's breathing softly and rhythmically in her sleep."
And you're posting here. This tells me much more than I wanted to know about your Hatrack addiction, frankly.
Still, good to hear.
Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :
I opened this thinking that since it was pinned, it must have some great news in it or important announcement, like perhaps that Christy is pregnant again. So now, even though its a lovely post, I feel kind of disappointed.
But in the spirit of Tom's post, I love my life too. NOt only do I have a great husband (also a firefighter/paramedic but not one who looks like Tom Cruise - for which I'm grateful as I don't think Tom is all that attractive) and wonderful kids but I was able to register for college and get the schedule I wanted. If you knew how hard it was to get the schedule you wanted and how much luck was involved in that, you'd be impressed.
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
Huh. See, I also expected it to be that sort of announcement, but found myself happier that it wasn't. It's easy to feel blessed (Pardon the term, Tom) when something important is happening in our lives, and much rarer to see someone speak about the everyday stuff in such an appreciative way. If stickying it means people will read it who wouldn't have otherwise, I'm glad it's stickied. It's a great reminder of how wonderful the normal parts of life can be.
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
quote:Originally posted by Chanie: I don't get it. They both like Snood?
Not to brag or anything, but I've been told that I give great snood.
Wink, wink. If you know what I mean.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
*smile*
Thanks for sharing the positive!
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
quote:Originally posted by Vast Left-Wing Conspiracy:
quote:Do Macs only work 6 out of 7 days of the week?
If you're lucky.
Which is a good 2 days more than anything running windows.
Posted by Kama (Member # 3022) on :
I agree with ElJay.
And I also love my life.
Posted by Sopwith, again (Member # 9457) on :
Yep, I believe you've got it about as good as a person can have it. Enjoy!
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
It's odd that the A.P.G.B.'s thread shot to 3 pages while this one has yet to turn one. At first I found it awkward that this post was given the treatment of a birth or engagement announcement. But I was just reading that Time article on happiness (click on smiley lower right of page) and then came to check on a thread here, and saw "A bird shat on me" and saw how many of the other thread titles are somewhat whiney.
So I'd just like to say I think this is a great post, Tom. The article doesn't go into it, but Seligman's research shows that how you think about what you can't control contributes to your mood.
Posted by Flaming Toad on a Stick (Member # 9302) on :
I just got back from a war zone. I am extremely happpy to live in a peaceful, nonviolent country. God has given me so much to be thankful for. I love my life.
Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Cool]](cool.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Hat]](graemlins/hat.gif)
to you, Tom.
![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)