Appreciate Now
Thich Nhat Hanh said, "When we have a toothache, we know that not having a toothache is happiness. But later, when we don't have a toothache, we don't treasure our non-toothache." (The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching, 1998, p. 39)
Ain't it the truth? How many times have we all been slammed with pain or anxiety or grief, and wanted nothing else but relief? The state of not-hurting seems like a far-away but blessed place we long to return to. But sooner or later, when we're feeling better, we forget to appreciate not-hurting and take it for granted again.
Some of you may be in pain as you read this. If so, may bodhisattvas comfort you! But try to appreciate what's not hurting. Maybe you don't have a toothache, for example. Right now, focus on some ordinary thing that you take for granted, and appreciate it.
Comments
I try to think along those lines. We can’t know what happiness is unless we experience unhappiness. The more painful hardships we endure the more we’re able to appreciate the better times of our lives. Not to say we should purposefully put ourselves in hardships to better enjoy our lives, but just realize life is dandy.