Being Grateful

I really should have written this days ago, but I didn't quite think of it then, so I'm writing it now. First point of order, though, is to say this: I hope everyone out there in the internet world had a brilliant Christmas!

Christmas is actually the theme of this post, but it could apply with any event all around the world: birthdays, Valentines Day, etc. See, my family, we're not the closest in the world, and we always knew what we were getting for Christmas. Which is why I never quite noticed what the rest of the world can be like. 

This started off for me when I was a child. I would go to school in the final few weeks before summer holidays (different time zone, people) and I would hear people talking about how they had no idea what they were getting for Christmas. Now me, I always knew exactly what I was getting for Christmas, because my brother and I always picked our presents out and were there when my mum but them on lay-by.

The concept of surprise did not happen in our house. Why, I'm not sure. Neither me or my brother like surprises. Things are so much better predictable and even now I hold myself to that concept. The unknown, such as the future, is something I cannot think about. 

But that's a whole other story, so I'm not going to talk about that anymore. Point is, my brother and I always knew what we were getting, which obviously meant there was no chance of disappointment.

Now, I didn't quite...realise what some people could be like until recently, and today, I've decided to say something. This morning I woke up and, like normal, I went onto 9gag on my Tablet in an attempt to keep my eyes open. Someone had posted a list of tweets that people had written talking about how disappointed and how much they hated their family...because of things such as "I got a Macbook Air instead of Pro, my stupid f*cking family" and "my iPhone is in the wrong colour, this is the worst Christmas ever."

I'm sorry...but WHAT?!

Okay. Maybe you didn't get exactly what you asked for. But you got something, and that is so much better than some people in the world. Not only that, you got something that cost your parents a hell of a lot of money. Macbooks, no matter what type, are not cheap. Why not just be happy with what you did get?

Now, before you say how I probably have no idea because I always knew exactly what I was going to get...I do know. The thing is, my parents have never had a great deal of money. And while I did know what I was going to be getting, I still had disappointments. Because I would go to school and hear about how people got the brand new gaming consoles and such, and what did I get? 

Well honestly, I don't remember what I'd get. I do remember the money limit, however - $60. None of my presents have ever exceeded that, while my friends got new laptops.

Its the same now. When I turned 21, I got $100. That was my present. That's it. I didn't even had a party. My then friend, on the other hand, he got $1000. Quite the difference there, do you not think? 

Could I be bitter? Could I hate my parents because they could never provide the sort of...fun that my friends parents could? Of course I could be bitter. But I'm not. Because I'm grateful.

I'm grateful that I got what I did. Things could be so much worse. My parents could have gotten me nothing. But they didn't. A gift is a gift. Whether it's the perfect type or model or object or whatever, it doesn't matter. It's something they have bought you, and no matter what, you should be grateful, because it really is the thought that counts.

I'm saying this because I think far too many people don't understand the concept. I mean, come on. If you wanted said object and didn't want any disappointments, then you buy it yourself. That is the only way you will guarantee that you will get exactly what you want. Expecting someone else to fulfill your expectations isn't right.

This Christmas, my parents gave me a watch, a wallet and earrings. The watch stopped working twenty minutes after I put it on. Could I be mad about that? Sure, but I'm not because it is still the thought that counts. They bought me something that they knew I would like and I did like it, and whether I can wear it now is irrelevant because its the thought that counts. I am grateful that they cared enough to buy anything at all. 

And I know this may be coming out a little harsher than what I perhaps intended but I feel it just has to be said. It is so unfair to say you hate your family because they didn't get you the right colour expensive phone because they didn't have to get you the expensive phone. And whether its the right colour or not, you should still be grateful for what you did receive. Children of poor parents on the street may have only received a new jacket or something. But they would be grateful because its something. 

It is something. And whether you like it or not, you should be grateful that someone cared enough to spend some of their money in an attempt to make you happy - never throw that back in someone's face. 

Just...be grateful.