<p>I'm not gonna try and speak for everyone because I know nothing about how you guys were raised and what you guys think. But seriously, I am messed up. And so are a lot of other people I know. I've always known how fortunate I was, partly because people were always telling me that and partly because I genuinely understood that I had a lot to be grateful for. But I was still stupid enough to whine about getting a low grade, or being called out by a teacher in class, or not getting enough sleep, or not doing well in a sport...etc... SERIOUSLY? WOW! At the time, I didn't notice it much. But that is the stupidest **** to be stressing about. I know stress is highly subjective; the life you have is the life you see. And I guess humans, being selfish creatures, are bothered by anything that thwarts them in the tiniest ways. But I'm such an idiot. I am so lucky to have been born in a country where you CAN mess up, where you CAN have moments of laziness and still make it. I am so lucky I'm no in a highly competitive country like Korea where your future is determined by one test in one year. I am so lucky that both my parents are alive. Sure, my family is split apart, but there is so much more to be grateful for. I'm alive, for one. I have friends. I'm not dirt poor. I have a great education. I feel like an idiot for making such a big deal about how prestigious a college is. Worrying about stupid names. At least I can go to college.</p>
<p>I'm not saying I'm gonna start smoking pot and singing Kumbaya by a fire kindled by my homework. I'm going to work hard to take advantage of the great life I have. But if I had my life devastated by an earthquake or a bombing...etc.... I would be *<strong><em>ing *</em></strong>ed off to hear some whiny rich kid like me complaining about having too much homework or worrying about college.</p>
<p>Okay, my little personal speech is over. Just felt like saying all that.</p>
<p>I agree. I have often found myself complaining about grades and being stressed. And sometimes my parents try to show me the big picture, but I write them off as not knowing because they never had to go through all the academic stress I had to. </p>
<p>But they had to go through a lot more “real life” stress than I did, which allowed me to have the academic stress I do now. I have realized that I would much rather have the stress I do now than anything they had to deal with. </p>
<p>I think every guy and girl in school should step back once and a while and just see how much they have been able to do because of what their parents and general support has been able to do for them, and how lucky they truly are.</p>
<p>I agree. Things are relative. I mean, I think it’s a bit much when people say “BUT PEOPLE HAVE CANCER!” Yes, that is true. But since I don’t have to worry about that now, I won’t…But I agree.</p>
<p>I feel like a brat. I mean…ugh, it’s annoying at times, but I try to be grateful for everything I have and try to use my advantages to change things, if possible. I’m going to stop now before I go off into an angsty rant/.</p>
<p>I think that individuals in general desire sympathy and attention. Due to that aspect, some individuals exaggerate certain events and unfortunate aspects oriented around their lives.</p>
<p>well said, we Americans have it so good in this country. We can make something of ourselves in this country so easily, heck we don’t have to go to college and still be a millionare</p>
<p>I’ll never understand why people are grateful for being alive. You don’t know what it’s like to not be alive so it’s stupid to be grateful for that.</p>
<p>Perhaps being alive is looked upon preferably due to its familiarity. What lies beyond death is unpredictable. Perceptions cannot be definitively proven.</p>
<p>^^ I don’t agree with that at all. Survival is our most basic instinctual desire, and death has huge repercussions for everyone around you. My best friend died last summer, and it absolutely destroyed me. And it took a while before I got over it. And I don’t mean to sound arrogant or something, but I would hate for the people I care for to go through that kind of pain. I have no idea what being dead is like, but we’re all gonna figure that out sooner or later. And I’m just glad I still have some time left to live out my life before I get to that stage.</p>
<p>I’m not talking about being grateful for not dying, I’m saying being grateful for being born in the first place. Death is mostly frightening because a)it is Darwinian to want to STAY alive (not be born) b)because death is an unknonw and c)because death is typically associated with a painful experience.</p>