Reflections

Please log in or Create a Profile to post a comment.

  1. E
    Ella

    I never had to worry about not having access to fresh water, healthy food and a roof over my head

    2 years ago
  2. Elaine

    Thinking retrospectively I acknowledge that I lived much of my life taking my privilege for granted. As I’ve awakened, the historical and ongoing inequities are glaringly apparent. I worry about that, particularly the threat to basic needs arising from the climate emergency.

    2 years ago
  3. Hermann-Josef

    I never worried about my basic needs. As soon as I wake up they are there.
    We all have basic needs. They belong to our psyche and body. What is the difference between someone who is sitting in a cave, meditating and someone who needs a jumbo jet with golden seats of his own to satisfy the same basic needs? The strategies to satisfy all the basic needs that are described by Mr Maslov can differ a lot. Once there is a big hole in the soul we are ready to bring great suffering for others to satisfy our needs.Gandhiji said: there is enough for everybody but not enough for greed of a single person

    2 years ago
  4. Don Jones

    The air that I breathe, the sunshine, clean water, nature spaces to commune with, spiritual nourishment.

    2 years ago
  5. Eeevvv

    That hits hard! Sometimes when I think of all I have/had I feel guilty. I was born in the ”right” country, in the ”right” family, I have the ”right” skin and I went to the ”right” school. It’s unfair to have it all by pure luck so I react respecting all the things and relationships I have, I costantly remember myself to not take them for granted and I try to help to provide others what they need when I can. I can’t change who I am and where I came from but I can use it all to help others to feel good with who they are and to improve their conditions.

    2 years ago
  6. Mica

    My material needs have all been in good supply. Nurturing needs were meager, but my mother gave what she had to give. When my mother died in her 98th year, my brothers and I were relieved. In contrast, the 98-yr-old woman in a condo down the hall died last week, and her 5 kids are all just devastated.

    2 years ago
  7. KC

    I am with Barb. Ouch. Not sure how to answer this. Most of my physiological and survival needs have been and are met. I am very aware that this is not the case for many, many in the world.

    2 years ago
  8. Barb C

    Ouch. This strikes me as a question that definitely comes from a place of privilege. How will this feel to someone coming to this site who went hungry, someone who had to sleep in a car or a tent, someone whose life included fear or danger? This assumes that we’ve all never had to worry about basic needs.
    And yes, I’ve one who has never had to truly worry. Like others who noted their privilege, I have always been fed, sheltered, and loved. I have been a divorced mom with two toddlers eating a lot of ramen and keeping the heat turned far down when they were at their dad’s, but I’ve always had the essentials.

    2 years ago
    1. Eeevvv

      I think this question leads us to reflect on how grateful people like you, me and others have to be for what we consider the ”simple” things in our lives. I also agree with what you said, there are people that speak from a place of priviledge and I feel unconfortable with that (and I’m one of them!!!). But if we use it well our priviledge can help others! I’m still with you in your reflection, you’re right, but I choose to look on the bright side of the question.

      2 years ago
    2. Mary Pat

      I agree…we don’t know other peoples circumstances, we are online, and do not know how others are doing…..and why create a divide? Not a good question for this site to ask.

      2 years ago
  9. Charlie T

    Never worry? I’ve worried about everything at some point in my life. Clean water being the only exception. The truth is, I’ve never suffered from hunger. Although I’ve been robbed and stolen from, I’ve survived those unsafe situations. Keeping a roof over my head has been a challenge at times, but through luck, hard work, and with some help, I’ve managed to live comfortably.
    My basic needs have always been met and I’m aware that I have been the beneficiary of this unfair system that gives me certain privileges due to my gender and the color of my skin.

    2 years ago
  10. Laura

    All of my basics needs have always been met, from childhood onward. That feels privileged and humbling at the same time, particularly since my and my family’s social class and color no doubt gave us a boost to obtain those basic needs. I agree with Winnie the Pooh, that the best things in life aren’t things. I’ll add this from Abraham Joshua Heschel, “To have more does not mean to be more.”
    Today’s quote prompted this thought, how much better life would be to live extravagantly on beauty, joy, and of course, gratitude.

    2 years ago
  11. dragonfly

    I am, and always was, so privileged to have all my basic needs met. Not only that; I have so much more than my basic needs. It is good to stop and acknowledge that because I find that the adage “The more you have, the more you want” often creeps in. I get used to having all I have and there is always the temptation to want to add more…more unnecessary stuff, stuff that goes way beyond essential. In the end I have to agree with Winnie the Pooh that the best things in life are not things at all.

    2 years ago
    1. Eeevvv

      “The best things in life are not things at all” beautiful!!!
      Thanks for sharing, dragonfly, that’s so true – and I love Winnie the Pooh!

      2 years ago
  12. EJP

    The air that I breathe and the love in my heart are basic needs that I never have to worry about.

    2 years ago
  13. Iamme

    All my basic needs have been and are met, I feel in a privileged and blessed position compared to so many around the world. I am not wealthy by western standards, but am better off than some and worse off than others. I have everything I need, food, water, shelter, warmth, family, friends, love and healthy enough to be independent and I live in a beautiful place where there’s no war or drought and there’s a strong community. I am rich in those ways, the best ways.

    2 years ago
  14. Kevin

    Not once in my life have I ever needed to worry about my basic needs being met. There were years as a child when my hard working blue collar parents struggled to make ends meet, but they always had work and we always had food and a secure place to live. As an adult, my wife and I were both fortunate to have graduated from college and not once throughout our working years did we not find work and meaningful careers. I make it a point to think about this often and take nothing for granted. It has shaped my life’s work and who I am as a person, and how I give of myself to others.

    2 years ago
  15. Michele

    shelter, food, utilities.

    2 years ago
1 2

Subscribe to Grateful Living

Give yourself the gift of free bi-monthly inspiration including uplifting articles, diverse stories, supportive practices, videos, and more, delivered with heart to your inbox.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Customize your subscription