Good Quality of Life

I’m writing this post, about a good quality of life, at a time when thousands of Ukrainian refugees continue to flee their homeland . . . three-million and counting, according to the latest reports.  Perhaps the timing of this article seems a bit Pollyanna in nature, but that is not my intent.  The fact is that the events of Ukraine only intensify my realization that I am living a blessed life, and I am unbelievably grateful that I live a quality of life which can only be described as outstanding.

I have food, shelter, and creature comforts. I am loved.  Add it all together and it equals a good quality of life, but in truth, I had those things sixteen years ago, and I was miserable. I was in the throes of alcoholism, I was lost, miserable, and the quality of my life had hit rock bottom.

Which leads to this philosophical question:  What was missing, for me, which prevented me from having a good quality of life. Why was I unable to see the wonders of life sixteen years ago, but today they all seem so apparent? Why couldn’t I see the wonder of it all back then?

Too active a mind, me thinks

I’ve been accused of that before, and with good reason.  “Bill, you think too much,” , as if that’s the first warning sign for some deadly disease, being too intellectually active. But it’s probably fair to say that, at times, I probably should just cut back on the deep existential inner-discussions I have.  I’ll be walking the dogs and think about the meaning of life.  I’ll be doing chores in the yard and wonder why some people are mean and others loving.  Seriously, that’s what’s going on in my brain, not the scores of the baseball games from the day before, or what’s on television tonight, but rather why criminals feel it is all right to rob people, or why scammers feel no remorse for bilking innocent people, or why grown men think sex trafficking is acceptable.

And yet, despite those heavy thoughts, I am happy today. I am able to separate the deep, troubling thoughts from my present reality, and that makes all the difference on how I view life today, and that is a huge relief.

More to come

I suspect that will be many more intellectual debates with myself now that we have a travel trailer and we are starting out on a part-time RV life.  During those RV trips I will have many hours to delve into the inner-recesses of my brain, and to work out all of the world’s problems, but counterbalancing those thoughts will be the realization that life is good for me, and I should appreciate the gifts I’ve been given.  Far too many people in the world are not as lucky as I am, and I need to remember that.

I can’t save all of those struggling people. I can’t make the darkness of this world go away for millions of suffering inhabitants.  But I can appreciate what I have, and I can share my vision of the wonders of life during my happy retirement, just a man, his wife, his dogs, living the best existence he possibly can, living a good quality of life, and appreciating every step of the way.