That the sun will rise and the earth will continue to turn. Anything that requires people’s input cannot and should not be taken for granted.

That no matter what, I’ll be able to cope. I’m the proverbial “little engine that could”. It might take time. It might take resources. It might take effort. But if I decide its worth doing, it I can do it.

Like Liz and Emma, “My health and energy and the idiotic belief that I can probably cope no matter what.” I call it resolve and tenacity, my partner calls it stubbornness and obstinacy.

The belief that there is nothing I cannot do if I try hard enough-trouble is it just takes a little longer these days to get over the effort of doing it.

I take the love of my two daughters for granted. trouble is the phrase ‘take for granted’ is often used as if others don’t care when in fact they do. taking something for granted, such as my daughters just mentioned, means in this case, that I know it will never waver. In other contexts it can mean indifference.

I take for granted that I am still working at 76 and that I will continue to do so.

There is great peace of mind in taking all that is mentioned here for granted. By assuming our hearts will beat, the light will come on when we flick the switch, our families will love us no matter what we do we have the freedom to just live, to enjoy and contribute to the creation around us. Of course it is important to remember to be grateful for all we do have as often as we can during our days.

My health. I insist on believing that I will have the energy to raise my two sons, ages ten and twelve, though I am about to turn 49 and will be 57 when the youngest graduates High School. It helps that I have a wonderful husband who is a true partner…he is happy to step in if my energy level drops!

I believe…without health you have nothing. It allows the option of independence. This is crucial but so is having the sense of good timing, to ask for help when appropriate.

I thought the idea of taking something for granted had negative connotations. As in, don’t take your spouse for granted or he may not be there one day. Having said that, I don’t take anything for granted: not my wonderful spouse, my incredible son, my friends and family, my health, my life. I try to be thankful for all of it, every day.

I have to agree with S.G. I don’t take anything for granted except death and taxes! Family, friends and our general well being are blessings we should enjoy and be very thankful for. You never know what could happen and your life can change in an instant. Sometimes we forget how lucky we are in the moment and in the next moment your life can be changed forever.

My husband. Yes, his behavior is abominable at times, and he doesn’t lift a finger to take care of himself; and I’ve had to be his caregiver through cancer surgery and other health scares … but his income has allowed me to be a stay-at-home mom for our two daughters, and that has paid off in spades with two young women we are so proud of. I tend to focus on the negative parts of our relationship, to the point where even past memories that should be pleasant are now tinged with revisionist history. An offshoot of that, I take for granted my own health and need for personal time. I’ve put on so much weight in the last few years, and I’m really upset with myself because of that.

There are at least two distinct meanings for “take for granted,” and they are the opposites of each other. I take my family for granted, because I can. We’ve been through some tough times (understatement of the century, there) and we have somehow remained a united front. I take the benefits of living in the USA for granted, even though I know that, at any time, the electricity, water, gas, etc, could come to an end. I take my personal safety for granted, even though I know that at any given time, someone could choose to shatter that. Sometimes, the expression “take for granted” is a positive thing, referring to love, loyalty, dependability, etc. Other times, “take for granted” is a selfish, “using” kind of attitude.

The fact that when I wake every morning, my husband will be sleeping on one side of me & my cat snuggled against my back. The sun will rise and shoot diamond streaks of light into my house, that I am strong and healthy, more so than most of my friends. The knowledge that I am ready to achieve goals at 64 years old. And, that my mom is still my best mentor at 85.