Well after being on kidney dialysis for two years, and returning to work for the next six years, receiving a kidney transplant for now fourthteen years, getting up out bed and taking care of myself by myself, being a poor self-published poet 2004 (Life’s Experiences And Challenges in Poetry), returning to college and obtaining a M.A. in Africana Studies this May at State University of New York at Albany, coming from a teenage mother, wife, and later head of household, and continue to move forwards and reach for the stars, I do not take anything for granted, not my health, shelter, food, clothing, etc.

That I was born at what seems to be the perfect time in history. I have been able to learn about so many things from our Constitution to Said. I was also born in NY and ladies, let me tell you. There was nothing like Bonwit, Macy’s, Lord and Taylor, A&S (Pitkin Ave) when I was a kid. FAO (the old one). I also took for granted that my parents never raised me to look at my color and feel it was any different from anyone else. Even though they fought like cats and dogs. I would learn a nasty lesson 5 years ago regarding personal prejudice — to be my age and where it happened was truly heartbreaking. I took for granted when I realize so many people don’t know how to read, and with out that everything from Dr. Suess to David McCollough matters in my life. I can sit with a 4 year old and find out that “Blues Clues” ice cream has bubble gum in it — which I found real cool! Lastly, what I really take for granted besides all the things we are all thankful for, is my ICE! Air conditioning too, but ICE! Don’t care if it was when I had to buy it by the bag and jam it in my freezer first apartment — I’m in South Jersey now (got tired of the trays), or when I hit the switch on my freezer door…ICE and WATER…..have a good one. Just heard about you on Charlie Rose…funny thing is I haven’t caught him in ages…so I guess I take him for granted too. (I have PTSD and TBI — please excuse typos and realize content) — Ciao

I thought I’d say that too often I take life itself for granted. And then I read the post by Iris Odonata, and I resolve, once again, not to take its contents for granted.

Nothing and no one should be taken for granted. We are just passing through in this life and deceive ourselves if we believe that we are entitled to the love of people, the possesion of things, or admiration and respect from others. If we take all those things for granted, we become arrogant, ignorant, abusive, and greedy. Respect, love, possessions, must be earned and cultivated. If they are taken for granted, eventually we are revealed for the undeserving beings we truly are: I give you Exhibit A: The Bush Administration and Hillary and Bill Clinton.

Being a breast cancer survivor, I don’t take life for granted especially when it comes to my health. Each day is a gift! Vivian

Sadly, one of the very few things I take for granted is the “Peter Principle” that “If things can go wrong, they will. Your new website is absolutely great and is an “It’s about time” phenomenom.

I sometimes take my husband for granted and feel badly. I have to remind myself that not every bad move he makes is really all that bad because his “great” moves are absolutely great. He’s not perfect, nor I and I certainly don’t want a robot to do as I say. There is a lot to be said for a man who cooks, cleans, does laundry and tells me I’m beautiful no matter what. One more note: I remind myself everyday to not take things, me or other people for granted. Somedays, I put together care packages for the people I am thankful for and I always send my mother an Easter basket!

I take nothing for granted as I strive to live in the moment and be grateful for everything. A minister friend said he was amazed at how everyone says, “why me?” He would always think “why not you”. Or in other words, stuff happens to everyone. In not taking anything for granted it’s easier to treat everyone with respect and by living in the moment we catch a glimmer of its preciousness.

If there is one thing I have learned in my 60 years of life, take NOTHING for granted. I have lost a husband to cancer, when I thought we would grow old together. I have learned that my children should not be taken for granted because I need to be there for them like they will be there for me. I cannot assume because they are my children that they owe me to be there for me. We all work at the relationship of mother and child and the same for my grandchildren. We all give what we can whether it be time or a listening ear or whatever. The same is true for my friends. I do not take my health for granted and my ability to always be able to do things. I do not take electricity or any utility for granted. I thank God every day for what I have in life and I do not take God for granted either. To take things for granted is to assume…..we all know what assume means.

I take for granted the air that I breathe. When I was little, I was terrified with the idea of my grandmother dying even though she was at the best of health. I watched her breathe while she slept. That was how I defined life at a young age. I take breathing for granted because it is unconsciously done and air is so much available and abundant. But I remember when fresh and clean water was abundant too. Who would have ever thought of bottled water? Where have all the fresh and clean water gone? Did we, the human race, also take it for granted that is why we are now paying the price for a natural resource? What is the future of air then? Have you ever heard of bottled air? Oh yes, they call it canned oxygen - flavored too. Lo and behold, the future is here.

My health…I do take for granted that I can handle anything physical…but now some of my “healthy” friends have died of cancer…something they could not control… life is a gift…the other thing I take for granted are my friends…that they will be around forever…I need to tell them how special they are and how much I love them…I am trying to learn to do that and not take them for granted…they will not be around forever…I am soo blessed with life, family, friends…I know that I need to step back and realize how much I have and how much I take for granted…now if I would just not take so much for granted…life is good, a day at a time…

sad to say… but I take myself for granted… I need some serious soul searching…

I agree with ayiti 1. I take myself for granted. I have to remind myself daily to take care of myself mentally, physically, and spiritually or I will be no good to anyone.

Electricity, my car, running water but nothing else