Being Grateful in a Spoiled Society

Last week I went to Myrtle Beach with a group of friends for spring break. It was so beautiful and the perfect get away. I think all of us really needed a break. We rented a two story condo with several bedrooms, two balconies, a game room, and a wide open living room with the biggest television I've ever seen. I stayed in a room with Sara and we had a king size bed, a full bathroom, and a balcony all to ourselves. Needless to say I was feeling pretty spoiled. Which I think is an okay thing to feel every now and again. One day we were on our way to a restaurant for lunch and we were all in my car with the sun roof down and that Jessie J song playing as loud as it could go. The sun was streaming in and everybody was singing along and we're in this gorgeous place and I'm just soaking all of it in. I don't think I've ever had so much fun in a car before. It was just one of those moments you feel whole. Like "This is what's it's about. Times that you can carelessly drive around a very pretty place on a very sunny day with some of your very favorite people." Then we get stopped at a red light and as I'm slowing down I notice a homeless women pushing a buggy with what looked like every one of her possessions in it on the cross walk. I don't think she knew I was watching her but she was kind of looking our way. She had a worn out face and worn out clothes and just looked like life was weighing heavy on her. I started thinking about how very different our circumstances were. And I started wondering if she ever got the chance to ride around in a car with her friends. I wondered how absurd it must look to her to have that luxury. I wondered if she even had enough friends to fill up a five passenger car. I wondered how it felt to watch a group of college kids driving around those busy streets probably not appreciating much. I was brought back to earth that day just by the expression on her face. And for all I know she might not even have been looking at anything in particular. Regardless, it really made me appreciate where I was and what I've been blessed with. I have a family that will have my back no matter what. I have friends that would do the same. I have a car that allows me to cruise around overflowing with sunshine and friends, but not because of anything I did. Because I have a generous dad that likes to do things for me. I stayed in a crazy nice condo for a week not because I worked for it but because my parents have helped me out enough this year that I had money saved to do so. I'm typing this on the nicest computer I could hope to own for the same reason. I was born into these circumstances and I'm glad it hasn't made me this spoiled ungrateful person. I can look at what I have and appreciate and know that I am so very blessed beyond all measure. I know it's cliche to talk about counting blessings but it's so necessary to keep from going numb in this accessible, Americanized world we live in. So, what is it you're thankful for?