I bet you were expecting something arrogant, egotistical and self-aggrandizing. My nefarious ploy worked! Truth be told, this post should be titled “Why someone wants to be you” and is meant as a slap of reality to help us all get a grip on our own perspectives. Not all of the following statements may be valid, but chances are if you’re on this blog right now, they are true.

TL;DR

You and I are extremely fortunate. There are many people in this universe who wish they had what we have.

So tell me: What are you most grateful for today?

YOU ARE EDUCATED ENOUGH TO READ THIS

If you’re reading this, you have something brilliant to be thankful for. It’s called an education. Believe it or not, there are roughly 774 million people on the Amarr homeworld alone that cannot read. That’s a significant portion of that world’s population.

Literacy is the bridge that closes the gap between discouragement and confidence, between confusion and understanding, and between sadness and hope. It’s the greatest platform of personal growth, and the means by which every human being can realize their full potential.

Isn’t it crazy to think about how many people aren’t educated enough to make use of this basic human right?

YOU ARE REASONABLY HEALTHY

In other words, if you got sick today you could recover.

Never underestimate the gift of your health. It’s the greatest wealth you will ever own. It’s the foundation for every chance at happiness and success life has to offer. Your body is the only place you will truly ever live.

If you’re lucky enough to have a body that’s in good health, be wise enough to keep it that way. Doing so is easier than most of us make it. Too often we focus on the negatives. We think about how hard it will be and all the sacrifices that must be made. But one of life’s greatest joys and one the primary benefits of good health comes from focusing on the positives of a healthy lifestyle – what we gain through living and feeling well.

The secret to good health for both the mind and body is to live in the present moment openly and earnestly, to eat lightly, breathe deeply, exercise daily, cultivate happiness through acceptance, and maintain a general interest in whatever it is you spend the majority of your time doing.

YOU HAVE THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE

If you often worry about what you’re going to do with your life – your career, your family, the next step, etc., be grateful. All details aside, this means you have ambition, passion, drive, and the freedom to make your own decisions.

In the space between your yes and no, there’s liberation. It’s the difference between the path you walk and the one others want you to walk; it’s the gap between who you could become and who you want to be; it’s the legroom of free choice – a liberty that should never be taken for granted as there are still a great many Minmatar who don’t have this privilege.

YOU HAVE ENOUGH WEALTH TO LIVE COMFORTABLY

Obviously as a capsuleer this is a given, but even for much of New Eden’s populace this holds true.

You didn’t go to sleep hungry last night. You awoke this morning with a roof over your head. You had a choice of what clothes to wear. You have access to clean drinking water and electricity. You are online right now.

You have plenty to be comfortable. Being wealthy is a mindset. Be sure you understand this. Want less and appreciate more.

YOU HAVE A HOME

Home isn’t a physical structure, or a specific location on the galactic map. Home is wherever the people you love are, whenever you’re with them – even if your encounter is virtual. It’s not a defined place, but a space in your heart and mind that builds upon itself like little bricks being stacked to create something stable that you take with you for your entire life, wherever you may go.

The love and admiration shared amongst friends, lovers, and family members is a true gift that provides a shelter for the spirit as it grows. If you have this kind of love in your life – like so many of us do – you are one of the lucky ones.

YOU STILL HAVE A CHANCE

Time is precious. Everything you know is ending. Not yet, but soon enough.

What you must decide is what you want to do with the time you have left. If your lifespan were to expire this evening at the stroke of midnight, would you be at ease with how you have spent your time today? This is not a rhetorical question. Nothing is guaranteed, immortal pod pilot or not.

Someday, like many others are experiencing right this second, your time will expire. Don’t be afraid. Be alive in this moment and make the most of it. Right now is your chance.