What one is grateful for - a project inquiry (Serious discussion only)

[Level27]

It's been once again a while since I've been here. Hope all is well.

I am soon to write a holiday music suite (set to chamber orchestra: strings, woodwind choir, mallet percussion and beat percussion) on the topic of Thanksgiving. As I've been accepted to a Brazilian orchestral summit, my suite is due in early June, and will be performed and recorded in early August; in anticipated observance of the early Winter holiday season to follow just a few months after.

I wanted to pleasantly involve some of your all's optional and voluntary participation. (It would be lovely if one can answer all the questions, though you don't have to. Answering any single one would be greatly helpful!)

_________________________________________________________________

1 - What/Who in your life do you feel indebted to? Furthermore, is there anything/anyone that you feel profusely you wouldn't have positively made this far in life without?

2 - What additional things in your personal life would you be kindly thankful for, if it were to also come true?

3 - What additional things in your community, or perhaps the world at large , would you also be thankful for, if it were to come true? (Even if you feel it may not realistically come true in your own life time)

4 - What do you believe you've done or given to others to make them appreciate you? (Don't worry about others judging you for being boastful. If it's true and genuine, please proudly boast it!)

5 - What haven't you yet done/given which you would like/love to? (Even if you feel you may not realistically achieve this goal in your lifetime!)

_________________________________________________________________

I do have just a couple of restrictions:

1 - While slight and minimal reference to God or religious materials (Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Greek Mythology, Reincarnation, Paganism, etc.) is completely fine, please try to answer these questions as secularly as possible. (note - Please don't deliberately and willfully try to add a touch of irregular religious reference, simply because I said a little reference to religion is fine. In other words, kindly don't try to stretch the boundaries, just to see how far you can.)

2 - Minimal lightheartedness and goofiness is completely fine, but please do try to be genial and warm and to have some emotional depth to your response. While I'm not asking you to sacrifice sincerity for upright, attractive-sounding answers, I do ask kindly that you please try not to make your answers silly enough that people reading it won't take this project seriously.

A warm thank you to all who do participate and give meaningful, well-thought-out, and heart-felt answers!

 

[rareboy]

1. My teachers...elementary through University.

2. The security of good health

3. Peace and an end to greed.

4. My time...and of course, money.

5. Travel to Machu Pichu.

 

[Norri]

1. My boss at the first job I had in high school. He taught me that a good life is a value added product and it’s up to you to add the value, humor and love.

2. Can’t disagree with rareboy good health. I’ve been so fortunate that someday soon I’m going to be a pain-in- the-ass patient to some poor doctor.

3. A world in which respect for others is the rule as opposed to the exception.

4. Treating people with kindness. I’m a do unto others kind of guy, the Catholic never washes off.

5. Playing center field for the Red Sox.

 

[Level27]

Thanks kindly for your answers, folks. I'm liking them so far.

I asked question 5 wrong. I think you all answered it with personal vacation/leisurely things, because that's what it sounded like I was going for.
I really mean:

5 - What contributions to others or the world have you not yet given but would love to?

(Remember, these questions are focused on the topic of Thanksgiving! )





Norri, just like Rareboy's, I love your answers. I wanted to explore two of yours to a greater depth.

3. A world in which respect for others is the rule as opposed to the exception.

4. Treating people with kindness. I’m a do unto others kind of guy, the Catholic never washes off.

3 - When two peoples have two worlds-incompatible views and goals, they might find it very difficult to give respect to the other; depending on the situation.
Say, for a bland instance, one nation's heritage is to promote nationwide racial diversity, as to cause a feeling of inclusion and acceptance amoung its citizens; that no one is above or below humanity simply for his/her genetically outward appearance. Another nation, while embracing the existence of other beautiful races and not hating or frowning on them, choose to have and promote a community of only a single race; or perhaps a set of particular races, because that/those specific race(s) is/are very dear to the heritage and tradition of that nation.
These two nations currently live together. How do you think they can amicably resolve this?

4 - This is a value that I've first learned and loved when I was a child myself, so this answer too is dear to me.
There was one day in my past, where a self-entitled, never-want-to-be-wrong, appearance-obsessed hothead who get angry at the mere sight of things that don't visually appeal to him. (Yes, he's another of "those" judgemental people!). In a conversation, he had expressed that if he "looked like that" (implications: visually sexually unattractive; unappealing), he'll let other people treat him disrespectfully; in the same manner that he unbashfully does so to things he doesn't like. "They totally have every right to!"
Obviously, this was his (smart-alec) way of circumventing "treat unto others as you yourself would be treated".
How would you respond to him?


Remember, folks. These answers are the aspiration that will go into my chamber music for Thanksgiving!

 

[Level27]

There was one day in my past, where a self-entitled, never-want-to-be-wrong, appearance-obsessed hothead who get angry ...

"gets"

These answers are the aspiration that will go into my chamber music for Thanksgiving!

"inspiration"


(corrections)

 

[rareboy]

For number 4, I also should have probably said the gift of conservation with our farm, which is being replanted with trees. So far, we have planted 70,000, and I guess our final contribution will be to finish planting the last 30,000 to create a corridor for wildlife from the front to the back in order to connect two other important conservation areas.

 

[Norri]

Thanks kindly for your answers, folks. I'm liking them so far.

I asked question 5 wrong. I think you all answered it with personal vacation/leisurely things, because that's what it sounded like I was going for.
I really mean:

5 - What contributions to others or the world have you not yet given but would love to?

(Remember, these questions are focused on the topic of Thanksgiving! )





Norri, just like Rareboy's, I love your answers. I wanted to explore two of yours to a greater depth.

3 - When two peoples have two worlds-incompatible views and goals, they might find it very difficult to give respect to the other; depending on the situation.
Say, for a bland instance, one nation's heritage is to promote nationwide racial diversity, as to cause a feeling of inclusion and acceptance amoung its citizens; that no one is above or below humanity simply for his/her genetically outward appearance. Another nation, while embracing the existence of other beautiful races and not hating or frowning on them, choose to have and promote a community of only a single race; or perhaps a set of particular races, because that/those specific race(s) is/are very dear to the heritage and tradition of that nation.
These two nations currently live together. How do you think they can amicably resolve this?

I’m a bit confused as I’m not sure if it’s one nation or two you are referring to here but if it’s two then it’s easier as each nation can choose it’s own policy and no matter how difficult giving the respect is you had better give it if you want them to respect you. There may be something a nation does which is beyond the pale for another nation (say forced labor camps or female genital mutilation) and in such cases I would say that which you can’t respect you must disassociate from. Lecture them first if it makes you feel better but it will fall on deaf ears. Humans do not like being told what to do. If it’s a single nation then its laws should show the way and its citizens are required to obey those laws. One of my mottos is if the price of my freedom is yours I’m ok with that but I feel I’m in the minority. If you have the strength of your convictions that should allow you to know that in the fullness of time your way will win out. In order to amicably resolve anything both sides must respect the other or amicable it will not be.

4 - This is a value that I've first learned and loved when I was a child myself, so this answer too is dear to me.
There was one day in my past, where a self-entitled, never-want-to-be-wrong, appearance-obsessed hothead who get angry at the mere sight of things that don't visually appeal to him. (Yes, he's another of "those" judgemental people!). In a conversation, he had expressed that if he "looked like that" (implications: visually sexually unattractive; unappealing), he'll let other people treat him disrespectfully; in the same manner that he unbashfully does so to things he doesn't like. "They totally have every right to!"
Obviously, this was his (smart-alec) way of circumventing "treat unto others as you yourself would be treated".
How would you respond to him?


Remember, folks. These answers are the aspiration that will go into my chamber music for Thanksgiving!

I don’t think your friend knows what he is talking about so I would attempt to clarify things for him. The person he is is a combination of the genes he was born with and his life experiences so he believes that he would think the same being born attractive and desirable as he would if he were born unattractive and shunned? His genes are surely different and so are his experiences. I’d ask him if being ridiculed as a child because of his looks might change his worldview and his concept of what is cruel. His being on the other end of where is now will change his perspective and his values. If after I explained all this he wasn’t impressed then I would think him wrong but I would only try to convince him once after that I’m stuck having to respect his right to believe what he wants.
It’s been said of love that you get what you give, respect falls into that category as well.