Imagine having everything you could ever want … but then have it all taken away from you! Taking things for granted is something that is common for families who aren’t in need of basic essentials. However, everything could disappear from your life at any time. Being grateful for the things you already have is very important.
“Heart and Hands” by O. Henry is about a man named Mr. Easton who is a prisoner because of counterfeiting. It is hinted that he was of the higher class in the past but because he started losing money, he made fake money to use as it “takes money to keep step with [his] crowd”. Then, it suddenly all got taken away from him when he got found out by the police. If Easton hadn’t cared about the amount of money other people have and just saved up more of his money, he could maintain his lifestyle but he decided to do the riskier and illegal way.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a famous composer in the 1700s and he kept on switching where he was in his musical career. For example, he was a musician for an Austrian prince and was in a very good place as he was being paid well and he also wrote extremely good pieces. However, he got bored and decided to quit but it (at first) didn’t go well for him. He recovered years later, but what if he didn’t? If he had stuck with the job he already had he could’ve gained more financially and also become more famous and then changed after he became very stable.
Being appreciative of the things you already have is essential as any of it could vanish at any moment. Mr. Easton wouldn’t have gone to jail and Mozart could be even more famous. Always be grateful for what you have.