Woke in the middle of the night

Room filled with light

Eyes slit open to scan around

Couldn't tell where the illumination originated

Closed down the eyelids

There it was

On the eyelids

The cool warmth of the sun

Gracing the mind with a realization -

No matter the state of the world

You can lose the internal joy

That life can provide if you seek it.

Look around outside the room

See the billions of people

Living out their lives in peace

With food, work, schools and doctors

Despite the suffering in war zones

The rest of the world

Is bathed in prosperity

Relative to the prior hundred years

No world wars since 1945

Despite numerous confrontations

Keep the positive momentum

Of "economic competition" instead of battles

And in the midst of the swirl

You sit in relative calm

The winds pick up

But you are allowing yourself

To remain unfazed by events

Sure of the brevity

That is the essence of full

Appreciation for our blessings.