Taking things for Granted
             Ruth's Song, by Gloria Steinem is a personal narrative about experiences her mother Ruth endured. Steinem is obsessed to try to understand her mother's breakdown, and she tries to revisit her own past to get answers. Steinem writes, "Now, I'm obsessed instead with the things I could have done for my mother while she was alive, or the things I should have said" (166).
             When I read this particular phrase I thought about people taking things for granted, which can be simply things as happiness. I don't think people realize how important it is to never take anything for granted. Life has its ups and downs and no one knows when things might occur. Sometimes periods of excitement are longer, while states of depression are shorter, or sometimes it may be the other way round. When people are happy they usually take it for granted, as if it is a natural thing; But when things go wrong, they blame fate, other individuals and their selves for deserving such things. During depressing periods people forget all about previous moments of joy. People should keep in mind that things are not always good or always bad. They move between the two extremes, sometimes staying longer at one extreme than another. I believe that happy moments protect people in time of sadness. During the 'low' times in life , happiness serves as a rope that people hold on to; a source of hope that they can get away from gloomy times and can go back to how the good times used to be. But, if people are always in the state of happiness, they will not be able to enjoy it for a long time because they will not know what to enjoy. But when they are sad and things don't go as planned, the happiness becomes a treasure. Therefore, people should enjoy each moment of happiness, take it as a gift, and cherish the moments.
             Another big thing people take for granted is life. Life is so precious bec
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