THE CRA PERSPECTIVE All I Have Is Yours, Lord A reflection on grace, gratitude, humility and the beauty of surrender What do I have that I did not receive? What can I truly claim as mine apart from grace? There are moments when we need to pause and look beyond our achievements, possessions, abilities and ambitions. We may work hard for what we accomplish, make sacrifices for our families and spend years developing our talents. Yet, beneath every achievement lies a deeper truth: life itself is a gift. Our breath, our opportunities, our strength, our relationships and even the ability to begin again are blessings we often take for granted. Gratitude begins when we recognise that we are not the sole authors of everything good in our lives. The prayer “All I Have Is Yours, Lord” expresses a heart that no longer wishes to live only for possession, recognition or personal glory. It is the quiet acknowledgement that everything entr...
🔗 Visit my blog for more observance insights and creative reflections: https://craarts.blogspot.com
🗣️ A Day to Pause, Reflect & Use Your Common Sense
Each year on November 4th, people in the United States observe Use Your Common Sense Day — a humorous yet timely reminder that basic practical wisdom is often the key to better decision-making.
In a world full of high-speed data, digital noise, and overly complicated systems, this day invites us to step back and ask:
"Does this actually make sense?"
It’s a lighthearted observance with a deep message — returning to reason, gut instinct, and everyday logic.
👓 What Is “Common Sense,” Really?
Common sense isn’t about formal education or technical knowledge.
It’s about:
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Sound practical judgment
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Awareness of surroundings
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Learning from experience
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Recognizing what’s obvious… but often overlooked
From crossing the street safely to knowing when not to click on a suspicious email, common sense helps us navigate life wisely.
🧩 Why November 4?
This date was chosen in honor of Will Rogers, the famous American humorist and social commentator born on November 4, 1879. He once said:
“Common sense ain't that common.”
The day honors Rogers' wit, and reminds us to blend humor with practical thinking in our personal and public lives.
💡 Ways to Celebrate Use Your Common Sense Day
✅ Practice Pause-and-Think: Before reacting emotionally or clicking that tempting online ad, stop and ask yourself, “Does this seem right?”
✅ Teach & Talk: Use this day to teach children or teens the value of critical thinking, self-awareness, and smart choices.
✅ Laugh It Off: Share funny examples of people not using common sense (kindly!) and use humor as a bridge to awareness.
✅ Simplify Your Life: Look around your home or workspace — is there something overly complicated you could simplify?
✅ Digital Detox Hour: Step away from algorithms and remember how to use your own brain. Walk, reflect, or simply observe the world around you.
🖌️ Artistic Angle: “A Compass Named Sense”
As an artist, I imagine a painting titled “A Compass Named Sense” — a surreal landscape where people walk in all directions, following bizarre signs. One figure stands still, holding an old-fashioned compass marked “instinct,” “reason,” and “experience.” It glows softly while the world rushes around.
This captures what common sense really is — not loud, not flashy, but quietly pointing us toward wisdom when we pause to look.
🌍 Common Sense Across Cultures
Though “common sense” may look different from culture to culture, its essence remains universal:
Caring for others, thinking ahead, staying grounded, and making choices that reflect shared human values.
In every tradition — from indigenous elders to ancient philosophers — wisdom passed down through generations forms the roots of common sense.
🧠 Final Thought
On Use Your Common Sense Day, let’s celebrate the most underrated superpower we all have — clarity of thought, practical judgment, and the courage to trust our better instincts.
Because in a complicated world, sometimes the simplest path is the smartest one.
🔗 For more reflections on creativity, observances, and the art of life, visit my blog:
👉 https://craarts.blogspot.com
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