"I feel so blessed"

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"I feel so blessed"

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1ejj1955
Ene 28, 2014, 3:47 am

I see this posted on Facebook all the time, usually in the context of someone talking about how great their life is, and maybe it's just that I'm feeling ornery, but I can't help but wonder what this really means. Is it "I don't really deserve the good things that have come my way, so they must be the gift of a divine being"? or is it, "God likes me better than he does all the people who have less than I do"?

2Booksloth
Ene 28, 2014, 6:51 am

To me it would just mean " I feel so lucky" - or it would if I believed in luck.

Speaking as someone who says 'Bless you!' quite a lot (even when nobody sneezed) with no religious meaning whatsoever I can imagine how this might be quite a useful phrase. I haven't used it myself but I do see how it could come in handy.

For example - I spent this Christmas with my family, one of whom is lucky to be alive after a life-threatening illness, another of whom has struggled - apparently successfully - with personal demons in the past year; we have a roof over our heads and those who are able to work have jobs; apart from minor glitches we all have our health; we even have enough money (after many years of financial struggle) to pay our bills, support each other through the hard times and occasioanlly spoil our friends. While I sat there munching my tofu roast and thinking of a close friend who was in the final stages of a terminal illness, her beloved husband who was about to be alone for the first time in 50 years, the people in the war-torn countries of the world and those who are the victims of hunger, poverty and exploitation I felt extremely blessed.

Somehow 'blessed' seems to say it better that just lucky, becasue it isn't only about luck - we've all worked hard, tried not to hurt others, put effort into our relationships, but there's certainly a huge element of luck in having been born in a country that doesn't even charge us (directly) for our health care, that has, during my lifetime, been unaffected by invasion, tyrrany or natural disaster. So yes, I feel blessed by fate but certainly not by any deity who I'm sure, even if he/she/it actually existed, would have more important things to think about than my personal comfort in a world full of suffering.

(And if I catch anyone saying using it in the sense you suggest ("God likes me better than he does all the people who have less than I do") I hope I shall also be 'blessed' with a strong right hook.)

3guido47
Ene 28, 2014, 7:00 am

Dear Elizabeth,

OP, also the name of my 19+ yo. cat.
Well I am an atheist of the hard core sort. Yes I follow Richard Dawkins but sometimes think he
"overstates things...".

So, some people say "I feel so blessed".

So what? As an Atheist I also say "...for Gods sake..."

Common language phrases.

Guido.

4Sandydog1
Ene 28, 2014, 10:00 pm

Jesus-H-Christ-in-a-bucket!

I work in a crowded, cubicle-ridden office. To this day, and after over a half a century on this earth, I still feel a bit of a tinge of social discomfort over what to say when someone sneezes. Apparently, when someone involuntarily spews naso-pharyngeal aerosols, everyone else, becomes a powerful shaman and says, as is socially acceptable, "God bless you!"

If this event warrants a response, what is it?

5Mr.Durick
Ene 29, 2014, 12:10 am

I think that a lot of people who say or think things like, "I feel so blessed," are trying to convince themselves that they are blessed. Saying it aloud they might even induce confirmation.

I don't feel blessed.

Robert

6MMcM
Ene 29, 2014, 12:16 am

> 4 Gesundheit.

7theoria
Ene 29, 2014, 12:38 am

"Blessed be" too.

8jbbarret
Ene 29, 2014, 4:49 am

>4 Sandydog1: Arsenal!

9southernbooklady
Ene 29, 2014, 11:22 am

A comparable sentiment to "I feel so blessed" might be "I feel so grateful." It's about feeling appreciative more than feeling lucky, I think.

10Taphophile13
Ene 29, 2014, 11:35 am

So what? As an Atheist I also say "...for Gods sake..."

I know a Jewish man who often exclaims, "Jesus Christ!" He couldn't really explain why when I asked him about it.

11paradoxosalpha
Ene 29, 2014, 2:15 pm

> 10

My 8-year-old daughter recently tried to mock-curse with "God darn it." I patiently explained that "God" is itself a curse-word in English when uttered thus, so for full euphemism, she'd have to use "gosh darn it" or "gol durn it" or "gad nab it" or the like.

12Jesse_wiedinmyer
Editado: Ene 30, 2014, 12:13 pm

Rassin'-sassin, sassafrassin', rootin' tootin'...

13Sandydog1
Ene 30, 2014, 10:26 pm

14EmScape
Ene 31, 2014, 3:05 pm

I wish there was a nice, acceptable atheist analog to "I'm praying for you." Like if your friend is going through a rough time... "Sending positive vibes" seems too hippy dippy and "Thinking of you" seems like not enough action -- like I'm thinking about what a rotten time your having and glad it's not me.

15darrow
Ene 31, 2014, 3:09 pm

When someone sneezes near me I say "Damn you!"

16paradoxosalpha
Ene 31, 2014, 3:28 pm

> 14

You have my condolences.

I feel bad that things suck for you, and I wish you the best in getting through this.

No gods or vibes required. The only drawback is that the wording has become overspecialized to the mortuary context in recent usage, so even though the expression is literally more generic, it might be taken as referring to death when that's not the intent.

17keristars
Ene 31, 2014, 3:40 pm

14> I don't know, I think "I'm so sorry, I'm keeping you in my thoughts" or "That's awful, I'm thinking of you and hoping you make it through" seems right to me. I think it's important to add the note of sympathy. Even "I'm praying for you" can come across a bit negatively without that sentiment, in my experience.

18southernbooklady
Ene 31, 2014, 3:49 pm

>14 EmScape: "Can I help with anything?"

19Bookmarque
Ene 31, 2014, 4:04 pm

Yeah I just usually go with condolences and wishes for strength.

Years ago, when someone sneezed, I would reply "may the forces of evil become confused on the way to your house". It usually got a laugh. Especially in a cube farm where I could just boom it out over the wall.

20BTRIPP
Ene 31, 2014, 6:20 pm

It usually doesn't help to cheer them up any, but: "In the words of Jim Morrison: 5 to 1, 1 in 5, no one here gets out alive." ... which is at least not as harsh as shit happens.

21Sandydog1
Ene 31, 2014, 7:54 pm

14-19

Atheist etiquette. Great guidance, all!

20

If I was on the receiving end of a "shit happens" comment, I wouldn't mind at all; I'd consider that empathy. But then again, I THINK I'm in the minority on that one.

22Jesse_wiedinmyer
Editado: Ene 31, 2014, 9:37 pm

It depends on how it's delivered. "This life can be a motherfucker" can be either helpful or dismissive depending on delivery.

23Jesse_wiedinmyer
Ene 31, 2014, 9:35 pm

"I'm thinking of you." "If there's anything you need, please let me know" (as a secondary note, don't say this if there's any intention of not following through. Yes, I know you really intend to, and life (and shit) sometimes happens, but...)

I've always found "How are you?" to be extremely effective, but that's provided you're actually going to listen to the answer.

24stellarexplorer
Editado: Feb 1, 2014, 12:30 am

I was going to post before I read the thread, but I see that southernbooklady (>9 southernbooklady:) said exactly what I was going to say.

25Booksloth
Feb 1, 2014, 4:11 am

#21 To be honest, I think it wouldn't bother me either to get the 'shit happens' comment - at least it's true. It would depend, of course, on how it was said and by whom but I don't think it's necessarily a bad idea to remind ourselves that shit doesn't only happen to other people. So often, when something horrible happens, so many people think "why me?" - well, that's why. And it even happens to those who pray and who are prayed for, just as much as it happens to the rest of us. It's a question of whether the comment is just "shit happens" or "shit happens, let's try and get through this one together".

26Taphophile13
Editado: Feb 1, 2014, 12:08 pm

>23 Jesse_wiedinmyer: I've always found "How are you?" to be extremely effective, but that's provided you're actually going to listen to the answer.

Sometimes just holding someone's hand and listening really is the most helpful thing you can do.

>21 Sandydog1:, 22, 25 It's a question of whether the comment is just "shit happens" or "shit happens, let's try and get through this one together", etc.

Said the right way, this statement can be quite appropriate.
It also reminds me of the "Shit Happens" poster that my son has. It includes:
Judaism - "Why does shit always happen to us?"
Catholicism - "If shit happens, you deserve it."
Protestantism - "Shit happens, amen to that."
Agnosticism - "Can you prove that shit happens?"
Atheism - "I don't believe this shit."
Amish - "Modern shit is useless."

27Jesse_wiedinmyer
Feb 1, 2014, 10:44 pm

Sometimes just holding someone's hand and listening really is the most helpful thing you can do.

Sometimes it's about the ONLY thing you can do. And when dealing with deaths and the like, it can be pretty aggravating to have people say shit like "well, I don't see what you expect me to say to make it better" and then cross the street.

28southernbooklady
Feb 2, 2014, 8:14 am

I think lots of times when people say the wrong thing in such situations, it's because they are worried they won't say the right thing. A person in crisis is almost by definition a person whose experiences are beyond our own. We tend to feel afraid and therefore defensive in such situations.

I try not to, but I get a little irritated when someone says "I'll pray for you." My first, ungenerous thought is always "Well at least that is guaranteed to make YOU feel better."

I have more of a dilemma when friends call out for prayers from me. "So and so is sick, please pray for her." That's when the usual "you're in my thoughts" seems a pallid response.

29Arctic-Stranger
Editado: Feb 2, 2014, 9:19 am

Often, "I will pray for you," is a way of saying, "I have no idea what to say, or what to do, but I can pray. So I will do that." It is a way of saying that when I am not with you, I am still thinking of you. Quakers say, "I will hold you in the Light."

Think of it as the spiritual equivalent of bring a casserole over to someone who just lost a spouse. The last thing they feel like is eating, but we bring them food anyway. Maybe it will get eaten, but most gets frozen and eventually thrown away.

But what else CAN you do?

ETA; asking you to pray however is kind of like asking a vegetarian to make someone a steak dinner. Or whatever vice versa of that would be.

30southernbooklady
Feb 2, 2014, 9:42 am

>29 Arctic-Stranger: Think of it as the spiritual equivalent of bring a casserole over to someone who just lost a spouse.

To someone who doesn't eat casseroles. :)

There is something to be said for the ritualized responses to grief, of course. The ritual itself is often what helps people through a confusing and terrible time. But they can also blunt true attempts at connection if they are performed without due consideration.

And as far as the call for prayers--I don't resent it, because getting irritated at a person in crisis for not remembering that everyone might not be "a meat eater" is hardly useful. Such calls are an explicit statement-- "this is what I need," "this is what would help." Far be it from me to get huffy over that. Instead, I just cast about for a good alternative to offer, since "praying" is not something I do. But I think of it in the same way I think of saying grace when I'm visiting friends for dinner. I may not be thanking God while we're sitting around the table, but I can honor the sentiment by being thankful.

31Arctic-Stranger
Feb 2, 2014, 9:55 am

And as far as the call for prayers--I don't resent it, because getting irritated at a person in crisis for not remembering that everyone might not be "a meat eater" is hardly useful.

Well, that is because you are a graceful person.

32Jesse_wiedinmyer
Feb 2, 2014, 10:46 am

I think lots of times when people say the wrong thing in such situations, it's because they are worried they won't say the right thing. A person in crisis is almost by definition a person whose experiences are beyond our own. We tend to feel afraid and therefore defensive in such situations.

Hmmm. I'm not even sure what to say about that one.

33Helcura
Feb 3, 2014, 8:24 am

I agree about both not having a really good phrase to convey what people mean when they say "I'm praying for you."

I like "holding you in the light;" back when I was trying to figure out if I could stay nominally Christian, Quakerism was one of the most attractive possibilities that I considered - the theology was consistent with much of my experience. I usually say "I'll send you positive energy," but then I'm sort of a post-hippy type so it works for people who know me. (One my physicist friends takes it as an attempt to influence quantum states by observation.)

I never mind if people say they'll pray for me, as long as they're not praying that I'll convert to the their religion - that one can be a bit coercive.

Have to say about the casseroles, though, when my grandmother died, my mother was deeply grief-stricken and she later said that the food that was brought over helped her hugely as she couldn't even begin to think about cooking, much less make decisions about what to cook.

I remember that they were mostly tuna casseroles, to which I am allergic, so I ate a lot of peanut butter. (I was a teenager and pretty overwhelmed myself. I didn't do too good a job of putting myself in my mom's shoes until many years later.)

This topic got me thinking about some of the experiences that cause people to say "I'm so blessed," or whatever. I know that I tend to have regular repetitions of a sort of overwhelming sense of good fortune to be in a certain place - to have eyes to see a sunrise on a mountain and the sort of mind that can be amazed by it, for example. There's a sense of gratitude, as well, but I can't say it's to anyone or anything in particular.

Perhaps it has to do with knowing that there's no particular reason I should be the one on the mountain on that morning, seeing that sunrise, and feeling exalted. I've not done anything special to deserve it, nor has anyone else done anything to not receive it. It seems to me that this experience is concisely articulated in religious language ("blessed" etc.), but perhaps not so concisely articulated in non-religious language. It would be very nice to have such a word to use that explicitly did not invoke or imply a deity or deities.

Anybody got any good ideas?

34Arctic-Stranger
Feb 3, 2014, 10:04 am

Blessed are those who mourn? Someone rather famous once said that.

35Noisy
Feb 3, 2014, 5:22 pm

> 33
Woohoo! Double six!
or perhaps that's just the backgammon player in me.

36Booksloth
Feb 4, 2014, 6:05 am

'I'm holding you in the light' sounds good until you stop and wonder just what the hell it actually means. I suppose the answer is that looking for a quick (dare I say trite) expression to sum it all up is never the answer because that's not what the other person needs. What most of us are tying to say in these circumstances is probably something like "I care about you and it hurts me to see you so sad because your pain is my pain. I want to do whatever it takes to help you through this terrible time" - and you don't just say it once you keep on saying it and follow it up with actions whenever you can. I've always wished we atheists had a convenient expression like this but I've just answered myself really in realising that anything that is meant to slip off the tongue quite so easily is never a good response to someone else's heartache.

37Jesse_wiedinmyer
Feb 4, 2014, 10:12 am

Yeah. There was another website where one of my favorite posters used "holding you in the light" as a response in such situations. It was no problem at first, but it soon seemed to become a generally phatic formulation.

38CliffordDorset
Feb 4, 2014, 6:59 pm

>33 Helcura:, 36

This recalls for me an entry in a local newspaper, in their 'Deaths' column. The actual words dictated over the phone were 'Into the light', but the paper rendered it as 'Into the night'. Not quite the same sentiment, I think you'll agree. As you might imagine, the error caused some consternation. (This is true: the deceased was my aunt.)

39ejj1955
Feb 4, 2014, 8:47 pm

I tend to use something along the lines of "my thoughts are with you and your family" or "I'm so sorry for your loss" (made somewhat trite by TV homicide detectives).

I'm not sure I agree, though, with the poster who said we can't know what it's like for another person in crisis. While we may not have had a duplicate experience and each person's reactions are different, most of us have had challenges and by a certain age, one has almost certainly lost important people, faced serious illness of self or loved ones, or had other challenges (fire, floods, job loss, heartbreak).

40Helcura
Feb 5, 2014, 5:03 am

Sometimes we need something meaningless, though. Sometimes we have a social obligation to acknowledge a person's pain, but don't have the social connections to be specific or intimate about it.

The people who told me they were praying for me when my father died weren't my friends, or even acquaintances who knew me, they were relative strangers who found out about my father's death and kindly and compassionately wanted to acknowledge it. It was as well-meant and as meaningless a saying thank you to a waiter. The waiter will still give you your food, but saying thank you acknowledges that the food is being served by a person.

The meaningless phrase of condolence acknowledges that we are aware of the other person's suffering even though we are not intimate with that person. Of course, the classic "I'm so terribly sorry," used to work quite well, until the literalists got hold of it - now everyone replies "Why? It's not YOUR fault."

41Arctic-Stranger
Feb 5, 2014, 2:25 pm

One does not need to experience a crisis before they can help others. Sometimes it is very helpful to talk to someone who has been through the same thing, but a) not everyone who has been through it is helpful, and b) each person deals with things differently.

So the guy who had cared for his ailing wife for years, and who took off on that motorcycle trip he had always wanted to do, did what was right for him, but if he encouraged someone else to do the same thing, that might be exactly the wrong thing.

There are really only two things you can do. Listen to someone and be with someone. Precious few people have "the right words" and even fewer have the right timing for the right words.

42justjim
Feb 5, 2014, 9:18 pm

>37 Jesse_wiedinmyer: …generally phatic formulation.

Also photic?

43Sandydog1
Feb 8, 2014, 1:04 pm

>33 Helcura: through 36,

Wow. That sentiment is way too spacy for my tastes. Besides, it reminds me too much of Raffi:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-ZczNkZqIw

44jbbarret
Feb 8, 2014, 3:19 pm

>43 Sandydog1: That link is scary.

45quicksiva
Feb 12, 2014, 9:19 am

Blessed be.

47ejj1955
Mar 2, 2014, 4:21 am

>46 Jesse_wiedinmyer: Very interesting to read this from a believer's perspective. And I think he's onto something there.

48Helcura
Mar 5, 2014, 6:25 am

>46 Jesse_wiedinmyer:

I can really respect the thoughts expressed there.

So the question becomes how can anyone, believer or not, express the sense of gratitude that comes from appreciating those things one has in life which are no reflection of our worthiness to have them?

I didn't choose to be born where I was, nor did I do anything to earn the eyes and brain that can appreciate the beauty of my world. I know I have it really good on my worst day and I value that.

What I, for one, would like to find would be a succinct way of saying this nice thing is happening in my life, and I don't think I'm special for having it, but I sure do appreciate it.

"Lucky," I think is the word I would have used as a child, but now so many people take that word to mean a superstitious belief in something that can be controlled by the right rituals, that it doesn't work so well.

"Blessed" does imply someone to do the blessing, so that's not so good either.

49southernbooklady
Mar 5, 2014, 7:49 am

>48 Helcura: What I, for one, would like to find would be a succinct way of saying this nice thing is happening in my life, and I don't think I'm special for having it, but I sure do appreciate it.

"Appreciate" seems like a good word. :)

"Value" and "Honor" are also words I've used to express the deep importance of something or someone in my life.

50Jesse_wiedinmyer
Mar 5, 2014, 10:12 am

Lucky," I think is the word I would have used as a child, but now so many people take that word to mean a superstitious belief in something that can be controlled by the right rituals, that it doesn't work so well.

You and I may come from different perspectives... I tend to play cards quite a bit, so in my world saying that you're "lucky" is as often as not an admission that you're not smart but just got rewarded for it regardless (Hence "better lucky than good.")

I dunno. I don't think I'm all that big on very public displays of gratitude to begin with.

51Helcura
Mar 6, 2014, 2:53 am

Yes, experience is important.

I used to be severely crippled due to a neurological condition, which was recently much improved by a particular medication. People often ask what happened and use words like 'miracle'.

In responding to such inquiries I find I need to express my gratitude for the improvement, but I am unable to ascribe it to a higher power or to any specialness on my part. It was, in fact, dumb luck - I was prescribed the medication for pain and it happened to resolve much of the neurological dysfunction as a side effect.

Hence I may have more occasion than most to need to share my sense of gratitude with other people without invoking a higher power that I do not believe in nor intimating that I somehow "deserve" to have such good fortune.

52southernbooklady
Mar 6, 2014, 6:46 am

>51 Helcura: I may have more occasion than most to need to share my sense of gratitude with other people without invoking a higher power that I do not believe in nor intimating that I somehow "deserve" to have such good fortune.

I think Scott Danemiller is specifically targeting what people in my part of the world call "the prosperity gospel." -- It started, from what I understand, as an idea that all gifts comes from God, but it's turned into a kind of Christian capitalism. I first encountered it at a Baptist service I was sitting in on, where the preacher had recently survived a difficult surgery. "Let us all thank the Lord and Jesus Christ for my new stomach," he said. "Amen!" "Thank Jesus!" said everyone.

It was very bizarre.

53keristars
Mar 6, 2014, 8:50 am

52> It's worse. Prosperity Gospel in its essential nature preys on folks to enrich the pastors. It says that if you give your money and time to the church, even if you don't have much to give and need it for yourself, you will become rich. So you get church leaders driving around in expensive cars, living in huge mansions, &c., while many of the parishioners struggle with day-to-day finances and feel compelled to continue giving money to the church (which goes to the church leaders).

54ejj1955
Mar 20, 2014, 2:57 am

I don't know that I'd use it in casual conversation, but I've always loved the word "serendipity." It conveys the happy but happenstance nature of randomly good things.

>48 Helcura: I've said, at times, that I feel lucky to have been born where I was and to have had a decent if not carefree childhood. I find certain societies in this world more repressive of women than I can imagine having to live through or in, and I've heard and seen enough of the horrors of abusive parents to be glad that mine, though not particularly warm nor given to building up my ego, did the best they knew how and loved us even though they couldn't express it.

55bluesalamanders
Mar 20, 2014, 5:57 am

Serendipity is a wonderful word. I'd call what happened with Helcura's medication serendipitous - a happy accident.

56southernbooklady
Mar 20, 2014, 8:16 am

>55 bluesalamanders: Serendipity is a wonderful word.

It is. When I was little we had a cat we named Serendipity for her habit of suddenly appearing from unexpected places.

57Helcura
Mar 25, 2014, 8:38 am

Agreed - a great word and apropos.

58Sandydog1
Mar 25, 2014, 7:42 pm

Was Serendipity the name of that muse in Dogma?

59Arctic-Stranger
Mar 25, 2014, 8:07 pm

The Salma Hayek character. Yes.

60Sandydog1
Mar 25, 2014, 8:09 pm

Hmm... I don't know why I'm so hung up on that particular muse...

61Arctic-Stranger
Mar 25, 2014, 8:49 pm

After all she is as anatomically correct as a Barbie doll.

62WMGOATGRUFF
Mar 28, 2014, 9:10 pm

>41 Arctic-Stranger: Arctic, I'd like to enthusiastically second your sentiments in the last paragraph. I have had, unfortunately, numerous times in my life in which tragedy has struck young persons filled with enthusiasm and vigor. The only thing I could do was just sit on their parents' sofa and drink their lemonade. I could think of no other thing to do to console the living - words mean nothing in situations like that but the living remember for quite a long time the fact that you were present to share their grief.
I don't know how military chaplains, hospice workers, Alzheimer care givers and other similar people keep their sanity after years of this type of service.

63trdsf
Abr 16, 2014, 1:49 pm

I don't mind "I feel so blessed" so much as I do someone saying goodbye with "Have a blessed day". I'm still rooting about for an appropriate reply to that, and the number of times I've bitten down "Thanks, you have a rational one!" is large, but still technically finite.

64southernbooklady
Abr 16, 2014, 1:51 pm

>63 trdsf: and the number of times I've bitten down "Thanks, you have a rational one!"

"And you have an empirically great one!"

65Jesse_wiedinmyer
Abr 16, 2014, 1:59 pm

An old friend from high school sent this to me the other day...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_uTl95SR7I

It was meant entirely seriously.

66ejj1955
Abr 16, 2014, 10:48 pm

Well, that explains a lot! (Okay, I didn't listen to the whole thing . . . too busy searching for cursed objects passed down to me from my forebears . . .)

67Jesse_wiedinmyer
Abr 17, 2014, 9:46 am

Yeah.

I'm not even sure how to respond to that one. Mind you, this was partially in response to the idea that my life could be better. And of course, there's the sheer bugfuck nuttery aspect of it.

68weener
Abr 17, 2014, 8:36 pm

I think a lot of people say "I'm blessed" when they mean "I'm privileged."

A friend that I actually really like says this. My view is that he's just really lucky because he was raised by awesome parents that love him, were able to provide handsomely for their family, and taught him how to make good choices. That's why he has had such an easy time of life.

69quicksiva
Abr 18, 2014, 10:48 am

Hell, he is blessed in my book.

70Sandydog1
Editado: Abr 18, 2014, 3:47 pm

Indeed he is. But I wasn't thinking so much about say, a 29-year old New York Stock Analyst who makes a half million a year.

Instead this quaint, maudlin, red-necky-and-only-a-tad-religious, ditty popped into my head:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9EckNMwRkc

Ah, OOOOHHH!

71Jesse_wiedinmyer
Abr 18, 2014, 5:29 pm

Whenever I hear the phrase, I think of this book.

Setting the Table

In his accounts of how he built his businesses, Meyer would repeatedly say things like "I was very blessed that when I set up my first restaurant, I was able to secure no-interest loans from family without giving up any equity."

And I'd have to sit and think to myself "Blessed, huh? Is that what it is?"

72ejj1955
mayo 18, 2014, 9:38 pm

And I guess that's kind of the point I was originally making. If you remove a divine benefactor doling out the goodies to the righteous, it's down to privilege or luck, often with hard work thrown in. Inversely, it's hard to believe that those who suffer from devastating illnesses or great losses through fire or flood or abusive parents--or what have you--do so because they didn't pray hard enough.

73Jesse_wiedinmyer
mayo 18, 2014, 9:43 pm

I think one of the bigger problems with the phrase is that is presupposes agency in a lot of ways. If you're blessed, it would seem to indicate that there's someone out there bestowing the blessing (with the concomitant idea that one has earned one's blessing.)

Luck? That's just the dumb stuff.

74Limelite
mayo 18, 2014, 10:02 pm

I tell them, "Say 'Curse you!' because I'm spreading germs." Beside, the substitute phrase is pleasingly onomatopoetic.

75Sandydog1
mayo 20, 2014, 9:15 pm

How about, "sorry you had an involuntary, nasopharyngeal event!"