To ask what your thinking is on this

[IceAndASlice123]

When people say 'Be grateful for good things, they don't last forever.'
Is it not the case that people do experience long lasting happiness in terms of like a good relationship?

Well yes.

But consider: you have a good relationship which has lasted ten, twenty, whatever years. You spend most of your time concentrating on the things that are wrong in your life (work, possessions, body image, friends...). Your relationship is there, and it's good. You don't think about it much.

Your partner has a brain aneurysm / is knocked down by a bus / falls off a cliff / gets abducted by aliens

Maybe you spend a bit of time thinking "if only I'd spent more of the last five years appreciating our wonderful relationship"

• that's what people mean

I mean, do you think that good things can't stay good?

I’ve never heard this saying, it sounds very pessimistic.

I think it’s reasonable to say that not everything is good all the time but to imply that it will simply cease to be good altogether seems a little dour.

Ill health and death can occur in fantastic relationships. Is that what was meant?

Well, life means change. Statistically, 100% of good things will end. I do think they're worth appreciating but it is a bit morbid. I work a lot with dying people though.

Some good things do last ‘forever’ (until your death I suppose that means). Many don’t. I think the better way of saying it is ‘don’t take things for granted (could add ‘you never know what might happen’).

I recently lost a loved one unexpectedly out of the blue. I have repeated been grateful that I don’t have any regrets, had been happy and made an effort etc and gave and received joy and happiness had good chats about things and good laughs and basically had a lovely relationship. It took a bit of doing and a bit of effort. Just glad I don’t have regrets now and feel some peace amongst the crap of grief.

Sorry that got serious !

I would read that as enjoy the good things as one day you will die.

I take it as what it means. Brings to mind the song that says to everything there is a season. Turn, turn, turn.

Appreciate and treasure what you have. Try to get along with and nurture your family. One day they won't be here. My Mum and Dad left us just four days apart.

It is because of the realization their deaths brought me that I cringe when people say they are going no contact. I get that there are toxic relationships, and I guess I am naive, but I would hope that there is an option other than not seeing your Mum, Dad, whomever.