Perspective

The other night, I was getting ready to make dinner and realized I didn't have one little ingredient. I was so annoyed to have to go all the way to the grocery store for a block of cream cheese. It seemed like such a waste of gas and time, but I needed it for my recipe. So off I went while simultaneously throwing myself a mini pity party. It was such a first world problem.

I saw this video, and I was ready to slap myself. We Americans have recently coined the term #FirstWorldProblems. We talk about having to go all the way downstairs just to get something to eat or get off the couch to go turn the ceiling fan on. In reality, we are richer than 98% of the world yet we still complain about these "menial" tasks we see as inconveniences. Take a look at this video...

So I had to drive all the way to the grocery store for one little ingredient. Do you know what that means?
- It means I have a car that works
- It means I can afford to put gas in that car to drive
- It means I can afford to buy the ingredient I need

Perspective:

Your job is wearing on you and you are tired of having to sit at a desk from 9 to 5
...but the fact that you have a job means you don't have to worry where your next meal will come from

Your kids are screaming and all you want is some peace and quiet
...but kids mean you were blessed with a full pregnancy or successful adoption

Your dog needs to be walked and it's cold outside
...but you have an animal that loves you unconditionally and can't wait to spend time with you

You had a long day and don't feel like cooking dinner
...but you have the means to cook dinner so you won't go hungry

The laundry is piled up from your husband changing clothes so often
...but laundry means your husband is home with you

Sometimes, perspective can be a beautiful thing. As I write this, I'm sitting in a warm house with a full belly and the television on. The people in the video you just watched would be elated just to be in the same situation. And yet, I still take what I have for granted most of the time. Many of us are blessed to call sitting in a warm house with a full belly "normal", but there is nothing normal about it for the people in this video.

We all have struggles in our lives. We all have inconveniences we have to deal with, but we are all so so blessed. Today, I'm focusing on the positives life has to offer. My life isn't perfect and I still face problems just like anyone else, but all it takes is a little perspective to see that most of my "problems" aren't really problems at all.