Perspective

Pollyanna I'm not, but...

A potential issue with my car (it's headed to the shop this afternoon) and a washing machine in need of repair haven't made for a great start to this week. Unfortunately, the two issues cropped up simultaneously, making two individual molehills look more like one giant mountain to climb. (How I wish life would only mete out one crisis at a time!)

But I'd be inconsiderate (at best) if I didn't keep things in an accurate perspective. Those are merely inconveniences, not life-or-death problems. A local family that lived down the street from me lost its home (and likely everything in it) in an early-morning fire yesterday. Now that's a life-threatening, life-altering challenge! I'm sure they would much rather have my problematic, aging car and malfunctioning washing machine than their torched shell of a house and all its accompanying burdens. (As would I, of course.)

It's difficult for me to feel sorry for myself or stress out (and believe me, I'm quite skilled at both) over my paltry problems when I think about others who struggle more in one day than I will in a year. For example, I know people who suffer every day from chronic debilitating health issues and pain, which thankfully I don't have. I know people who are unemployed, struggling to provide for themselves and their families, while I'm employed (with a job I enjoy) with money in the bank.Some people live in violent homes or violent neighborhoods (sometimes both), while I live in a safe home in a safe village. I could go on and on, but you get the point.

It's all about perspective. I'm no Pollyanna. I have my struggles, but even in the midst of them I can't ignore my good fortune.