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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsI'm lucky
I'm lucky
I'm American and Caucasian - there's a lot of luck right there.
I'm educated (bachelor of Science, little post-grad)
I was just reading an article about someone in a particular regime who survived torture. I've never been tortured.
I have a job and insurance. Not quite as much as I'd like, but probably far more than most.
I have a mortgage underwater, but we're paying our bills. I'm not homeless. Many are.
I'm still married, but that's a miracle to me. Long story.
I have a house and multiple vehicles. Where we live, it's not a major deal to have some acreage and multiple vehicles, but I know it's a luxury most don't have.
I have multiple dogs. I'll happily give one away, but the rest we'd like to keep. I know many people can't have pets where they live.
I have major medical conditions, but I deal with them. Many don't have insurance. My medical condition is chronic and fatal, but I have help. Many don't.
As the saying goes, I don't know where I'll be 100 years from now, but I know where I'll be tomorrow. As it happens, that's more than most people can say. I do have a bed tonight and a dog or two to join me and my wife. We'll be okay.
Whenever I think something sucks, I always realize that someone, somewhere, has it worse. It's important to keep your life in perspective. I'm not dying from 110+ degree heat in India, I wasn't buried in an avalanche, I have various luxuries that I'm tempted to take for granted.
I remember being at an AA meeting and hearing from someone who was partially paralyzed, abused, thrown against walls, had teeth knocked out, and so much more. I'm lucky. I haven't had anything close to make my life miserable.
Perspective is important, but sometimes hard to come by.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)until we pause to look around us.
Mnemosyne
(21,363 posts)I've always worried about the person that you could not say that too, whoever they may be. They have to exist.
Great post,Tab!