When life has kicked you down and you feel as if everything has fallen
apart, remember there is always someone who wishes they have it as good as you.
Lately life has become an overwhelming catastrophe. Weathering the storm had
become gasping for air as my head bobbed briefly above water.
It all started about three weeks ago. A close family member had a heart
attack, the flu took up residence among my kids, the partner went down with
kidney stones, the electricity went out of one of the bathroom walls courtesy
of a mouse that didn't survive the last nibble, my pet bearded dragon of seven
years passed away, the work load at my day job doubled, the engine went out of
my car, and now I am down with the flu.
Wow that was a long sentence. In my fever induced delirium I meandered to
the kitchen tripping over laundry in the hallway. Through blurry eyes with
swear words lingering on the tip of my tongue I open the refrigerator door
wanting nothing more than a cold drink. Empty. Briefly I swear I heard the
ketchup bottle laugh at me. Point break. Tears welled in the corners of my
eyes. Frustration mingled with abdominal spasms intensifying a fresh wave of
nausea. Closing the refrigerator door self-pity rose to the fore front of my
mind. Why is life so hard?
The flutter of a paper caught my eye. Hanging proudly on the outside of the
door was a colored page by my youngest a giant heart and the words "I Love
You Mom". In that moment I felt like a complete asshat. It was only months
ago I didn't have a refrigerator or a stove. There was a time in life I didn't
have a home. But it wasn't the things that made me feel like an ungrateful
twit. It was the realization that everything I truly need in this world was
right there on that colored page.
After all, isn't that the reason I work? The ability to give those little
people every opportunity I can in this world. The flu is nothing in the grand
spectrum of disease in this world. Having seen firsthand the effects of
childhood cancer, Alzheimer’s, stroke, heart attack, MS, Cystic Fibrosis, and
numerous other diseases how can I feel sorry for myself over a stomach bug?
After knowing firsthand the fear of sleeping with one eye open beneath a
blanket of stars and the pain of going without food for weeks at a time, how
can I be so blind?
What is my lesson in all this? There was a time in life I would've gladly
accepted the problems I have now and laughed them off as mediocre. There was a
time I wished I would have it as good as I do now. Yeah it has taken a lot to
get here and by no means am I at the top. But in retrospect, even at its worse,
life really is beautiful.