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Don't we all wish we could live in a happy world? A world full of happiness, great news, people with beautiful hearts and all the positive things one can ever imagine? - yes everyone does.
Who want to surround oneself with sad and miserable stories/lives? - no one
We tend to view other people's problems "small" because at the end of the day it is not "my" problem.
It is completely different when it is our turn to face such problems. All of sudden, we feel like our world is collasping...we have troubles so big that they weight us down to the very bottom of the earth and we can't find our way out.
We cry...we whine endlessly
....But "Is our problem really that "big" and "worth" worrying, crying, whining and depressing?"
Probably not
There are more people in this world who truly "suffer" and are facing life-death situations...every minute..every day.
We are whining about our problems (breakup, not having enough money to buy what we want, not getting enough raise, my daughter won't poo-poo in a potty, I have early signs of aging, work and other 100 different nitpicking topics).
We forget that there are people in many parts of the world who are facing and suffering "real" problems because we don't look beyond ourselves.
I am one of those who tend to get stressed over small little things too often. I get upset easily, sometimes for nothing worthwhile. I still take things/people/blessings that I have for granted.
I should NOT and you should not either.
Today I came across an article on Foxnews about a blind Sudan teen who is facing a dilemma of having to return to his country before his treatment in the U.S. is completed.
What really intrigued me to read this article was that I was wondering how he became blind. "He was captured and enslaved 15 years ago in Southern Sudan." His master punished him by rubbing chili peppers into his eyes"
....In my head, I was mentally and quickly doing the math - he is currently 18 years old so that means he was enslaved since he was only THREE YEARS OLD!!!!!!!!!
HEART-BREAK-ING into million pieces...my heart ached badly and my eyes became teary while trying to finish this article. My thoughts scattered all over the place as I was trying to imagine at what age this inhumane / low-life / satan slavemaster son-of-the-b*tch did that horrible act to this boy and how he lived those years until someone saved his life.
Usually I try not to read this kind of story because I become so depressed easily. Sometimes it keeps me up at night. As much as I love and have dreamt all my life to volunteer when the time is right, I don't know I will have enough strength to listen and work on something like this. I can be too emotional, too weak.
What I am trying to say is...
While we should always look up for the good and positive things in life to lift our spirit and hopes up, we should not forget the "harsh reality".
We shouldn't pretend they don't exist. We should not sheild ourselves and live in a fairytale.
When my daughter is old enough to understand life, I want to tell her that there are bright and dark days. Good and evil people. Tears and laughter. Up and down times in life.
People are facing all kind of problems everyday....ranging from mild to severe.
It is good to look "far and beyond" ourselves so we realize our problem is indeed very small or shouldn't have been a problem to begin with.
...Live your life to the fullest, cherish, nourish, appreciate all the blessing your have and help others when you can...
Great post. And so true too.
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Hi Nelah, I am very much like you. I am like a sponge, when I hear sad news I absorb it all to the point where it takes over my daily thinking. For this reason I do not watch the news anymore, the story you described is horrific and I just want to cry. I can't believe that at 3 years old (the same age as our kids) he was enslaved and lived a life of abuse. Whenever I start getting depressed after hearing these stories I have to think of the positive. That there are good people out there, that hope does exist. In my job now I look at death certificates everyday, and everyday at work I am reminded that life is short. I try not to take things for granted, to not worry about the little crappy things that really don't mean anything in the long run. I just wish happiness and health among my family and friends, even to people I've never met. Thank you for this post Nelah, for reminding us to not sweat about the small stuff. Beautiful post, I'm teary eyed now :)
ReplyDeleteYou're a really good writer and what you say is so true. It's sad but you're right about how people think sometimes other's are smaller problems because they're not their own. This post made me reflect a lot.
ReplyDeleteGreat post,
xoDale
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I agree, it's good to become educated about what occurs. The majority of us, however, will do nothing about it.
ReplyDeleteNelah, so glad to see you again and no worries on MIA..I know you are busy :) This is such a sad story, how could they do something like that to a young boy! We take human rights for granted in the US but in many parts of the world it is non-existent. Thank you for addressing this issue also for asking us to re-think what really matters...and what doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things!
ReplyDeleteAw man... What a terrible thing to happen to the poor boy. You are so right that the little things that make us so upset are totally not worth it in the grand scheme.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read about the rubbing chilli part, it reminds me of Slumdog Millionaire where the boy was made blind by pouring some solution into his eyes before sending him out to beg.
ReplyDeleteNews that make me tear most are those of death of young people and people around my age who still has got a whole long route of bright future to look forward too.
"Is our problem really that "big" and "worth" worrying, crying, whining and depressing? Probably not."
I'm standing on the fence on this statement of yours as there are really 2 ways to see it. Yes, I agree with you that sometimes all our nitty gritty problems are not problems at all if we were to know about all the other unfortunate souls in the world. However, to quote what one of my besties told me "we are all human, and when each of us have a problem, our problem is THE BIGGEST. i dont compare myself with an ethopia kid and think, ok my problem is not that big, that kid has nothing to eat and so I don't have a big problem. No biggie". I thought what she said is quite true too. Of course, you've to strike the balance too and know which are the minor problems not to be sweat over for.
I just recently watched the movie Machine Gun Preacher about a ex con turned preacher who goes to the Sudan to help these kids. Stories like this are so sad and your right, we forget about those hurting so bad living our happy lil lives and I too want to help but not sure how except prayer, lots of prayer.
ReplyDeleteReally great words Nelah....I too, am like you...I get stressed out easily and think the worlds problems are mine to fix. Im slowly learning. A very wise man once told me that if you sit at a table with a bunch of people and everyone puts their problems in the center, you will probably be glad to take yours back.....happy Friday hunnie....have a great weekend!!!
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The story is one of the saddest.. and my heart breaks often when I hear about the tragedies in this world. It's just about every day that I feel a sense of deep helplessness and sadness because I get daily updates on animal cases through various sources. The one that hurts the most is an application on Facebook called "Pet Pardons" where pets from shelters across the U.S. are listed when they need are facing their death date and urgently need someone to adopt them.
ReplyDeleteWe can only do the best with what we have.. I might be able to only blog and verbally share what I know right now, but I'd rather not do nothing. In the case of this boy, we can not do much unless there is a fund or petition to support his surgery or residence in the states. I think sending positive thoughts or prayers his way is a little something we can do too.
Anyhow, thank you for this post - I'm similar to you in many ways in taking things/people for granted and getting bothered by the little things.. which I hope to change.
Thanks for this great reminder Nelah. I too, often complain about the tiniest problem without even thinking about the things that I have and should appreciate. I hope your words will reach many people! =)
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing this Nelah. I sometimes try not to read the news bc it's so depressing but we cant really avoid it. I read an article few months ago about a boy in NY got kidnapped on his way home from camp. Stuff like that makes me so sad and mad..and us mommies start worrying about our children and so many crazy ideas running through our mind. lol I get stressed over lil things too! haha
ReplyDeleteYup we should just cherish everything we have and dont think things for granted.
Beautiful Post Nelah! It only takes looking at someone else's problems to see that yours is not as big. I know some people who complain about everything and it's so trivial. I sometimes say to them, "you think you have problems? what about someone who has no place to live, nothing to eat, no running water etc...THEY have problems." People really need to evaluate what they complain about. Thanks for sharing this. ((HUG))
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Very uplifting. I am very guilty of sweating the small stuff and this reminded me to be grateful for every breath and every moment!
ReplyDeleteOh wow this is a great post sweating the small stuff and letting it get to is something i have and still do this post may be the things to help me move away from that.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful pearl of wisdom. It's a great reminder that we all need because we often sweat the small stuff. I think it's wonderful that you want to teach your daughter the good and the bad. I couldn't agree more. I hope to do the same because I'd like my little girl to learn compassion and humility.
ReplyDeleteI have to say... with all my heart.. I love post like this. It is uplifting.
ReplyDeletethank you my dear!
besos,
ML
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