A lot of us spend a lot of time complaining about the things we don't have, and not a lot of time appreciating what we do have, this is something I'm often guilty of doing. I'm focused on what I want, and not what I have, and how lucky I am to be in my position.
We complain about the cold winters, though many of us have heated shelter and modes of transportation. We constantly complain of harsh winter conditions, though for many of us our experiences outside are a quick walk from our warm vehicle into a warm building. We never remain cold for long, and experience relief from the less than ideal conditions of a Saskatchewan winter.
We're so busy complaining, we don't take the time to appreciate the good things we often overlook. Some of us are not so fortunate, some people do not have warm houses, or houses at all. Some live outside in the freezing temperatures, suffering frostbite, hypothermia, or death. In third-world countries people are starving, beaten, and diseased and live every day in filthy, poor conditions. For some people, every day is a fight for survival, while many of us sit in our houses with the furnace cranked, whining about how cold it is outside.
We complain about medical care and the shortage of doctors, and how we must wait a week or more to get in at a clinic, or sit for hours in the emergency room. And while it is certainly frustrating and definitely not ideal, I think our situation is much more favorable than what other people go through. First of all, we are extremely lucky to have health care coverage. Many of our expenses are covered and we don't end up with thousands, or hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses. In some countries, their citizens are not covered, and an accident or illness can leave an individual or family broke, bankrupt, and owing more money than they would make in a lifetime.
Some countries don't have options for medical care at all. People in third-world countries are diseased and dying with no one to help. People who suffer accidents or illnesses can't simply go to a doctor or the emergency room and seek medical assistance. They do the best they can with what they've got, and that often isn't good enough. Wounds become infected, and sadly, individuals can become deformed or die from their injuries. Illnesses and injuries that we obtain that require a shot, or some medicine, or a short stay in a hospital can mean disfigurement and death for people in less developed countries.
Education is yet another thing we are so fortunate to have. If we apply ourselves and work hard, we can obtain a high school degree and go on to work, or can choose to go to university and obtain an undergrad degree, and then a masters degree if we so desire. While some people may opt out of post-secondary education due to the high costs and feel it is unaffordable, it is still an option here. And as much as some people complain about how useless high school is, we are lucky to be able to receive that education for free, and to use it to our advantage to help us find a career that will provide an income, which will pay for our homes, food, and vehicles.
Our society is often so materialistic. We focus on inanimate objects and collecting things. We want the next best phone, computer, trendy clothes, and these things that we want are so important to us. I have spent countless dollars on things that I in no way needed. I've been selfish and wasteful with the money that I should be grateful to even have. I can recall many times I have wasted money on something just because I wanted it for some shallow reason, and I think about how that money could have been towards better use. The money I waste could be put towards more fulfilling experiences like travel, or towards the less fortunateand helping those in need.
Sometimes I think we need to take a break and reflect on the things we are fortunate enough to have. I take for granted too often the fact that I have a home, a vehicle, I can go to any university I choose and obtain a degree. Millions of people across the world do not have the things many of us here do have. Many children don't receive an education, or don't even have a house or family. I can't imagine how difficult such a life would be, and yet for some people it is all they have ever known. The funny thing is, sometimes you would never guess that these kids or people live in squalor, because they are happy and they don't need a lot to bring them joy or gratification. For fun, kids in third-world countries don't need to spend hundreds of dollars on game systems or entertainment, they have a blast kicking a ball around a field.
It's not only the third world countries that suffer though. There are so many individuals and families across North America who are in a bad state. Some are homeless, and some can barely afford a place to live and food to eat. Some must work three jobs just to get by.
There are so many individuals that would give a limb to have the lives we have, and so many times we sit and complain about our petty problems. And yes, sometimes our problems are stressful and hectic, and not so easy, and it is okay to complain once in a while, as long as we also take time to appreciate the good we have in our lives.
It's not a bad idea to take some time to reflect on what you have, and what you are grateful for. Sometimes it helps to gain a little perspective, and often when we think of the things we do have, instead of what we don't, we may realize our problems aren't the end of the world after all.
