Perspective is Key

So many things in life can be taken for granted.  I mean, it's all relative, right? Whatever you think is your sorrow may seem like bliss to the person standing next to you.

For instance, I often bemoan the fact that Rob and I live with his father as a result of his illness and subsequent recovery.  Okay, maybe not "bemoan" necessarily, but I do talk about it a lot.  I need to get it out of my system.  (I just typed up a bunch of stuff and erased it because you don't need to read about it and it's not right for me to air it out like that.)

But then I hear stories of people who have it so much worse.  People I know personally.  For instance, a couple who just attended our party over the weekend.  Turns out they're having such financial difficulties that they don't even live together anymore - they live with relatives and see each other only on the weekends.  Both have jobs...they just don't make enough money to have a place of their own right now.

Not to mention so many more people who are so afraid of what's going to happen when their unemployment is cut off...right before Christmas.

And here I am, complaining.  Even though I get to see my husband every day and sleep in the same bed with him every night.  So what if we normally don't get to go to bed together because one of us has to stay up until FIL goes to bed, regardless of what time it is? At the end of the day, we're together and comfortable in our home, and planning a lovely holiday with our family, and probably going a tad bit overboard with gifts.

We're even going away for a night this weekend.  Sure, we had to plan it well over a month in advance so as to secure plans for FIL, but hey, so very many people don't get to experience such luxuries.

It's all about perspective.  I can think of a few people I know personally who wouldn't be able to handle what we handle on a daily basis...but I can think of many more than that who would probably jump at the chance.

And it humbles me.