Puttin' stuff in perspective

Nenetx2004 · Post by **Nenetx2004** » Wed May 28, 2008 1:18 pm

I'm not responding to anything in particular. I just wanted to share something with you all that hit home with me about a year ago.

I volunteer with the local police department as a crisis counselor. We respond to victims of crimes and their families after something has happened. A year ago, I was riding out and we got a call about a possible suicide threat. A man had barricaded himself inside his elderly mother's house with a shotgun and was threatening to kill himself. We arrived on scene to help the mother deal with what was going on. In a situation like this, SWAT is usually dispatched along with the fire department and other emergency personnel. Sitting in the car, with this poor woman watching law enforcement in full riot gear, with special robotic equipment and high-powered rifles, we tried to reassure her that the main goal was to get her son out safely.

During this particular time in my life, I was dealing with some real buttheads at work. I was getting blamed for things that were beyond my control as well as having demands made on me that were compromising my own personal ethics.

Anyway, long story short (okay, maybe it is a tad long), the son surrendered, we got the elderly woman to some family members and everyone went home safe and sound. While I was filling out a report, it dawned on me that the BS I was dealing with at work, didn't amount to a hill of beans compared to what this woman and her family were dealing with and going to continue to deal with.....

Okay, climbing down off my soapbox .....everyone have a wonderful and safe week...

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Wed May 28, 2008 1:35 pm

Eh, every now and then we all need to have things put in perspective for us. Thanks for sharing - and reminding us that we never have it so bad if we look around us we can't find someone who is a lot worse off than we are.

DreamStalker · Post by **DreamStalker** » Wed May 28, 2008 1:36 pm

I hear 'ya!

When I'm having a bad day all I do is think about how those poor people are dealing with life after Sadamm, or the folks digging their way out of the earthquake in China, or struggling to survive a cyclone in a straw hut in Burmah, or someone in a hospital ICU that has no idea how much longer they will live.

There is always a bunch of people willing to trade their problems for yours.

OldLincoln · Post by **OldLincoln** » Wed May 28, 2008 1:53 pm

After Nam, I heard a saying that I've had bring up several Times. There's only two rules in life.... 1) Don't sweat the small stuff. 2) It's all small stuff.

That plus adding a few decades let me smile when some kid drives 90 and cuts me off so she can take the next exit 40' ahead.

NightHawkeye · Post by **NightHawkeye** » Wed May 28, 2008 3:11 pm

Anyone besides me notice that it got easier to deal with small stuff after starting CPAP?

sleepycarol · Post by **sleepycarol** » Wed May 28, 2008 4:56 pm

Very good posting!!

I feel that the older I get the less likely I am too worry about the small stuff. I car pool with another woman my age and we agree about not sweating over something that you won't even remember the next day, the next week, the next month, or the next year.

Life is just too short to spend it fretting about something you have little or no control over.

mellabella · Post by **mellabella** » Wed May 28, 2008 10:47 pm

My humbling reminder of this (especially when self-pay and co-pay medical expenses get high):

Starving people have been making dirt cookies to eat in Haiti.

I can make myself bacon and eggs every morning for about $1/day.

None of us are really poor, are we?

alnhwrd · Post by **alnhwrd** » Thu May 29, 2008 12:21 am

I complained that I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet.

ColinP · Post by **ColinP** » Thu May 29, 2008 3:29 am

NightHawkeye wrote:Anyone besides me notice that it got easier to deal with small stuff after starting CPAP?

My wife also noticed

BarryKaraoke · Post by **BarryKaraoke** » Fri May 30, 2008 8:21 am

I had a similar revelation a few years ago when I traveled to Argentina on business during the height of the countries financial/monetary crisis. At the time they had staggering unemployment numbers.

One night after dinner in Buenos Aires I saw people going through a dumpster looking for cardboard. My local associate with me made it a point to say, "You see those people? They aren't homeless people or bums. They are just like you and me...perhaps out of work bankers or lawyers, looking for cardboard to take to the recycling center where they may get .50 or a dollar for it. That would be enough to feed their family tomorrow. We Argentines are a very proud people but when your nation collapses and times are bad, you do what you must do to survive."

I came home and gave the kids the old "you don't know how good you have it" speech. Much like when my father gave me the speech...I don't know if it really sank in though. Some times you must see something with your own eyes before you realize how good you have it.

Captain_Midnight · Post by **Captain_Midnight** » Sat May 31, 2008 4:42 pm

Nenetx - -

I agree with your observation about perspective, and how it sometimes takes a near-tragedy to allow us to take a few steps back, and realize what's really important.

NH writes - - Anyone besides me notice that it got easier to deal with small stuff after starting CPAP?

Yes.

I have many such observations. I found that little things don't annoy me as much, it's easier to multi-task, it's easier to start and complete projects, I'm more (but not completely) organized, and that I'm more socially comfortable.

On the social comfort item, I find myself striking up conversations with complete strangers, where before it was more likely to be a polite nod. (In fact, where I was a bit on the quiet side, I now have to guard against being a motor mouth.)

Back to little annoying things and keeping them in perspective. I'm much more likely to deal with small issues in stride, more likely to know what's really important, less likely to feel overwhelmed, and less likely to procrastinate.

Pappian life's pretty good.

Regards all - - Tom

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Claire · Post by **Claire** » Sat May 31, 2008 6:49 pm

Yeah, there's nothing like thinking or seeing how other people live to let us know how lucky we are.

My husband and I spent 4 winters in the Dominican Republic and helped out with a mobile medical missionary. The things we saw! Kids with heads full of fungus, semi-starved babies, people old before their time. And then there were just the terrible municipal problems of water you can't drink and broken road and too many road accidents (drivers drunk on cheap rum).

We are so blessed...truly.

lifeartist59 · Post by **lifeartist59** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 2:49 pm

Life itself puts things in perspective. I used to think getting old was hard, till I was diagnosed with cancer 10 years ago. Now, its wonderful to age everyday Thanks to the original posting for the reminder on how the little things in our lives are not really worth the worry.

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Puttin' stuff in perspective

Puttin' stuff in perspective

Perspective and PAP effect

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