I was watching the Disney movie Aladdin (don't judge, it's a wonderful movie about love and freedom) tonight, and it got me thinking about the world. Not just my 17-year-old girl world, but the huge, enormous Earth, and all the people on it. Have you ever stopped to think about just how many people are on Earth? How many different stories a person's life could tell? The diverse situations you could find yourself in?
I'll be the first to say that I'm a Christian, and I believe God has blessed me with this life. However, tonight I caught myself thinking about my life, who I am, and what I'm really doing here. I'm blessed to live in a safe area with heating/AC, plumbing, and security. I never have to worry about when my next meal will be or where it will come from. I don't have to lock all my doors and windows eight times over, and I don't have to scout out my room for nails, bugs, rats etc. I live in an area with so much to offer and so much opportunity. My biggest issue every day seems to be what I'll wear or how I'll tame this mane I call hair.
Tonight, however, I'm wondering why I was blessed with this wonderful life. Why woud I, a selfish, whiney, ungrateful, spoiled brat be blessed with such an amazing life full of incredible people who love me despite my flaws? I take so much for granted it's ridiculous, and no, I'm not always the best person I could be. I'll tell you right now, I am not always a nice girl. I can go from sweet to hateful so fast it'll make your head spin. Ask anyone. Yet, there's a kid in Africa or China or Japan who has nothing and is the happiest kindest person you'll ever meet. How is that fair? Here I am, a spoiled East Cobb kid with nothing to really complain about, but that's what a spend a good time doing. Meanwhile, there's a kid out there who has every reason in the world to complain, but instead they're the happiest most pleasant little kid you've ever met in your life.
As a Christian, I believe that God doesn't throw anything at us that He thinks we can't handle. Does that mean that the people with little to no problems are weak, and these amazing kids with nothing but tradgedy in their lives are the warriors of the world? And even if you're not religious, think about it, why were you so lucky to have a life in which your biggest issue is you don't want to go to work or you have a zit on your forehead that your bangs cover anyway? Why are we, the people who take all the good things in our life for granted, the lucky ones while people in Japan, Egypt, or Libya have to fight and suffer? Can you imagine waking up every morning wondering if you'll make it to bed that night the same way you woke up? Maybe it's just me being a naive teenager, but the fact that I can sit here and take for granted that I even have my own computer to write this blog on, while another person in the world is elated to just find a loaf of stale bread in a garbage can is mind blowing to me.
I never realize how much I take for granted until I really think about it, but then I forget about it and move on with whatever I was doing, and complain about something as minute as slow internet, or my boyfriend not responding to me on Facebook. I remember when I was working, every night I worked I would complain to myself and everyone around me how I didn't want to work. I look back now, after the store I was working for closed, how grateful and happy I should have been to even have work. I was 17 and didn't even really need a job, yet I had one and complained about it, meanwhile people with families to support and mortgages to pay were losing their jobs left and right. It just leaves me with the question "Why me?" What did I do to deserve so many good things happen to me when I really don't truly appreciate a fraction of it?
So I guess, the whole point of this blog/rant/whatever you want to call it is be grateful to be where you are right now. If your biggest problem is that your family is being annoying, or you can't go anywhere this weekend because you're grounded or your car is busted and you don't have a ride, you've got it pretty well off. Instead of griping at your family for being annoying, hug them and be happy that you know exactly where they are, and they're safe, unlike so many people in Japan. When you call your family and friends, you know you're going to talk to them. Imagine all the people in Japan who's loved ones didn't pick up, and be grateful. If you're grounded or you can't go anywhere this weekend, be happy you still have a home to stay in. Think about all the good things you've been lucky enough to have, and just be thankful for them. You may not believe it every day or always remember it, but if you're even able to get online and read this blog, you're doing pretty well. Be thankful, guys, just be thankful.
