DHere I am
with first world problems
and woe
I ran out of waffles
the air conditioner died
the cat puked on the bed
it’s raining
Netflix is not working
How sad for me
There they are
with third world problems
and woe
They have little food, poverty
the roof of a tiny shack leaks
the noise of gunfire and bombs fill the air
disease cuts through life
eyes glaze, bereft of hope
Here I am
with first world problems
but not really
I am nourished
with four solid walls, a roof
an automobile that runs
a computer and internet
cleansers to clean up cat puke
a job, income, and a waffle maker
There they are
with harshness I will never feel
Here I am
with comfort they will never feel
There they are
praying for help, food and blessings
Here I am
blessed with more than I could need
Third world problems persist
with the drone of a people’s cry
First world problems draw no breath
only the drone of a people’s whine
There are always so many others with more important issues, but sometimes when we’re hot from a broken A/C it’s challenging to remember. 🙂 We were without power for 9 hours last week, and I thought we wouldn’t make it, but then I saw were hundreds of thousands were out for several days. Yes, life is usually pretty darn good. We just forget. Thank you for the reminder.
Perhaps the A/C was not a good example, Judy, given the hot weather and storms you’ve had to weather this summer. Heat without a fan or A/C can be a killer and it makes me wonder how people permanently without those things get through it. We have so much convenience in our lives and I try to be grateful for all of it and keep the whining to a minimum.
Thanks for the reminder about necessary perspective, Mary. It’s easy to complain, but it’s hard to remember to count our blessings.
Natasha and I were talking about this last week after seeing the devastation in Beirut and reminding ourselves that we don’t have it so bad. First world problems seem to be more of an inconvenience that we can weather with a smile, if we put our minds to it.
An excellent reminder and perspective about real problems that happen around the world.
“I ran out of waffles
the air conditioner died
the cat puked on the bed
it’s raining
Netflix is not working…”
Welcome to my life… except the A/C dying part.
Brilliant poem! 💗
So, you have a puking cat too? Isn’t that the worst? 😉
Thank you so much, Lucy. I hope you find gratitude in kitty purrs and cleansing rain and have a wonderful Monday.
Excellent job of putting things back in perspective.
Thanks Joanne. How have you been? Still having your daily outings on the patio with Gilles and the adult refreshment?
I’ve been doing well. It’s certainly been an unusual summer in an unusual year! Having our deck rebuilt during the hottest July on record was one of biggest ‘events’ so far 😏
We have been mostly staying at home.
Looking forward to your final work day?
Impatiently and excitedly looking forward. Anxious about getting everything done before my last day.
I’m sure that he rest of the world is listening to the US and thinking we are such babies…. We are so blessed and yet too many people are unaware of our blessings and the difficulties in other parts of our world…
So true. We have so many creatue comforts that we take for granted and get too easily upset over when we don’t have them.
I think it’s okay to have a little whinge as long as you don’t dwell on it. We’re only human and things can be shitty and it’s okay to be grumpy about it. But then, you stop, count your blessings, think of others and get on with life.
PS Very happy to see a post from you. There hadn’t been one for a while (well, you know, a while for you and your usual posting routine) and I got worried…
As a matter of fact, Tuesday was a whiny day, so I did allow myself that. This morning I wrote several gratitudes to make up for it.
I’ve been very busy with work, keeping up with regular duties and also trying to wrap things up before my retirement day in three weeks. I’ll probably be working some hours the next two weekends to make it happen, so not sure about blogging. Otherwise, I am safe and well. 🙂
Yep, all about balance. We are only human. Plenty of blogging time coming up after the next three weeks. Oooh, so exciting! Glad to hear you’re keeping safe and well and busily working towards your next amazing stage of life. 🙂
Thank you for this perspective. I seem to need frequent reminders that other people deal with much harder things than I am facing.
You’re welcome, JoAnna. 🙂
Nice blog
Thank you! And thanks for the follow. 🙂
Spot on. We must always remember how fortunate we truly are.
👍🙂👍
When I think of my 1st World Problems they pale in comparison to what I know 3rd World Problems are. I have Family in a 3rd World Country so it does give me more perspective of what they Source their Joy from, what they don’t miss doing without, what struggles they have that we don’t have and might never have. In life I’ve had some harsh realities, I was Homeless once with a Newborn and a Four Year Old in tow, that was tough. But at the time I still had a Career, but was surviving escape from a DV Marriage and a recent Divorce, it was temporary inconvenience. Going thru stuff like that, off and on, gave me more compassion and empathy too, there but for the Grace of God go I… We are so fortunate in America, which is why I do worry about the direction we’re going Politically speaking… my DIL from Cambodia said it best, that she didn’t escape the Killing Fields of her Homelands to come here, for to see it turn into something like what she escaped, it scares her, the similarities of how Regimes form and what could happen, once it’s too late to realize what has come into Power and taken over..
I hope this country can turn the tide and not be the places that scares your DIL. I pray that we can rid ourselves of the current division and hate and find unity and peace.