The Big Picture

#firstworldproblems

You've all seen this hashtag right? 

'Shit, the dickhead check-in lady didn't give me a window seat.' 

'Dammit, she wore the same dress as me (and looked way better)'

'Ugh, sooooo incredibly full I feel sick.'

These are all first world problems.

Famine. Disease. Slavery. Poverty. War. 

These are all real problems (affecting more than 70% of our population).

Lately, I've found myself dwelling on the most trivial things. Money, or lack thereof. Time management. And the extra layers of fat that I can't seem to shed on my tum & thighs. And yesterday, after reading an extremely emotional article on the war (I refuse to call it a conflict, it's a bloody war you glossy media fools) in Syria, it quickly hit home that my problems are really not problems at all. 

Women, children, & men are being slaughtered, aswel as patriotic soldiers,  and aid workers. Innocent people, dying everyday. Living in constant fear, unable to escape.

And I have a bit of extra wobble on my belly because I housed two babies. 

Perspective, hi, it's nice to see you again.

God, it's so easy to get caught up in the most ridiculous shit isn't it? How we look, who thinks what of us, how much we have to fork out for a friggen coffee. And yet, in the big scheme of things, none of it matters. 

Living in such a materialistic & image-obsessed narcissistic age, makes it so easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of it all. Everybody wants to do better, buy better, be better than everybody else. I, for one, am guilty of always needing (wanting) more. What is with us westerners and never being totally happy with what we have? It's such a vicious cycle. 'Oh, god I need those jeans.. now that I have them, I think I need another pair in a different colour' 

At the same time, this is the world we live in. We do not witness or experience famine or poverty, and we don't have war on our doorstep. Our problems have simply stemmed from what we know, which is unavoidable and understandable. But, I still think it's important, to just take a step back, and see the bigger picture. 

Be appreciative to have a home, to have food, clean oxygen, warm clothes, and healthy family and friends. 

I really need to work on doing this more often. Worrying about what's in my house, instead of who is in my house is just plain stupid isn't it? 

I don't want to look back on my life and think about that super cool couch we owned, or the clothes I wore. I want to look back and go, "fuck yeah, I was a nice person, my kids are awesome people, we saved some animals, fell madly in love, did my part for the environment, and made the world a slightly better place" 

Now those are goals.

In the meantime, meet Meg;

She's still going to hang with her ma for a couple more weeks, then she's gonna come join the Tabak/ Warner clan. Isn't she a treat?

Happy weekending friends,

Stay happy & healthy

Gem 

Thought of the day "I very nearly adopted ten kittens today"