Okay, so first let me apologize to you, my two or possibly three faithful readers, for the last blog entry where I bathed you in my endless shower of self pity. I am deeply sorry for dragging you into the hole with me. I have now slapped myself silly and snapped out of it. So, let's get on with it, shall we?
After I came up for air, I realized I can make a drama out of just about anything. I guess that's a gift...really? No. You see, there is drama in my life as is there in all of our lives. It's a matter of persepective. And when I start sitting on the pity pot it's best that someone just remind me that, by comparison, my life is pretty damn good.
Case in point, this week our agency is participating in the Point In Time Count. This is an all night count of homeless people. Volunteers bundle up, armed with food and toiletries, hit the streets of Kenosha and search in alleys, fields, and byways to find, count, aid and assist as many homeless Kenoshans as they can. Ever wonder how the government gets those stats on the number of homeless people in the US? This is how. Well, yesterday the weather here hit an all time low of -19 degrees Farenheit. It was not lost on me that there are people out there, possibly dying, because they are not as lucky as the rest of us. Suddenly, my so-called life drama seemed trivial and stupid.
Sure, I may wish to have more, do more, want more. I may worry about my family, my job, my money, my life. But damn, I am not huddled under a viaduct with nothing but a used sleeping bag and a hand me down Parka, hoping that tonight won't be the night I freeze or starve to death. Realizing this got me out of that hole pretty damn quick. Allowing myself to indulge in even one moment more of self pity would have been shameful.
So, yeah, today when you hear yourself complain about the weather, or you're feeling hungry, or you're bored, or you're just wanting a hug...think twice. You're doing okay too. And, by the way, if you're bored? Check out volunteering at your local shelters or food pantrys. Honest, do it once...just once...and you will go back again and again. Once you meet some of these incredibly brave souls, and hear their stories, you will want to be there. And bring a friend!
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