perspective.

So, the other day I was sitting there just thinking about how amazing my life is and how lucky I am to have the opportunities and privileges I do – because, you know, you have to think about that every now and again otherwise you might get so consumed by the few negative things going on in your life and forget how lucky you really are. And if you’re anything like me, you’re incredibly lucky.

I live in Australia, a country with a good government (ok, you might not like the current labor party, but at least we have a choice of who we vote for rather than a dictatorship run by some power hungry mongrel who would kill anyone that disagrees with him). I have easy access to three meals a day, permanent shelter, clean water, health cover. All my body parts work and my mind is sound. I’ve had a good education and I have people in my life who want to help and support me to achieve what I want.

Aside from all the essentials I listed, that’s the big one – people to support you. It’s hard to do things without support, without people believing in you. Because if no one believes in you, you start to not believe in yourself. Today was my bestfriend’s 21^st birthday. We went to the movies to watch Soul Surfer. Great movie, based on the real life story of Bethany Hamilton, a born surfer, who lost her arm in a shark attack when she was 13.

Did she let that stop her? Hell no. As soon as she was allowed back in the water, there she was. Surfing again. Not worried at all. Competing again, with her family helping her train, and the whole community believing in her and supporting her. And she’s still surfing today – pro, might I add. Minus one arm. Isn’t that just incredible? The most basic tasks become difficult with only one arm. It would have been so easy to give up, say it’s all too hard and life is unfair. But that gets you nowhere. You just get angry and bitter.

The film talks a bit about perspective – how sometimes it’s hard to see the big picture if you’re too close to it. And I guess sometimes, even if things are bad, you just have to stop and remember all the good things you have. All the things that make you lucky, even really simple things. And be so incredibly happy to have those things.