So You Think You've Got It Bad?

It could be worse.

That’s what I tell myself whenever I think I’m in a bad situation. It’s like when my parents used to tell me that a starving child in China would love to have the food that I was leaving on my plate. Usually the meal involved liver, or fried eggplant, or hominy, none of which tickled my taste buds with delight. And what is hominy, anyway? I know it starts out as corn, but whatever is done to it renders it strange and mysterious, not to mention icky. But, I digress.

There are lots of people unemployed right now. From my experience as an unemployed person, after a few weeks of filling out applications, mailing resumes, waiting for phone calls, hoping for interviews, and trying to fill the space that a job once held, it’s easy to get frustrated and discouraged. This can lead to couch-sitting, watching daytime television, and eating potato chips, three activities that do nothing good for one’s energy level, intellect, or waistline.

My parents had a motto of sorts, which was, “If you don’t feel good, get up and do something. You’ll feel better.” Now, this obviously doesn’t work if you have an illness that prevents you from getting up. But there are a lot of “don’t feel good” episodes that are mostly mental, which suggests a need for a slight attitude adjustment.

I checked out a book from the library, called “Material World: A Global Family Portrait.” In it are profiles of thirty families from around the world, with most of their possessions set in front of their dwelling, a comparative exercise that would shock most compassionate Americans into silence about what they feel they lack.

Some of the most interesting comparisons were the pages with “Meals of the World” and “Toilets of the World.” When it comes to the basics of life, in this country we do have a lot more than most. Even those of us temporarily without work are still very privileged, if we have a home, skills, good health, transportation, and the freedom to do as we wish.

So maybe it’s not so bad after all. We all are born with different gifts, abilities, and opportunities. If you are reading this right now, you are blessed with sight and literacy. If you have too much time on your hands while you’re waiting for something good to happen, go to the library, check out a book, and learn something new. Make something good happen.

While you’re at it, don’t forget that Make a Difference Day is coming up on Saturday, October 28th. Wouldn’t this be a good time to plan a project? You still have time. You could gather others together and clean up your neighborhood. You could donate warm clothing or coats you no longer need to an agency that will give them to those who need them. You could watch a single parent’s children for a while, so he or she can get a much-needed break.

When you’re doing something to help someone else, you have less time to worry about what you lack, and since worry does nothing but cause tension, you will be helping yourself if you cut that out. The sense of compassion and accomplishment you gain will shine through in the next job interview, the next task you take on, the next opportunity. You will be a better person, and it won’t cost you a thing but your time. And after all, it could be worse. You could be eating hominy.

Get up and do something. You’ll feel better.

Published in The Daily Telegram, Adrian, Michigan on October 7, 2006