Problems vs. Perspective

I work with people who have it made. I mean we probably all have it made. We have jobs and oour work environment is nurturing and warm as opposed to toxic and cold. I work at a great place.

I heard someone complaining about something very trivial the other day. Something about belt loops being in the wrong place and how that seriously messed up their whole day.

Which reminded me of a conversation I had with my father several years ago. We were talking about how the population of Hoover was up in arms trying to stop Wal-Mart from building a Supercenter on Hiway 150. They did not want all of the traffic or the people that Wal-Mart brings with it. Here is an approximate transcript (minus colorful profanity) of the conversation:

Bill: Those people really don't have all that much to worry about do they?

Me: Nope.

Bill: What they lack is perspective.

Me: OK. (*Most of the time it is easier to have a conversation with my dad when you say OK alot.)

Bill: Real problems would put their silly (colorful profanity) problems into proper perspective. What the good people of Hoover really need is a good epidemic of influenza. Follow that up with drought and certain crop failure. And just for poops and giggles the constant threat of scalping from the hostile Apaches that live over the hill in Bessemer. If they had these problems Wal-Mart would seem silly.

Me: Hehe.

So the next time I complain about something small please remind me that threat of scalping is a real problem. At least we don't have that to worry about right?