Putting things into perspective

[monrein]

I was having a bit of a "low" day yesterday.  Needle trouble, sore arm all through my run, annoyed because what I wanted to eat was restricted, just generally feeling hard done by and sorry for myself.  Then I came across this series of pictures on a Jamaican Community website I go to occasionally to see what some old friends are up to.  Today, I feel quite differently and more like a spoiled brat than anything else.  Lucky lucky lucky, just by an accident of birth. 

http://www.newoncetime.com/Photos/DONTCOMPLAIN/

[willieandwinnie]

Gail, I don't even have the right words. 

[Sunny]

Thanks for the wake up call.
I will stop feeling sorry for myself and the issue of kidney disease.

[monrein]

Hey Sunny, I still feel sorry for myself quite regularly, putting things into perspective just helps me to snap out of it quicker.  LOL.

[twirl]

what were you wanting that was forbidden
you eat such intersting goods
I am drinking snapple antioxidant water mango ---- yummy ---frozen and I drink it as it melts
never knew mango was so good
it is hard to believe you feel sorry for yourself
you and Flip or two of the most + members around

[Sunny]

Very true Monrein. The plight of others sure puts things in perspective sometimes. I always tell myself, "Things could always be worse."

[monrein]

Hiya Twirl  (I'm worrying about you and your family and pets at this very minute).  I was wanting to go for Dim Sum with my friends but too much protein, too much sodium etc etc.

You are right that I'm generally pretty positive and up, but of course I have the lows that we all do.  They don't usually last long though and I have some fairly funny conversations with myself.

[thegrammalady]

there's always something to give our perspective a jolt. unfortunately you don't have to look far from home to find it.

[twirl]

eat it anyways
I am not sure what it is but wth
you would not eat much
and stop saying you have lows
no you didn't
you are an A+ positive personality
and that's what I want to hear
if you're positive---- I am positive                                                    footnote
if you're negative ---- wth does that leave me     ( wth means where the hell in this situation)

[monrein]

hell???  WTF Twirl?  I've never seen that word before.  Is it a cuss word??  You KNOW I don't say bad words!!!  Not ever!!!!  BTW, WTF means what the fudge in this situation. 

Actually Twirl, when I do have lows, your posts ALWAYS succeed in cheering me up and have me smiling or laughing out loud in spite of myself.   Thought you needed to know that.

Just saw Galveston pictures and I'm so not happy about what you guys are facing there. 

Big hugs to all you Texans.

[Ang]

hiya  gail,

i think  we  all  get  a bit  spoilt  bratty  at  times  but  i  always  think  to  myself,  theres  others  worse  than  me.

funny  conversations with  yourself  thats  the  first  sign  of

[Mimi]

 Keep counting your blessings, everybody!!!!!!!!

Mimi

[devon]

Good point! Thanks for the reminder.  And I neeed that!

-Devon

[RichardMEL]

Got to say I had a bit of a downer myself today. I was walking down the street to go to the movies... and I was walking past lots of open cafes and the smell of the coffee was sensational... and then I am sitting in the cinema and people are eating their popcorn and drinking those giant drinks slurp slurp... and I was DYING of thurst and I started to feel a bit flat and sorry for myself yes.. because I wanted so much to be downing a few coffees, or drinking a large coke and eating popcorn etc (more the drink than the food to be honest, but one goes with the other... specially if one was in a cafe drinking coffee then you'd like a slice of cake or something....). Anyway so yeah and I try SO hard to keep the fluids under control and just drink a little bit here and there... but every so often i think "one of these days I will just totally lose it and drink whatever I want and how much and waddle in 8kg over" - of course the sensible side of me reminds me how bad that would be for me, and do I really want cramp city and fluid on the lungs and all that stuff to deal with for a few shots of caffeine(or whatever?).

Yes, others plight does give us perspective, but please folks let's not lose sight of the fact that Kidney Disease, specially in its end stages, is a horrible situation to have to deal with!! Yes sure, at least I can access dialysis services and keep my life going, and I have a roof over my head and can pay all my bills etc.. OF COURSE things could be so much worse... absolutely... but there are still those times when facing it all and having the willpower to do the "right" thing by yourself is very hard.

[paris]

Sometimes it is OK to have a "pity party".  Monrein and RichardMel, you are both such postivie people and give so much support to other members.  I appreciate you both so much.   Sending you both hugs and love and hope those transplants happen soon so you both can live "normal" lives.   

[twirl]

talk about placing things in perspective
look again at EE in his body cast
I can't stop looking at it
and I complain about 4 hours three times a week
poor little fella
wish him the best

[pelagia]

Many of you deal with tough stuff every day and you do it with grace, dignity and humor.  I find it humbling.

I need to be reminded from time to time that there is unbelievable suffering in this world.  Otherwise I get too comfortable in my easy life and start focusing on trivial stuff.  One lesson I have learned in recent years is that "today is not a dress rehearsal!"