#firstworldproblems

I've been meaning to write this entry for a while, but FCM has definitely kept me busy. Nevertheless, the issue comes up again and again, and I feel like the best way of reminding MYSELF of what is important is by writing it down.

We live in a first world, an industrialized world, a world where there is access to clean water, adequate clothing and a roof over our heads. Most of us can get a basic education, at least up to high school. Even our homeless aren't hopeless--they may be homeless, but there are shelters, food banks and organizations like the Salvation Army to help them out. Our problems are problems of excess: "OMG I'm TOO FULL." "I can't study because there are too many distractions." "Help! Can't decide which iPhone case to get; there are SO MANY OPTIONS." Some of us may even be familiar with the meme, "First world problems":


We are so preoccupied with our own lives, our own 'needs', that we forget somewhere across the world, people, HUMANS, are dying of malnutrition. We complain about money problems (not enough money to buy that cute dress! *SAD*), but there are people who are in deeper poverty than would ever be possible in the US, living in conditions that make our homeless look wealthy. We complain about how 'school is so boring', but there are people forced to sell childhood, innocence, and dignity to survive and would LOVE to get an education. At this very moment, in the same decade in which, in the US, obesity is becoming the new epidemic, thousands of children have starved to death, been beaten to death, or died of some illness that is completely curable. It just goes to show how much our society has forgotten that none of us chose which society we would be born into; forgotten how we are all human. And you know what is insane? Sometimes, these people in situations we would think are miserable, are many times happier than we are.

The purpose of this post is not to make you drop everything to go help the poor. The purpose of this post is to serve as a reminder, especially for me, that we really have nothing to complain about. Our first world problems pale in comparison to the things that we could be suffering from; instead of complaining, we need to remember how much we really do have. "Nothing to wear?" Be glad you even have ANYTHING to wear. The next time you feel like 'this sucks', unless your life or family is in danger, be thankful for what you do have. I am also guilty of overspending for food, clothes--anything really. We live in a world where luxury is praised. Reality check: money spent satisfying our material desires could go so much further in a developing world. So something to keep in the back of your head: next time you want something, ask yourself, do you REALLY need this? If not, the money could be better spent elsewhere.

PS: In case you were wondering, this was sparked by a series of events: 1. documentary we watched in small group that was so sobering :( 2. potential future activity 3. mix of conversations