Wednesday, March 30, 2011

It could always be worse.

People always say, "It could always be worse." You never really think about it and it never really makes you feel better. However, I've had a some instances in the last couple of weeks where I've seen that really, it can be worse. About two weeks ago I dropped my iPod Touch on the concrete stoop on my way out the door. It had a case on it, but it fell on the screen, where there wasn't really any protection. Needless to say, the screen completely cracked. It took everything in me not to cry. Yes, I know it's just an iPod, but I loved it and I knew it wasn't cheap. About two hours later, I went back home to find a number for Apple. When I got home, my dad informed me that there was a fire at my brother's house - the same brother that lost his wife to leukemia two years ago. Nobody was injured, but the house was pretty bad. Well, there you go - it really can always be worse. My cracked iPod hardly seemed significant anymore. My parents went out to my brother's house that night to help/offer support/feed them. Luckily for them, they had really good insurance and were quickly set up at a hotel while things got sorted out. So, a couple days later I went to replace my iPod, which I had found out was going to cost a pretty large sum of money. I figured it was allowable for me to feel sorry for myself again. I replaced the iPod and immediately went to a kiosk to by a more protective cover. Of course, I had to share my story of woe with the clerk at the kiosk. She was appropriately sympathetic and very sweet. She even shared with me a story that happened to her recently. She had an envelope with $1,200 cash stolen from her. . . There it is again, It can always be worse. So, next time I'm having my own little pity party, I'll remember that the saying is absolutely true; It can always be worse.

See how many are better off than you are, but consider how many are worse.

~Lucius Annaeus Seneca