Perspective.

No one's life is perfect. Mine isn't. Yours isn't. Contrary to popular belief, Posh Spice's isn't. As a result, I complain a lot. However, a good portion of my journal is dedicated to realizing and reminding myself how lucky I am.

This is necessary...because if you know me, you know that I'm both self-pitying and overly dramatic. With that dangerous combination, even the smallest inconvenience in my life quickly becomes the scene in Dante's Peak where Grandma Ruth, out of the goodness of her heart, jumps out of the boat into the sulphuric acid lake in order to push the boat to shore and save her family...in turn, losing her legs and her life. Except I'm Grandma Ruth, the acidic lake is life's many challenges, and I'm nowhere near brave enough to do something that cool.

Sometimes, I am convinced that my life is actually an elaborate TV show like The Truman Show. Producers come up with funny twists, little complications, and bad luck moments to entertain the viewers. Last week, someone crashed into my car. Later that night, my car got stuck in the mud at Jenn's house and had to be towed out. Yesterday, while working out, the treadmill suddenly turned off - literally came to an instant stop. I took that as yet another sign from the cosmos that my life is a joke. That some higher power was laughing at the chubby girl's attempt to get fit. See what I mean? Self-pitying. Overly dramatic.

However, with the bad comes the good. I am also blessed with the ability to see the bigger picture. The horrifying earthquake and tsunami in Japan serve as a reminder how lucky I am. So, in those moments when I feel like Milton from Office Space, I remind myself that it's all about perspective. No one's life is perfect, but in complete honesty, mine is pretty damn close. Here's how I know:

Identity crisis > Nuclear crisis

Paying $3.59/gallon > Risking (or losing) my life to fight against a brutal dictator

My brother in boot camp in South Carolina > My brother fighting in Afghanistan

Unemployed > Homeless

Getting my car stuck in the mud > My car being swept away by water

My heart goes out to all those affected by the tsunami in Japan, the government in Libya, and everywhere else in the world where people are suffering. Because when you get down to it, I'm not suffering. I'm selfish...and if anyone's red stapler is missing, it's certainly not mine.