Perspective

Okay...we all know the cliches about life; "Stop and smell the roses", "Don't judge someone until you walk a mile in their shoes", "Everything happens for a reason", etc etc etc. But do you ever really think about others? I mean the things you don't know about. For instance, think about the things in your life that no one other person knows about. MAYBE (and I emphasize maybe) your spouse knows it all if you are married. But even then, unless you work side by side with them, do they really know all the grinds of your day? I have two very close friends and there are things in my life that they don't know about and although I have a close relationship with my parents, they, too, don't know about it all.

Given that, have you ever passed someone on the street or glanced at someone in another car and wondered about the things that are happening in that person's life? Are they having a good day or bad? Are they sad right now? Have they recently hit a new milestone in their life? Very often I find that wondering about others helps me to keep my own life in perspective. It often helps me to appreciate the wonderfully precarious gifts that are my children. I never take for granted that there's always tomorrow when it comes to loving my kids and telling them so. I procrastinate on chores and cleaning but never on hugs and fun!

I have also been known to appreciate the less important but nice to have conveniences of a car and a home just in driving home and passing those that have neither.

I also sometimes wonder about the sayings "God doesn't give you more than you can handle" and "If God brings you to it, He'll bring you through it". I've never been faced with real tragedy or terrible hardships. Does that mean God knows I'm a wimp? I've always thought of myself as "strong". I don't panic easily. Am I kidding myself? Does God know better? I'm not asking for bad things to happen.....just thinking about how blessed I've been. Or is it more random than that? Perhaps some tragedies are not part of God's plan...perhaps He is just there to help you through them, not "test" you with them.

Do you pay attention? Do you notice others? Do you wonder about them? Does it not help you put your own life into perspective?