Do you find yourself making this statement – why do bad things always happen to me?  One of my brother-in-laws always attributed it to “bad luck.” In fact, the family always laughed and made fun when he said this.  Instead they always referred to his bad luck as “that dark cloud that always followed him.”  But, in my mother’s household, she always referred to it as, “if you look for that negative cloud, you are going to find it soon or later.”  No one escapes during their lifetime “having things happen” and having to make  decisions. And, in the end, the decision you make is the deciding factor on how it turns out.

Do  you  think our problems can be relative to our affluence?  The following is an interesting story  which fits this “dark cloud.”  

I was driving home after work at about 7 p.m.  With the time change, it was already dark, which made it feel later.   My car was loaded with boxes of stuff I had packed up from my office.  I was mentally asking myself, “How could anyone have this much stuff?”  The plan is to store some of it in my garage that already bears way too much other stuff.

Just as I was about to start feeling whinny about having to pack all this stuff, I heard the comedian on the radio.  I laughed so hard as he made fun of the way Americans complain about the most trivial things in life while living the easiest,  most affluent and abundant lifestyle of any country.  (And, that is why everyone tries to get here by hook or crook.)  He described being American as “so amazing that you have to make stuff up to be upset about.”  

But wait!  Wasn’t I the one who just complained about packing up the ridiculous amount of decorative things in my office in brand new packing boxes?  Could it be me who rolled my eyes when I had to stop and put air in the tire of my late model car?  Was I a little grumpy about having to stop at the enormous store filled with beautiful foods and pick what I wanted to have for dinner?  Did I mutter a cross word when I had to click my garage door opener twice before the silly thing would open?  Oh my goodness, I am that person – making up stuff to be upset about in my amazing life?  

The packing marks the beginning of a wonderful new chapter.  The group in which I am employed will be moving to a larger new home.  It is located next door to our current location and will double its present size with an extension.  The day after my little wake-up call from the comedian, I stood in line to vote on Election Day and for the briefest of moments caught myself anxiously tapping my foot because of the long line.  And once again, I had to stop and think.  How many places in the world have no choices in who governs them?  What would it be like to fear retribution for voting?  Suddenly, the line didn’t seem so bad.

Instead,  I chose to use the time to visit with the other really fortunate people who stood in line with me.  I’m betting they all have way more stuff than they know what to do with, too.

So the next time you are inconvenienced, just stop and thank your “lucky stars,” that you live in the greatest country in the world.  And, thank God for that little inconvenience at the time in which you made the right decision and it did not become that “dark cloud.”

kommonsentsjane