“If you keep your food in a fridge, your clothes in a wardrobe, sleep in your bed and have a ceiling above your head, you are richer than 75% of Earth human population”

We don’t notice things that we take for granted until they are taken away from us.

I am grateful for my still alive and kicking body, my family, friends, my home, my peaceful Poland homeland and this wonderful planet we inhabit. One moment is enough for all it gone, taken away from me, as it was, is and will be taken countless times from others.

Whenever you’re in Ikea moment, remember what you’re grateful for.

Yet, they’re the happiest people on earth.

Perspective. Thanks for the reminder my friend.

I experienced my own “stressful” moment today when I was pushing my crying son in his stroller through the frigid, windy weather on our way to get a flu shot. Although he was bundled up, he was NOT happy in that stroller. It was one of those helpless moments we parents often experience when we want to help our children, but aren’t sure how.

The crying made my stressed, the cold was bitter, and all of this seemed like a really big deal.

Then … I … snapped out of my misery. I realized that 10 minutes of crying is really not much time in the grand scheme of things … and that if my son wants to cry to express himself, then that’s what he can do. I don’t have to “fix” things all the time. I can remember that moments are fleeting and my job is to do the best I can.

In times of perceived struggle, I often think of my late sister Julie who passed away from cancer when she was 12. She never complained when she was sick. She took it all in stride. How brave! She’s my inspiration.

I’m lucky to be here … we all are.

Thanks for being so honest, Jonathan. You are amazing.

Over two years ago, I wrote a blog called “When Your Husband Has Died – A Survival Guide.”

It accidently turned into a widows forum with about 300 widows commenting, comforting and giving each other strength. They are all ages from their 20′s to 80′s. Some with very young children.

This week it was flooded with comments about how sad Christmas was this year for them.

I always remember my late husband on holidays – but time has passed. The intense pain is over.

I was grateful to have a peaceful and happy holiday with my children and grandchildren this year.

But was reminded of all the suffering there is in the world – and on my own blog.

It’s hard, as Randy (above) said about not letting our discomfort get “magnified and our problems completely fill whatever mental space we’re willing to allow them.” Like others above, I served as an EMT, as a Marine, and am a first-time mom of a healthy 8-month-old who was born several weeks premature. Though I’m only in my 30s I’m finding that age and experience are helping me learn how to minimize my “mental space” so I can put things back in perspective before they get out of hand. (Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose but more often than not I’m winning).

Maybe this will also come with increased age and expanded experience, but what I struggle with the most right now is what I think Michael Roth (above) was talking about, what I call “the drama” in others around me, specifically at work. I have a really hard time dealing with/responding to and mentally and emotionally thwarting my coworkers’ losses of perspectives.

I think for the first time ever in my life, I’m embarking on a concerted effort to keep my perspective anchored, like Susan, Niksmom, Joel, Maggie May, and Janet (above) apparently do.

So I guess this is my way of saying thanks for adding to the stock of shocking stories I’ve recently encountered; all of which I’m using to help keep me anchored.