• Shop
  • Bio
  • Lyrics
  • Connect

Observations of an Other


I see. I think. I feel.
03
Dec

A Bit of Perspective…

By Jane Tanfei|Dec 03 2012 | Humor, Metaphysical Discussion, Psychology, Thoughts, Writings

Today started out as ‘one of those days’. I woke up late, stubbed my toes in the dark, couldn’t find any clean clothes to wear, fell down the stairs wearing only my underclothes, dropped a box of unwashed vegetables from my garden all over the ground, stepped on the one rotten potato in the box with a bare foot while picking them up, forgot to grab a towel on my way to shower, then slit open a patch of skin on one of my fingers when I accidentally touched a conveniently uncapped razor.

At some point, I began laughing to myself about this comedy of errors, because there comes a point where you either laugh or you cry.

I started to wonder if it was actually a ‘bad day’, or if there was just something wrong with how I was going about my morning. After all, I could have prevented some of those incidents simply by preparing for my morning before bed last night. I could have prevented a few of those incidents simply by being more careful where I stepped or reached.

Then, I started to wonder if these things were happening specifically because I was noticing that a bunch of ridiculous things were happening. Maybe I caused bad things to happen because I was already expecting bad things to happen… A self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts.

I decided that I was going to move forward through the day with a positive attitude, that I would look at the day as one that could only get better. I continued to drop things, I got out of the house later than I’d anticipated, slipped on some frosty grass, and started my car only to find that it was almost out of gas. I sighed, then looked up at the sky.

The sky was clear that most beautiful dark blue that can only be seen just before sunrise, a waning moon was shining brightly and I noticed a bunch of stars twinkling happily at me from the depths of space.

Suddenly, things weren’t so bad.

My annoying little problems are not really problems at all. There are so many people in the world who constantly suffer, who have no food or water, who are always afraid, people who are hunted, haunted, tortured, discarded, spit on, beaten, and hated every single day of their lives.

And here I am with a perfectly comfortable life with freedom to do as I please, the ability to choose my future, the ability to change my circumstances, and at least a few loved ones to share my life with.

I have nothing to complain about.

When I reflect on my morning, I can now see the positive parts of those negative incidents. Sure, I woke up late, but at least I got a decent night’s sleep. Maybe I stumbled down the stairs, but at least I didn’t get hurt. (And, at least I was wearing brand new undergarments, which you never realize are so important until you consider that if you did get seriously injured, the paramedics wouldn’t have to see those dingy  underclothes with frayed elastic and strangely placed holes we all never want to admit we actually own.)

Yeah, maybe I dropped all my vegetables on the ground, but heck – I HAVE vegetables that I grew myself! And, I found the rotten one in the box, so it couldn’t affect any other vegetables before I can get them processed. Maybe I cut my hand, but at least I had a bandage to use, and at least it was just the skin of my finger as opposed to the entire tip of my finger.

Maybe I am a clumsy oaf… But at least I am alive to laugh at myself.

Take care,
– Jane

Tagged as: life, perspective, perspective, understanding, viewpoint
View More Posts:
  • ←
  • →

Recent Posts

  • Longing for home
  • Dog Days of Summer
  • Breaking through
  • Closing the books on 2022
  • Living Today

Topic Search

To Purchase ‘Transform’

  • iTunes
  • bandcamp
  • amazon
  • rhapsody
  • eMusic
  • cdBaby

More

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

All Rights Reserved - Jane Tanfei Creative Commons License.