I always used to hate it when people say "you need perspective", as if there was some dimension of life I could not see that everyone else could.
It seemed like a totally overused term to me.
However, ever since living in Tanzania, it seems to me that there are definitely people in this world in need of a little perspective.
Here's the thing; I find myself living in the middle of nowhere. I also find myself living a good life. I get to go home for lunch every day. My child grows up safe. Life is simple and good.
In addition, i have access to high-speed internet and satellite TV. Both of which i did not have access to back home, either as an adult or while growing up.
In my simple view, life here is good. Not easy certainly, but good. The kind of hardships we face are the kind that can be easily overcome with a positive mindset and a bit of planning. I consider myself lucky.
And in spite of that, there are people who ask me how I could possibly cope.
This got me thinking. I am truly privileged. In spite of hardship, I still live more comfortably than the vast majority of the world. At the same time, there are people in first world countries who complain.
I am not saying that someone in a first world setting has no cause for complaint. I am saying however that someone who moans because he lives far from the bright lights of the city needs to think a bit about all they have to be thankful for. No matter what life throws at us, there is always something you can be thankful for.
And often all it takes is just tackling life with the right attitude.
