How Ironic

I just got back from Haiti where I was teaching trauma relief workshops to earthquake survivors and social workers. I was cleaning a drawer at home and found a piece of paper on which I had written my thoughts a few years back after the South-East Asia Tsunami had hit. I thought I would post it on my blog since it is somewhat related to my Haiti experience.

Here it goes:

HOW IRONIC

As I was brushing my teeth, I took a look at the "solid" bathroom wall and felt grateful that I had a wall and a roof over my head. We live in such a comfortable society. We have access to water anytime we need it, 24 hour electricity, high speed internet, comfortable clothes, a house etc...

How ironic that we worry about silly things such as paying the bills every month and accomplishing our to do list... Our biggest worry is paying the bills!

For some, or should I say for millions, their every day worry is staying alive.

This holiday season, after having spent so much money on buying objects and Christmas gifts, I felt hurt and silly to not have spent this money on helping Tsunami victims, or simply sponsoring a child for a year.

We live in such a comfortable society, the news we watch about terror and tragedies are entertainment because we are so far away from the truth that we cannot believe that this is actually happening in the same world that we live and breathe in.

How ironic that we throw tons of food every day while millions of children are dying of hunger.

How ironic that we spend all our lives on buying a house, a car, while millions are without shelter every night.

How ironic that we carry the burdens of life, taking for granted all that life has generously offered us.

How ironic that millions of gallons of water are wasted every day during people's shower when a small amount of that same water could have saved the lives of so many thirsty families.

[note ends here...]

Let's all remember to be grateful to what we have each day and stop complaining about the small stuff. Enjoy the moment, be happy and serve others, make them happy. Think Big and see your life from a broader perspective.

Ralph