Funny: But makes you think.

Post Reply New Topic

Hello,

Message after This story.



A mother passing by her son's bedroom was astonished to see the bed nicely
made up and everything neat and tidy. After she recovered from that, then she saw an envelope propped up prominently on the pillow. It was addressed, "Mom". With the worst premonition, she opened the envelope and read the letter with trembling hands:

Dear Mom,

It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you. I had to elope with
my new girlfriend because I wanted to avoid a scene with you and Dad. I've
been finding real passion with Joan and she is so nice. I knew you would
not approve of her because of all her piercings, tattoos, her tight
motorcycle clothes and because she is so much older than I am. But it's not
only the passion, Mom, she's pregnant. Joan says that we are going to be
very happy. She owns a trailer in the woods and has a stack of firewood,
enough for the whole winter.

We share a dream of having many more children. Joan has opened my eyes to
the fact that marijuana doesn't really hurt anyone. We'll be growing it and
trading it with the other people in the commune for all the cocaine and
ecstasy we want. In the meantime, we'll pray that
science will find a cure for AIDS so Joan can get better; she sure deserves
it!

Don't worry Mom, I'm 15 years old now and I know how to take care of myself.
Someday, I'm sure we'll be back to visit so you can get to know your
grandchildren.

Your son,
Chad

P. S. Mom, none of the above is true. I'm over at Tommy's house. I just
wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than the report
card that's in my desk drawer.

I love you! Call when it is safe for me to come home.




Hi,

This reminded me of some of the complaints (I have them too, been guilty of it my whole life) that get completely blown out of proportion.

Little things bug the HELL out of me. If someone messes with my routine, I get completely out of whack.

Don't sweat the small stuff, it doesn't matter in the end. The world will keep turning.

This goes out to everyone on the Rate How you Feel Scale from 1-10 (myself included).

crazedchef

Great post and I know exactly what you mean. Sometimes I see stuff on here or elsewhere on the web or even coming from my own mouth and I can hear my grandmother's voice in the background saying 'you think YOU have it tough, wait until you meet people with real problems'

It is often difficult to say though because when people feel bad about something; people cope differently and even if their reaction is out of proportion; they only have their own experience to compare with and saying something like 'you think YOU have it tough... etc. will probably only make them feel worse/guilty etc.

As an example, my grandmother was telling me about a cousin of mine who had cancer at 13 and had to have a leg removed and the doctors told him his chances were still less than 50% but he still carried on through the chemotherapy and even won a pool tournament not long after his operation before he had his prosthetic leg fitted. On top of that, he ended up having to have another operation and he had various family problems going on in the background as well that many would have struggled with but he coped through it all with true fortitude and courage. But when my grandma told me about this I couldn't help thinking what an as*hole I was for complaining about some of the minor issues I have to deal with like isolation and loneliness.

But anyway, I think you broached the issue with the right level of sensitivity.

If by, "don't sweat the small stuff," one means "don't overreact," this is sound advice. However, if it is used as an excuse to procrastinate or not take action, small stuff can turn into big stuff. Also, if there is big stuff going wrong simultaneously, one feels helpless if the small stuff doesn't work out, either.

Nice perspective.It took me,until my late thirties to "get it".When I was depressed and someone would bring my attention to problems(war and famine)in other countries,it just made me feel even more depressed,hopeless and suicidal.I could not even imagine someone living with a painful health problem.....I thought,How can they keep from putting a gun in their mouth?

What gave me some perspective was being homeless.I did survive,didnt run in front of a bus.Now when I eat a good meal or take a bath whenever I feel like it.....I still feel gratitude,and it's been 17 years.It didnt "cure" my depression and I still get pissed at little things,but the real gratitude that I have basic needs,does help make the anger disipate quicker.I am not sure whitch came first though.....some lessening of the depression or the ability to feel gratitude.

I agree, Krex. Hearing that people have it worse than I do does not uplift me. Only working on bettering myself and accomplishing things makes me feel better. Time spent doing things I enjoy, time spent in the company of my cats and reading uplifting books (not the cultish self-help or motivational handbooks, but true stories of people who have overcome difficulties, and succeeded, such as Roger Bannister) make me feel better.

I have noticed that most of my problems were self-created. Only by working on self improvement was I able to bring about positive and lasting changes.