While I was eliminating bundles of clothes, (and thinking about how annoying it was that I didn’t have enough room for them all), my grandma commented on how during the war, she would rely on parcels of second hand clothes to survive. It was a gentle reminder for me. I don’t come from a wealthy background, but the fact that I was complaining about having too many clothes is a sign of… well… It’s a sign of being a spoilt little bitch, to be honest. What a first world problem.

As I mentioned earlier, I did not grow up in a wealthy household. I’m a teacher and I have to work for everything I have. However, as far as I’m concerned, millionaires aren’t the only ones living a privileged lifestyle. A comfortable and warm bed, with a roof over your head and food in your stomach is privilege enough. Our luxuries are as simple as a car to go to work in, clothes that protect us from the elements, running water that we are lucky enough to be able to drink and countless other things that we can become so ungratefully accustomed to.

This is not me bashing us first world people. This is a gentle reminder of how clueless, spoilt and entitled some of our complaints can be. And to remember that we are a minority and an extremely lucky minority at that.

 

FWP #1 – Being hungry, but not for any of the food in your fridge.

FWP #2- I want a new car but I don’t want it unless it has these features and is this colour. 

FWP #3- I’m dreading Christmas time. I have to host the lunch and after eating all the food, I’m going to get so fat.

FWP #4- It’s so unfair that I keep putting on weight because there’s so much food around me!

FWP #5- I have to drive 30 whole minutes to get to work!

FWP #6- There’s no Wifi

FWP#7- The barista made your coffee too hot and now you’re in a bad mood.

FWP# 8- Having too much loose change.

FWP # 9- The air conditioning is not cold enough.

FWP # 10- There are too many people texting me. 

FWP #11- I have too much family.

FWP # 12- There’s too much food on my plate.

FWP #13- I had to park far away from the entrance, which means I have to walk a little further.

FWP #14- This toilet paper isn’t soft enough.

FWP #15- My back hurts from lying in my bed all day.

FWP # 16- My medicine tastes bad.

FWP #17- Today is Monday.

FWP #18- I can’t believe I woke up early when I could sleep in today.

FWP # 19- I’m tired and my feet hurt from shopping all day.

FWP #20- My partner wants to take me out for dinner tonight but I can’t be bothered.

FWP # 21- The heater is making too much noise.

FWP # 22- I hate cleaning my house because it’s too big.

FWP #23- I hate that my clothes smell after I’ve been cooking a warm meal.

FWP# 24- I refuse to drink tap water because I don’t like the taste.

FWP #25- When you go to the shops for 1 thing and come out with 25.

Of course, it gets tiring keeping up with all the people, all the food, all the ‘this’ and all the ‘that.’ But how amazing to not be alone, to not be starving and to be spoilt by choice. We can choose to not drink from the tap and we can choose to skip a meal. Others have no choice but to live in poverty and suffer through every single hour of every single day. Most people are constantly living in fear of war, disease and homelessness. They are at the mercy of the minority who are so spoilt for choice, yet choose to make their problems the only problems worth dealing with.

On the other hand, yes, we are lucky, but our busy and stressful lives can cause serious problems for our souls. For example, despite being grateful to have paid work; if we are unhappy in these jobs and want to leave, then we most definitely should. Something like not liking your job is not a first world problem. It can cripple your will to live. We are lucky to have options and we have every right to maintain our optimum quality of life.

Due to the fact that we live in a materialistic and consumerist society, I believe that it is important that we keep in touch with what is happening around the world. For most of us, empathy is our most effective tool in practicing a balanced and realistic lifestyle. It is important to feed our brains with what is truly important and realise what an enormous and complicated world we live in. Only this way, will our souls be exercised into feeling deeper empathy, selflessness and gratitude.

Lots of love,

Magda xx