So, I’ve been gone for much too long and I missed you guys! July was just MADNESS. Traveling between New York, Los Angeles, and Florida. Shooting the pilot for Wild About Barns Dallas and promoting Kristen Lamb’s WANA International. Whew! Love to travel but glad to be home and back to normal.
Speaking of normal, on the flight out to LA I sat next to a family of four who were a perfect example of what “normal” has become. The mom and son sat next to me and the dad and daughter were on the aisle in front. The woman kept making these snide remarks but this one in particular floored me:
Mom (to flight attendant): Coke please.
Flight attendant: We’re all out. Is Pepsi okay?
Mom: You’re all out of Coke?
Flight attendant: Yes Mam. I’m sorry, we just ran out. But I do have Pepsi?
Mom: We can’t drink Pepsi. My husband works for Coke. *long sigh, rolls eyes* I guess we’ll have a Sprite. (turns to son) See, this is why we don’t fly American!
Son: This plane sucks!
Wow. What?! I’m thinking to myself, big deal. So you have to go without a Coke for 2 1/2 hours… it’s not life and death. But the mom was so put off by this that it tainted the entire plane ride for her and her family.
Really? It’s just a drink!
But then it dawned on me. We’re all like her in some way. Whether we get miffed because our Internet is down, or annoyed because our package arrived a day late, or Trader Joe’s is out of our favorite gluten-free bread.
We’re so used to instant gratification and the convenience of modern-day society that we’ve forgotten how lucky we are. We are the privileged few on this earth that don’t have to worry about our day-to-day survival. We don’t have to walk miles each day to find water that may or may not be swimming with deadly parasites. We don’t have to farm our own food or thatch our roofs to keep the rain out.
We have everything at our finger tips. Which is great. But if we’re not careful, we can lose touch, very quickly, with reality. And what really matters.
So how about you? How do you maintain perspective? Do you find yourself complaining about things that, in the long run, really don’t matter?
Ingrid Schaffenburg's Blog 
I think we’re all guilty of complaining over the little things. Reading the newspaper every day puts things in perspective fast.
So true!!
When I hear myself complain I shut it DOWN. I have lived places with no AC, running water or indoor plumbing and while it was a blessing to be able to serve in those countries, I had the luxury of leaving. Where the mind goes, the man follows and Joyce Meyers likes to say. we meditate on what we lack and soon we aren’t grateful for anything.
Yep. Love that saying!
Great blog, Inge!!!
love,
Mom
Thank you Ma 😉 XO
Good to see you back, Ingrid – and I agree with you.
Thanks David! I missed you 🙂
I recently changed my perspective on a major part of my life and it has made all the difference in my day-to-day outlook. Perspective is so powerful.
Yes! It’s everything. Love your new perspective by the way 🙂 It’s so empowering for you!
It’s ironic. It’s easy to forget you’re flying 33,000 feet in the air, making a trip that 100 years ago would have taken months. Ho hum, we’re just doing a Peter Pan here, don’t mind us, no big deal. Thanks for reminding us to be mindful.
You’re welcome 🙂 It was so easy to accuse at first then I realized, we all do it. And we all have to consciously make that effort to be mindful 🙂
Hey, Ingrid! I just wanted to stop by and congratulate you on the show!! Best wishes. XXX
I hope Tiff gives the show a review when it’s out. 🙂
Great idea Jenny!!! 🙂
Thanks Tiffany! How’s the book coming along??
My book club is talking about this post right now. Great discussion starter! We do have so much to be grateful for.
Really?? What book!? I must read 🙂 And yes… we have so much that we really have no right to complain. Ever.
Frankly, I’m happy every day just to be alive. And have a baby and a husband and good friends. Oh, and a house to keep me safe and dry. The rest is just details.
Icing on the cake. Completely agreed 🙂
I am a major fan of cake.
Beautifully said Ingrid! I try not to take anything for granted. Every day that we have a roof over our heads, a meal to eat and clothing on our back, my husband and I are grateful. It was a pleasure meeting you by the way. So glad you’ve had a chance to catch your breathe. 🙂
Great meeting you too Karen 🙂 Yes… as bad as things can get, there’s always SOMETHING to be thankful for. Thinking of you Karen 🙂
Wonderful post and reminder Ingrid. I can get caught up in the rush-rush-rush and instant gratification of life (although never over a coke vs pepsi…LOL). Sometimes I need to remind myself to slow down, take a breath and just enjoy the moment for what is. No need to sweat the small stuff…
Amen Natalie! I know… can’t imagine how she’d react to the BIG stuff!
Love this perspective – I feel sorry for the husband and kids of this woman – she is so negative – life is too short to be negative! Can’t wait to bring Wild About Barns to viewers Ingrid – it’s going to be great!
Me too Pamela! I can’t tell you how excited I am 🙂 And yes… I especially feel sorry for the kids because they are absorbing this mentality. Hopefully they’ll find a way to rise above it.
So true, Ingrid! I think we get caught up in the rat race and just keep wanting more. We don’t just want more; we convince ourselves that we deserve more. And that’s a dangerous mentality because it moves us away from gratitude toward entitlement. You’re right about immediate gratification. Sometimes I recognize myself getting caught up in the race for more–more stuff, more prestige, more money, more vacations, whatever it is. This wonderful little quote from Alice Walker brings me back to earth:
“We cannot ask for more than this: Peace in a garden of one’s own.”
Love that! What a beautiful quote 🙂 I think more and more people are realizing the rat race is just an illusion. Because in the end, what matters most is how we feel on the inside. And if it ain’t good, then nothing on the outside will ever satisfy us.
Well put Ingrid. Great perspective. Unfortunately most of us have lost contact with reality. Majority of population in this world live without basic necessities of life we take for granted and we are soft cushioning our children against exposure that all the time. Every time I lose my temper at minor issues. I take a deep breath, close my eyes and visualise my childhood where I saw hunger, poverty and destitution among my friends and neighbours in India.
Well timed perspective. Much appreciated. Thank you.
You’re so welcome 🙂 So nice to see you here! Yes… the poverty I witnessed in India is ingrained in my mind. After seeing that I realized I had no right to complain about anything. Ever. Good that you use that memory to help you stay balanced.
I agree with your MOM. Good post. We need to count our blessings and be thankful for what we have.
Absolutely! Just by being born in this country we are so blessed. 🙂
Hi Ingrid
I think it’s a reflection of the lack of challenges in people’s lives that leads them to put up such irrelevant obstacles. I’d have to say if I was that flight attendant I’d have been struggling to keep cool.
Hope the barns are going well 🙂
Cheers!
You’re very right Nigel. I couldn’t believe how calm the attendant stayed. Must be used to it. Great seeing you here! 🙂
It really is easy to lose sight of the blessings and conveniences we have. Whenever I feel frustrated over something involving traffic or pedestrians, I remind myself of what it feels like to be car-less and what a crazy huge blessing it is to have wheels—not to mention safety. Thanks for the inspiring reminder!
You’re so welcome August 🙂
I have a text file on my phone where I write down things for which I am grateful. Random things, both significant and (seemingly) insignificant: the colors of sunrise; people who actually answer their phones instead of letting calls go to voice mail; my daughter’s health; my smartphone; my secretary; my Kindle; pashmina shawls; my comfy mattress…
When I find myself feeling irritable or annoyed, I read the list, and restore what I believe to be proper perspective.
BTW, Ingrid, your blog made my gratitude list!
Awww! Thank you Meredith 🙂 LOVE that you keep a gratitude list on your phone, so you always have it with you. Brilliant!