Having moved over a dozen times so far, it is always an adventure. I am fortunate in that most moves go without a hitch; I do all my own packing and direct every step. But on my most recent household relocation, there was a snag.
I had asked the movers to be sure to wash their hands after moving my outdoor fire pot (chimineya) because I knew it shedded red paint dust that was nearly impossible to get out of anything. I even included a mover's blanket to make the task easier and avoid contact with the stain producing red dust.
As the movers finished up, I realized that one of them hadn't washed his hands and there was a large red handprint on an expensive ivory suede chair. I could feel the distress welling up and as soon as I got them out with notes on the final bill, I called a designer friend. It took only 30 seconds for him to give me the nudge I needed that this was a "first world" problem and pretty darn inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.
I was lucky, I lived in the Southeast. I had power, a comfortable place to live, plenty of food and water, a reliable car and plenty of gas, none of which my fellow citizens had in the Northeast due to a savage storm. The inclement weather had knocked out power to over 8 million residents, flooding was rampant, food and water shortages critical, and gas was in short supply. I was suffering an embarrassment of riches with my "first world" problems.
Too often we lose perspective in our lives and in our world and forget how truly blessed we are. Just the fact that you are reading this means that you likely have access to a computer or mobile device. Before you complain, whine, or bemoan something in your life, take a moment or an hour to count your blessings.
