In case you can't tell, that's a huge tree that fell between my parents house (right above their bedroom) and their garage apartment - where two of my brothers and two of their friends were sleeping.
My immediate thought was, "Holy shit, they cannot catch a break!"
And then I got to thinking, they caught a huge break. If that tree had fallen a few feet in either direction, someone could have been killed. Someone would have been killed.
Ever since, my way of thinking has been significantly altered.
A few days ago, some ladies on twitter were discussing their distaste for complaining. One girl had hurt feelings when other people complained about their pregnancies. Another was jealous when ladies complained about their husbands because she wants so badly to be married.
And again, I started thinking.
Yes, those things are awful. It must be horrible to want a partner in life and not be able to find "the one." And I can only imagine a few things worse than wanting a baby and not being able to have one.
So when I was showering last night and started to think of my upcoming 30th birthday and I got a little sad, I tried to think of how others would see it.
My friend Kim would have done anything to have a 30th birthday. Hell, all she wanted was to wear a bikini ONE more time. Just once. How often do I complain about my body? ALL. THE. TIME. But at least I can wear a bathing suit.
And when I went for a run and I wanted to complain about how out of shape I am and how my legs rub together, I thought of my friend with Cerebral Palsy. You know, I've never heard her complain that she isn't able to run. Or my sister who only has 1.5 lungs, but she still runs.
There are things we can all complain about. And any given person at any given time can find a reason to think you're ungrateful for that.
But you know what? That's life.
Give yourself some grace. Give that other girl some grace.
Everyone needs to vent occasionally. Are you really in a friendship with someone if you can't talk honestly to them? I think not. Are you really in a friendship with someone if you're going to judge them when they are honest? I say no.
Yes, the grass on the other side of the fence may be greener. But you know what? That grass is fertilized with horse shit.
