Problems, what problems?

January 18, 2006
It’s been super windy the last couple of days. I mean major winds that could actually knock young children down. Because of the high winds, the electricity went out and my day started to spiral from there. No electricity is one thing, but add no water to the equation and that equals a bad day. I walked out the house this morning and the wind threw me off balance as a whirlwind of dust circled around me. I’m sure I looked like I was fighting the invisible man. I’m walking to work angry and annoyed by my present inconveniences when all of a sudden I see a familiar face. I don’t know this person’s name because he can’t speak, but he has the smile of an angel. This person I see has an obviously large tumor growing on his head. I think it’s safe to assume that this man is poor because he never has shoes and his clothes are always dirty and tattered. Since this man can’t speak he walks down the street waving and smiling at everyone that passes his way. He doesn’t even care if they smile or wave back, his goal is to simply share his joy. When I saw him, his joy illuminated my anger and I couldn’t help but feel a singe of guilt about the shallowness of my bad attitude. I can’t even compare my grievances with his and I’d be ashamed to even try.
After I saw him I walked to work with a different mindset. I was reminded that I have so much to be grateful for. No electricity, no problem that’s just an excuse to have scented candles lit all over the house. No water, that only means that the dishes wait a bit longer and the clothes get washed another day. Shower? Really, who is going to get close enough to smell me? Chicky my dog, but I’m sure she won’t mind.