Sometimes when I talk to people and they are going down a particular rabbit hole of misery, I pull back the conversation to shift their thinking.
I ask them to tell me about one of their grandparents – the one who was the strongest and most resilient in their family. Nearly every single person I speak to has at least one family member who was incredibly resilient and who shaped the dynamics of the family through their sheer willpower – despite all the obstacles that came their way.
I hear stories of incredible fortitude, and mind-bending hardship and unfathomable grief.
I then ask them to think about their ancestors who came before them and who all probably had similar stories of hardship (because we are human). I ask them to take a moment to reflect on the gift of DNA that these ancestors have given them – despite life-changing challenges, hardships and grief.
I ask them to reflect on the thought that before our time, life was infinitely harder – people died young, had bad teeth, the process of childbirth involved stepping at death’s door, child mortality was part of life….
I then remind the person that to complain about their life – and not holding sacred the gift of their ancestors, is a betrayal of the hope that helped create the person in front of me. I suggest that complaining about trivialities is disrespectful to all who walked the path before them.
So friends, I would love for you to take a moment to think about your ancestors and the pain and suffering they went through – and despite it all, they kept on going and passing on the gift of their genes. And then you came along.
And here you are. For a moment in time. Honour what you have been given. Respect the lessons of your progenitors.
And seek to reflect on this: the actual, soul-wrenching pain that was suffered by generations of your people – just to get you to exist.
Now tell me that you’re having a hard day.
Image from waitbutwhy.com