Just take a look to see how truly lucky you are

I believe that many of us feel sorry for ourselves at times. Hopefully, that comes about only rarely. At such times though, several items of frustration have seemingly ganged up on us, and the whole world may seem to have turned against us.

As we read and see evidence of how a few folks have it so very, very good, that doesn’t help. The one percent have it so good financially, why couldn’t we have been in the 1 percent category too? If a depressed attitude has never hit you, that should, in itself, be at the very head of your good luck list.

If it comes, a very good way to help us out of the depressed state is to recall our good luck. Take just a little time, please! It would even be a good idea to write down a list. Our good luck may have temporarily hidden itself, but if we make concerted effort, we can pull ourselves out of the funk.

Most of us had caring, loving, parents who sacrificed a number of times, in a number of ways, or we wouldn’t have made it this far. Then there are the many teachers who helped us in many ways, and the other family members and neighbors. The friends we’ve had and have now should be on that list. If you haven’t come up with a number of pleasant memorable experiences, you are either a very unusual individual or have a very poor memory.

Each and every one of us living in the United States can put that fact alone high on our good luck list. If the world were made up of only 100 people, here are three examples to help us see how lucky we’ve been:

Country lived in, 57 Asians, 21 Europeans, 14 Americans — north and south — eight Africans. We live in a comparatively uncrowded, wealthy country.

Sex, nationality and religion, 52 women, 48 men, 11 homosexuals, 89 heterosexual, 30 caucasians, 70 noncaucasion, 30 Christian, 70 of other faiths.

Think of all those people who didn’t luck out.

In the world, (6 people with 59 percent of the wealth, all from the U.S.), 80 poverty-stricken, 70 illiterate, 50 malnourished, one dying, one being born. One owns a computer, and one has a university degree. How many, many unlucky ones of those did you luck out on not being?

No doubt about it. We are lucky to be living in the U.S.A. Many schoolchildren even have cell phones and you can expand on the list of technological gadgets you have today. If you were born white that was a definite stroke of good luck. If your folks had the money to support your educational needs that was great and the list goes on.

If you have humored me and jotted down some of the good luck you’ve had, carry it around a few days and take a look at it when time permits. If it doesn’t make you feel better the next time your spirits are low, I’ll be very surprised; that won’t be helpful on my good luck list, and I’ve got a very long list. Try it.

Bernie Hughes, Ed.D, is a retired educator who resides in Superior. He can be reached at bernie3024@centurytel.net.

Tags: community, family, seniors, health