In a Perfect World

A while back, a wonderful Blogger wrote a post called Someone, Somewhere.  It made me stop and think.

At various points of my life, I have been down in the dumps.  Haven't we all?  Many times, this depression-of-sorts is related to jealousy.  I see people in my life who seem to have it all together.  On the outside, they appear perfect.  They're never late.  They're kids are always dressed in a perfectly coordinated Gymboree outfit (with accessories) and it doesn't have orange Cheeto powder smeared all over it.  Their hair is perfect; their clothes are more expensive than mine.  Their house is perfectly clean and looks like a page in the Pottery Barn catalog.  Their husband has a perfect job and finances aren't a worry.  Their car is perfect and doesn't have old french fries on the floor.  They cook perfectly balanced meals that Paula Deen would envy with a plate of perfect cookies on the counter for dessert.

I see these Perfect People and I wish I was them for just a moment.  Then guilt overwhelms me for ever thinking such a thing.  My life may look perfect in their eyes.  Maybe they wish they could let the clutter in their house wait for just a moment while they sit down to write a blog post.  Maybe they wish they had a house full of running, playing children because their life gets a little boring with only one quiet kid at home.  Maybe they look at my gorgeous, tall husband and wish their spouse had a fun sense of humor like him.  Maybe they envy the way I can juggle so many different balls at once, even though I feel like I'm always dropping one.

Someone, somewhere is always jealous of someone else.  No matter where you are in life, someone else always has it worse.  Always.

Someone, somewhere has a perfectly clean Pottery Barn catalog home.
Someone, somewhere just found out they're losing their home.

Someone, somewhere has a kid in gifted classes who will get a full ride to college.
Someone, somewhere is looking at their young child dying of cancer.

Someone, somewhere just cooked a gourmet meal that could be in a magazine.
Someone, somewhere is hungry and doesn't know when their next meal will be.

Someone, somewhere has a picture perfect family surrounding them.
Someone, somewhere just found out their child was abused by a family member.

Someone, somewhere just got a promotion and will never have to worry about money again.
Someone, somewhere has all the money they need but their wife and children just walked out on them.

So if you're that someone, somewhere who is down in the dumps today and looking at all the lemons life has given you, try to think of that someone, somewhere who would gladly trade places with you.  Your problems may be much more manageable than that someone, somewhere.