Funny thing, perspective.
A little earlier today, I was reminded of this article. I was out in a parking lot with some friends and it started raining like mad. I had really shallow pockets, one of which contained my watch and a $20 bill. In the scramble to move the junk in my car so my friends could get in for shelter, my watch and the bill fell out on the pavement.
Now, you have to understand that I really like this watch. It's a Luminox Navy Seal watch that my uncle gave me. I think it's pretty expensive (albeit slightly used), it's rugged as hell, and I just plain like it. In my drenched confusion, however, I didn't notice my pocket emptying.
A little later, I drove home to get dry. When I emptyied my pockets, I noticed the absence of my watch. So, I retraced my steps with my car. This led me right back to the parking lot. Sure enough, right where I had been parked, was a nice watch. Unfortunately, a truck was now parked there, and had apparently run over my cherished timepiece. While still ticking away, its crystal face was cracked. Also, to add insult to injury, the $20 was gone!
I didn't blame anybody, except perhaps myself and fate. I did, however, mope back to my car quite dismayed. Then, as I was looking at my brand-new 2003 Honda Element, I thought of this thread. What in the world was I whining about? The watch still worked. A couple of weeks and a little bit of money later, it'll be just like new. Not everybody has the luxury to contemplate their broken Swiss watch as they get back in their relatively new car.
I would like to thank the originator of this thread, along with all of this forum's members for your input and wisdom. A statistical, if somewhat resentful gen-Y-er, I often don't see the cup as half-full. I, along with most of my generation, dwell far too much on what's wrong. We don't dwell on what's good or how to right the wrong.
Perhaps that's part of why I love knives so much. They are not superficial, but rather entirely practical. They aren't trendy, and the good ones will never let you down. Most importantly, they stand for the "stop whining and do something about it" attitude. In this modern era of "progress," I think that a lot of important messages are frequently lost.
Thanks again the participants in this thread. It is always good to be reminded of things like this.
I think this is one from which we can all benefit.
