It's not so bad

            Sometimes I wonder if people, specifically those in the west, or Americans realize how wonderful their lives are. I know it’s a random thought to have being an American, but I still can’t help but wonder. I’ve been to some pretty scary places in the world while preforming in a military capacity. Places where people with guns wanted to kill us because we didn’t think like they did or places where you couldn’t turn a nob and get clean drinking water.

            Do you know how amazing it is to be able to reliably turn a nob and get clean drinking water, consistently is? It’s pretty fucking amazing. We take it for granted though, all of us. I mean, when was the last time you went “man, I’m so glad for this water?” well you probably didn’t. I’m guilty of it too. I was just bitching because my iPhone auto corrected a word I didn’t want corrected. Yes, I complained about the magic talking box trying to read my mind. First world problems much?

            We take these sorts of things for granted daily and it’s natural because most of us haven’t known any thing different or if we have known different it’s been a while since we have and have forgotten. It’s ok, but now you’ve been made aware. I want you to think about this for a minute. Lets play a game, shall we?

            You’re thirsty and want a drink. Stop; don’t go to your faucet or fridge. Go get a bucket or jug, then walk a few blocks to a stranger’s house, now fill up your bucket with water and walk home. Now pour that into a drinking device or drink strait from your jug/bucket. You’ll appreciate that water a lot more. Here’s another idea. It’s time to go to the bathroom. Go outside, dig a little hole and hang your ass over it or better yet, get a squash or pumpkin and cut the top off and go to the bathroom in that. Yeah, sounds like fun right? Well maybe you’re lucky and have a pipe in your house that goes into a pit like a septic tank, minus you know the water, smells glorious doesn’t it?

            Sure these are some of the worse conditions I’ve seen or been in, but it’s still putting us in the scope of how great we really have it. We take a lot of things for granted with out giving it a second though. So the next time you’re talking on your magic box, and it tries to read your mind and does it wrong, just stop and think. It’s a magic talking box after all and hasn’t been perfected AND at least I’m not shitting in a hole in the ground or walking to get my water TO LIVE.