First World Problem

The sun is just beginning to peak over the horizon and the local mountains reflect its rays in glowing shades of pink.  A stillness is slowly awakening to the dawn of a new day.  I sit crossed legged on my meditation cushion and begin to settle into my daily morning practice.  I find my breath and begin to surrender to the moment.

Barup, pup, pup, pup...barup, pup, pup, pup...barup, pup, pup, vroooommmm begins the sound of a leaf blower.  In an instant I begin to tense my jaw and within another I begin to snicker inside as I think, "the gardeners are here during my meditation time! Oh, the gall".   The realization in the next moment is that I am sitting inside a beautiful house on a cushy cushion with cool air-conditioning in the middle of a hot summer and I have a garden that is maintained by gardeners!  How blessed!  The initial agitation is a reflection of a first world problem.

As I began to think about how much ease we have in an abundant society, I began to notice first world problem situations everywhere.    


While standing in line waiting to pay for our parking following a Jason Mraz concert a woman was complaining to her friend about how her son was on a wait list for AYSO (American Youth Soccer Orangization) team.  She was indignant that she hadn't received an email in time to register and proceeded to read the entire email to her friend (who wasn't the only person within earshot) over the next 10 minutes. She was loud and adamant that this situation was not okay. She'd volunteered multiple times in the past.  She put in her time and her kid was likely to be sitting on the sidelines as a spectator.


What exactly is a first world problem and why does it matter?  I think of a first world problem as one that is experienced in wealthy, industrialized societies.  The problem seems so drastic that it not only serves as an inconvenience but is a true disruption to our quality of life.  First world problems are complaints and frustrations that don't exist or are unlikely to occur in the third world due to the simple truth of not having access to education, financial abundance or opportunity.  Some of our first world problems wouldn't even make sense in a third world.  


Last weekend my nephew was coming to meet us at my Mother's house for a visit.  Along the way his car broke down along US101, a busy freeway that runs through Los Angeles.  We got a call asking if we could help and within an hour we had called roadside assistance, driven 20 minutes to meet my nephew, got his car loaded onto a tow truck and off he went with a plan to fix his tweaked alternator.  As he was waiting for us he had found a place with the right spare part for his Volvo which was still open and was able to find a solution.  We made it back to Mom's place in time to take her out for dinner (although we missed the company of our car-repairing nephew).  Total first world problem.


We have ease and access.  We have ways of solving problems that in developing worlds could alter the course of someones life.  Yet, so often we fail to remember what we have.  When someone has to wait on an internet shopping item because it's backordered...first world problem.



My thought for the week is to whine less and appreciate more.  To remember the many faces of people who truly have a tough time of it on a daily basis.  Their entire lives are not easy.  To remember that when I think things are going badly or are difficult, to realize that I have choice and an ability to express myself freely.


I must remember my good fortune and realize I have first world blessings instead.