Every day, there are new situations of anger in my life. I get annoyed about the queue in front of me at the checkout, about the slow people in the city who walk in front of me.
I generally stress myself out unnecessarily about moments and circumstances that cannot be changed and ultimately aren't that bad anyway. Instead, I'm assuming the worst-case scenario, which most likely won't even happen.
So basically, I let myself get so stressed out by trivial things, whether in my free time or at work, that they rob me of my zest for life from zero to one hundred and make me see everything in a negative light.
I have such a great life, something millions of people would envy and trade for. I am healthy and can do the sport I want. I have a family I can rely on. I have a fantastic partner by my side who loves me. I have a place to sleep and an entire apartment. I have enough to eat and drink. I can afford a lot of things beyond my basic needs, I have already seen the other side of the world and go to festivals every year. I live in a country where we are allowed to enjoy so much freedom. I have even turned my hobby into my career and am now finally moving to the city I have wanted to live in so much. So why am I so grumpy and in some situations act as if I have such a hard life?
I keep thinking about the poor people at war, coming to Europe by boat. About the people oppressed in their own country. About the people suffering from hunger. About the people who suffer terrible things. About the people who will never get the chance to live the life I live. I try to see all of this as a great privilege, even in situations where I let myself be dragged down for nothing.
I'm allowed to be sad and have a bad day sometimes, but that shouldn't take away my zest for life. I chose a book I read a long time ago that helped me through a difficult time. I still think about its guiding principles to this day and try to apply them.
