Not my problem

As my younger brother, Tim frantically searched the house for his high school history paper due the following day; I rolled my eyes in disgust. This wasn't just the first time the dog ate his homework. It was a habitual occurrence, and, being his older sister who fixed all of lifes mishaps, he tried to make it my issue too.

Jackie, have you seen it? he hollered, rummaging through the papers strewn all over his bed and on the floor. I need your help!

What makes you think Ive seen it? I growled, becoming increasingly agitated. You need to be more careful with your stuff.

"Can you please help me! It's due tomorrow, and it's ten pages long. I don't have time to do it again."

Grinning like the Grinch who stole Christmas with my lips curling at the edges and eyebrows arched in a perfect upside down "V," I stood at his door enjoying his pain. Sorry pal, not my problem.

Growing up in a family dominated by men who were bigger, stronger, and even sometimes a little smarter than me, spitting those words while in one of my nasty moods, its not my problem, put me in the position of power; meaning, they were on their own. After all, I always had to figure out my life, shouldnt they? But, years later those words would take on a whole new meaning.

Recently, I was in a particularly grumpy mood at my office at Alain Pinel Realtors. You know, one of that woe is me, I hate my life type of days where everything was going sideways. I had a challenging buyer and, on top of that, my hair was misbehaving badly. Ok, maybe the hair thing was a little silly, but just the same it caused me to not function at full speed.

And, when I didnt think my mood could get any worse, 200 pages to a disclosure packet for my new listing flew out of my hands, scattering in all directions.

Need some help? my colleague, Lynn North asked, seeing me sprawled on the floor. Looking at this woman I affectionately call, Susie Sunshine, I wondered how she always stayed so upbeat. I was sure shed had her bad days too, but one would never know it. There wasnt a day she didnt smile or a kind word to say.

Lynn, whats your secret? I asked. Youre always so happy.

Grinning, she handed me my papers, and with her infectious laugh, answered, Oh, I have my days. But, when I find myself upset, I ask, how bad is it really? Seriously? Thats all it takes? I wondered aloud, knowing how I love to wallow in my funks.

Patting my back, she then said something deeply profound. When I stop to think of all the suffering in the world today, and God knows theres suffering, I simply say, Whew, not my problem today.' At this moment in time, my kids are healthy; I have food to eat and a warm bed at night. For today, life's true tragedies are not my problem, and so I smile.

Going back to my seat, I found myself reflecting on her wise words. Putting the disorganized stack of papers on my desk (a pile that would take the rest of the day to re-organized), I looked at the picture of my four beautiful kids smiling back, and thought, Thank you, Lynn, for this lesson. I have problems. I have lots of problems. But the horrific ones arent mine, at least for today. And, for that, Ill smile and be grateful too.