We all have complaints, some of us more than others, but how relative are our woes to the woes of others?  A quick snapshot of recent events aims to put into perspective first world problems.

We will never be royal…

Many Australians recently got up close to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their royal visit to Australia.  Little girls dressed as princesses, little boys wore crowns.  If nothing but a monarchistic PR exercise, a fabulous community engagement tool and effective vehicle for raising awareness about the need for support for terminally ill children and their families.

I recall chatting to fellow female friends about my desire to step out each day, like Kate, in exquisite dresses with her immaculate make up and hair.  A desire no doubt shared with many women around the globe. However, at that moment did I stop to think of what it would really be like to be the Duchess of Cambridge?

Their tour was pre scheduled to the minute with briefings and casts of hundreds from various international and local organisations supporting them, after they had been screened of course.  It seemed tiring just looking at all the people involved in greeting and protecting them!

Your every move captured, including you in your “civilian wear” snuggling up to your husband while he has a beer at the football?  Needless to say no holiday snaps were required as their every second was captured professionally, and shown to everyone globally first.

Imagine the pressure on your family to ensure there was never a scandal. Never a family row, a moment of weakness, a fashion faux pas, a broken business deal, a display of raw emotion. Superhuman expectations perhaps?

Is it really so enticing the thought of having your 9 month old son minded majority of your waking hours by a professional nanny.  I think its fair to say no CV can ever prove how well one of your own will be looked after. Imagine if Prince George grows up with the first person he calls mum his nanny?

The expectation to predominantly bear and care for heirs to the throne is high, what if Kate wanted to be a career woman and provide for her family.  There is still time we can only hope…

 

We will remember them

We then look at preparations for the upcoming Centenary of Anzac in Australia, commemorating moments that have shaped the nation and provided the freedoms we enjoy today.  Gallipoli saw the highest number of Australian casualties in the Great War with the impact far reaching to families and society back home.

When I asked my 95 year old grandfather about what had been some of the biggest changes Australia had seen over his time, he was quick to respond but slow to elaborate, “Growing up during the war and the life of an army man was hard, you had no choice but to live with it, and I did”.

Would I give my life to fight for the safety and freedom of others? I think we can all agree servicemen and servicewomen past and present deserve our utmost gratitude and support, whether they have fallen or are still standing tall for the rest of us today.

 

Spending our taxes wisely

With federal treasurer Joe Hockey recently announcing the FY15 budget, there has been community uproar at a few cuts in particular, to education and to health.

Have we considered the difficulty of someone in their professional role trying to make the best possible decisions for our democratic State? There are winners and losers in the budget but at the end of the day we all benefit in some way.

Take the forecast $7 Medicare co-payment.  That is the cost of 1 beer at a pub.  1 beer to see a fully qualified medical practitioner for what we can only hope is not a life threatening disease.  While society is finding it difficult to accept this proposal, that $7 doesn’t go into no mans land.  It then fuels the budget in other areas that deliver beneficial outcomes for Australians.

We are a democracy, famous globally for our lifestyle and the Australian way.  A culture largely developed by laws and policies that govern our relatively young country.  We should embrace the work of our elected representatives and leave any cast of doubt for the authorities.

 

Challenge your thinking

In essence, this post serves to remind us to challenge our thinking and explore all of our options.  The next time we wish for something, like royalty, ensure a balanced perspective and whether its as appealing as first thought.

The next time we complain about having to take an exam, speak in public or care for someone instead of a more favoured pass time – think of the sacrifices our forebears and current military personnel make.

And finally, the next time we cast doubt over our politicians and their proposed policies, remember that there is a lot more to each policy than meets the eye. A policy delivered by the media without the policy documents in total is an unfair assumption.  We have publicly elected representatives to aid a functional society,  they won’t always get it right but they can try. After all we certainly don’t get everything right in our own professions.

Former client and terminally ill cancer patient – puts things into perspective