River Thames near Southwark Bridge
I guess I’m one of those people who could be called “privileged”. I went to private school, my parents were always comfortably off (or at least it always seemed like that to us kids), I travelled the world and studied for two degrees, went on to work in law before finally finding a path teaching yoga. I always had support, emotionally and financially, from my amazing family. I’m lucky, and blessed beyond measure.
However, this comes with it’s own baggage. My life has been much less than the “perfect privilege” it seems from the outside. Things have happened that left me with anxiety and self-esteem issues. For years I didn’t think my trivial little problems were valid in the grand scheme of things. I hadn’t been abused, I didn’t have to walk 20 miles to get water for my family, I had food, a roof over my head, a job. What more did I need?
Then I met Himself who taught me that everybody’s problems are valid no matter how small they may seem. Anything that blocks us from attainment of our true selves is a valid problem and shouldn’t be ignored or pushed down or seen as trivial. It took me all that time to realise I could ask for help for my anxiety.
Every single one of us, no matter what our background or our history, carries some sort of baggage with them. It’s just human nature.
Sometimes we judge people by what they do or don’t do and by what we might perceive as trivial, but ultimately on the only level that counts, we are all the same, equal, beautiful, valid.
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Did you see Caitlin on the Today show? If you need further proof of our true beauty and validity watch it here!
This is a great insight. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately after hearing about a new studio that is opening in an affluent city nearby. My initial reaction was like yours, thinking that the “trivial” problems of someone in an area like that aren’t all that serious. It’s good to have reminders like this that that isn’t true.
I have been thinking a lot in the last few years about the concept of practicing acceptance, and I think it really ties in with what you’re saying here. It is one of my main goals in life, to practice acceptance every day, of myself and others. And to achieve the elusive balance between acceptance of what is and the mindful, loving pursuit of growth and change.
Thanks, Rachel!