Keeping Things in Perspective - Thanks Kevin Kuster

"If you look at what you have in life, you'll always have more.
If you look at what you don't have in life, you'll never have enough."
Oprah Winfrey

If you're new to following this blog, then be warned, I go way off-track from marketing, business, and technique on Sunday mornings. I never know what I'm going to write about until I sit down at the computer.

Well, it's a typical Sunday morning. I'm up early and the house in incredibly quiet, allowing me to do an inventory of my thoughts and see where it all goes. A relatively new friend, Kevin Kuster is responsible for this morning's motivation. He shared the image and comments below on Facebook.

Image copyright Kevin Kuster

Perspective is everything in life. We finally heard from United that our bags are in Uganda but, they will now not get to us for another two days.

Last night we changed into borrowed clothes, rationed some toiletries and scrounged items from the rest of our Watts of Love and U4Uganda team members.

This morning as I rose to meet the sun, I saw several people pumping water from this community well. The water tanks they had to carry home were back breaking heavy. Most carried several of these tanks on rudimentary bikes. Some in each weathered and calloused hands. A few carried them on their head. Many traveled for miles and miles.

Me, I was immediately aware that when I walked back to the mission center I would twist a knob and magically, cold water for a shower would come out. I would then twist a plastic cap off a bottled water and pour purified drinking water out to brush my teeth. Finally, I would hear clean boiling water in a kettle for my morning coffee.

I have on borrowed clothes. My bags are lost. Some of my camera equipment was confiscated and I am very jet lagged. Regardless, I am keenly aware of how grateful I am sitting at “my spot” in Uganda watching the sun paint the Alenga sky.

Proper perspective brings gratitude. Gratitude births joy. Joy lights the world. #wolUganda2019 #u4u #wol

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And there it is - the whole point of today's post - the importance of keeping things in perspective.

It's almost twelve years since Sheila came into my life, nothing romantic, just a great friendship. We spent the day together at a high school reunion, hanging out in our home town. We went to old neighborhoods, past places we each used to hang out, and even got into the high school with a group of old friends. During our travels around town, we talked about everything in our lives since high school, taking turns in ten-year increments. It was Sheila's turn to start when we got to '97 - '07. 

In five years she lost two brothers in a car accident; one in a road rage incident thirty days later, her father died, and a year or so later she buried her mother!  Then it was my turn, and my moment of sharing was going to be about being unhappy in my marriage and having an Internet business I was involved with (PhotoAlley.com) go under. I was merely quiet - I had nothing worthy to talk about. It was a pivotal moment for me and brought things into perspective with an "ah-ha" philosophy that's never left me, and is a part of the way I look at life today.

A few weeks ago, I "met" Kevin for the first time through Facebook, followed by a phone call and a visit to his website. I knew nothing about him or Watts of Love. I shared one of his images in a spotlight post, and we've talked about ClickCon, where we're both teaching in August and will finally be able to have a beer together and grow the friendship in real time. 

His post a couple of days ago and his perspective on life along with what's important, has had a profound impact on me this morning because, like so many of you, I lose perspective so often. Molehills become mountains as I chase life's weeds instead of kicking back and appreciating what I have. Instead of being grateful for everything and everyone in my life and recognizing how blessed I am, I focus on things that don't matter. It's the equivalent of over-using the sharpening tool on an image!

I've got my health, a partner who I love and who loves me and a career/industry I love dearly. And on those days when things don't go as planned, there's nothing that compares to stuff so many people in the rest of the world are dealing with.

Wishing everybody a day where you can appreciate the joy in your life and not focus on the things you don't have. Make it a day to keep things in perspective and enjoy everything and everyone who makes you smile, including those people most special in your life. You know how to hold focus on your camera - so do the same thing on your life - hold focus on the things that matter!

As always, go for those eleven-second therapeutic hugs and savor every minute that flies by, because they never come around again.

​And to Kevin...thanks buddy...you really added to making the rest of today perfect, no matter what happens.

Happy Sunday!