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It seems like each time someone brings up how they’re struggling, its accompanied by a preface:
Other people have it worse.
It’s good to keep perspective and understand that we each have different opportunities and challenges in life.
This verbal tic points to a way of viewing the world.
Who is entitled to feel overwhelmed? To feel exhausted? Not you, apparently. Only those people whose lives are difficult enough that they deserve it.
You’re entitled to feel however you feel.
You do not need to have a compelling reason. You don’t need to prove to anyone that you deserve it. If you feel a certain way, that’s proof enough that you deserve to feel that way.
When we say that we feel bad, despite the fact that other people have worse childhoods than we did, or face greater financial fears than we do, or live with more disabling disabilities, or whatever it is, are we falling into the notion that feeling bad is the exclusive domain of people who we view as deserving of pity?
Men eating at a soup kitchen. Montreal, Canada, 1931.
The emotional range is not broken up along lines of privilege, with people with more privilege getting the good feelings and people with less privilege getting the bad feelings.
People who were once poster children for charity telethons live joyful, fulfilling lives.
No amount of wealth will insulate you from being human.
Are we keeping perspective?
Or are we looking down on others to make ourselves feel better?
Like so many things that depend on intent, you can only answer for yourself.
Maybe you have a “good” reason to feel like shit. Maybe you don’t. You get to feel how you feel regardless.