In a post in one of my groups, someone put the post: Japanese nuclear worker on the news: "I am prepared to die to avoid meltdown." They then said, Say it with me - "I will not complain about my job today." I have also heard of the nuclear plant workers who are going in, even though it is a suicide mission, and I am very impressed with their courage, and their sense of honor and service.

Lord knows we do complain a lot on the site and in society in general, and do need to have a wider perspective about things, but something they said troubled me. They said our complaining was sad and gave the quote, and challenge of having a complaint free day. I might be able today to do that and I do think it would be a good exercise for me, but someone else might couldn't, and it doesn't make them sad.

I did like the quote and did gain perspective from it, but I know at other times of my life, I would not have been in a place to find any help from it. We are all individuals at different points in our lives, and I am sad for those in that place where they feel the need to complain, but I can in no way say it’s sad that they are there. Their reality can still be really bad to them, and be beyond their means to deal with it at this time, whether a heroic act happens or not.

I wrote a blog, since I found myself writing far too much for a post, since I felt I had to ask myself, “What can you gain from this broader perspective of how my problems aren’t as bad as theirs.” I mean at first glance it’s the type of story we are inspired by, feel a bit small in relation to and then go back to our life.

I wish I could see the broad picture by this heroic act of sacrifice, and in that moment have my depression, anxiety, stress, etc. taken away, and not complain or feel like my problems are so big, but that isn’t me to begin with. I think as I lose weight, and work on other areas of my health, the progress will help these emotional issues, but they came before the weight and may just follow me all the way down as I lose it. Each thing I learn helps me to grow, and for that I am always grateful, but I can't judge or value another person’s pain level- whether emotional or physical.

My stress, my depression, and how it relates at work is pretty bad to me. I can’t promise to not be stressed or depressed or complain today because of my work, because there are some huge problems and bad outcomes I face, if I don’t have time to get past my issues with invoicing and get the money to pay the back taxes. My problem is very bad, no it’s not terminal, and I am very glad for that, but that perspective only goes so far.

I always do try and see the bigger picture, and from all my medical time in the hospital and in physical therapy, I definitely know someone always has it worse. I also find this broader perspective of how my health could be worse is helpful to keep me working away at my bad health, to not get feeling too overwhelmed by the problems.

At the same time, my health and problems are serious and deadly, and I have to take them very seriously and not feel that they aren’t that bad and put off the hard work. I am sure the person I see in the hospital that is worse than me, had some similar feeling of someone else years ago, and ended up as my example, because they thought they had time and at least they weren’t as bad as that guy.

I think too often people, say, “Oh, get over it, it’s not that bad.” or something similar. For them- a person usually not in pain and not depressed- I have no doubt, that “IT” isn’t that bad, but to me it may be. We all need to get to work, complain less, and focus on change. At other times, however; we need to complain, rant, let out our depression and worry to get the healing so that we can do the hard work later.

They both are valid, and they both are needed, and the only person who can say what they need is the individual, regardless of how good our intention to help them is or our example to get them to rise above themselves. We just don't know what their entire story is, however omniscient we think we are.

I hope and pray the spouses and children of those brave Japanese workers have a safe place with people who understand them, to come and complain, and state how overwhelmed their lives will now be, since their loved ones will be dying from radiation poisioning.