I am halfway through writing a post about how crappy it is to have 6 people living in four rooms, how much it sucks to have no running water or bathroom facilities in our house, how unfair it is that it was cold and raining the week we had to use a makeshift outside bathroom, and how totally and utterly over it all I am…
And then I get an email from World Vision asking me if I’d join the other World Vision Australia Blogging Ambassadors and write a post for Blog Action Day.
Now I feel embarrassed.
Embarrassed that I can sit here complaining about my privileged life while others have so little.
It’s called a ‘white whine’ – when a privileged white person complains about something trivial. And it makes me feel embarrassed, and guilty, and it makes me feel like burying my head in the sand and going back to my ignorant little life where my biggest problem is having to poop on a bucket for a few days while my already adequate house is made bigger and better.
But it doesn’t help anyone if all my ‘white whine’ induces are feelings of guilt and a wish to hide away from reality.
And does having a little vent now and then make me a bad person?
Does it mean that I am not aware of how lucky I am?
Does it mean I sit back and do nothing?
What if every time I had a little whinge about something trivial, something I recognised as a ‘white whine’…. what if I used that and turned it into something more positive?
What if we all did?
What if every time we complained we also took a moment to stop and think about those who have less than us.
Maybe you can sponsor a child or maybe you can make a one off donation.
Maybe you can put our small change in a jar and save up to buy a goat or a pig.
Maybe you can donate those old clothes instead of throwing them away.
Maybe you can retweet that message from a charity, share that facebook image, sign that petition, send that letter, support that blogger making a difference.
Maybe you can just take some time to learn, to become more aware, to be more compassionate.
Because if each of us just takes a moment to stop and think, about the bigger picture, about someone other than ourselves, to do even that one small thing, that is the beginning of something amazing.
And I’ve seen what amazing things we can do when WE work together…
Here are some other bloggers writing about The Power of We for Blog Action Day… please pop over and say hello.
Oh I love the play on words Kate – white wine. Just such a good reminder for us all. I feel very honoured to be part of your community and enjoy getting to know you more.
I love the concept of “white whine”… brilliant! I am totally going to borrow that! Although being half Asian mine might be “white rice whine” haha!
I still remember when our gas heater blew up in Sydney in winter and I had a week with no hot water. I suffered! It is normal to feel frustrated/annoyed when things are taken away or don’t meet expectations but in the end it is easier to enjoy the moment whatever craziness that might be!
Good luck with the reno!
I think it’s therapeutic to whine……and then I think it’s beneficial for an event of person to put things into perspective for us so we can be thankful and pro-active for change in the world.
For me, reading this post has put a few things into perspective for me.
I’ve been in one of those very self obsessed, self pitying moods the last few days. OK the last week. I needed to read this today. Thank you xxx
We have done renovations in a our household with five boys and its not fun! But you are so right – there are many out there who dont have the chance to live in a House, nor think about making that house bigger!
I guess its the bigger things in life that we need to remember about – having loved ones with us, and having the means to actually change our world around us :)
And the power of we works well!
Yes, when my friends and I need to have a moan we remind each other of the fact that it is a first world problem. Usually it gets us back to position of gratitude but taking it a step further is a brilliant idea. x
Ah Kate, I always need reminders like this. x
Bloody awesome post, Kate. (I would like to say that pooping in a bucket would not be very fun, though.)
I white whine a lot … mostly in my head. Then I berate myself. We are so very lucky in this country, one day I hope our children will realise this too.
XXX
Oh no not a bucket …
I decided against blogging and white whining about living in a shed for similar reasons …it is a palace compared to where so many people (and my sponsored children)under World Vision’s umbrella live.
I still complain loudly to my husband and I miss my old home.
I love the idea of using blogs for blog action day , the Power of WE is phenomenal !
World vision has always been my favourite charity and the only one I’ve supported regularly for over 25yrs. Thank you Kate for being an ambassador.