Perspective check.
Every day when I turn on YouTube to get to my yoga practice, I am greeted by an advertisement. I never pay any attention to them, but this week I had a different experience and was given a new perspective.
As you likely did, too, I learned of the Russian invasion in Ukraine this week. It was shortly after learning of that news that I went to do yoga. I turned on the TV, and the first advertisement that popped up was from Target and it was about how wonderful it is that you can pick up your shopping so quickly (fastest ever!). The next ad, that I had to sit through to get to yoga, was from Taco Bell and it was encouraging the purchase of a Crunchwrap Supreme.
I felt sad, not just from the earlier news, but that these advertisements felt so trivial, yet so pervasive in our lives. We are constantly bombarded with things that are made to feel important (quick shopping and crunchy, cheesy tacos), but when placed in contrast to unrest, war, and life, feel completely non-sensical.
The news this week makes me feel a certain way. Amongst other things, it made me think about being with my loved ones. I want to hold my husband and my son close, to love them, and appreciate everything about them. Not much else matters. The news this week caused me to slow down. If we were firsthand living through unrest, a new phone, fast food, and getting shopping done quickly doesn’t matter.
Take a moment and pause. I’m not suggesting you feel any certain way for what is happening in the world but take a moment to think about what really matters to you and what feels trivial when compared to those things that you’ve identified matter.
What events have given you perspective?