First world problems

If you watch the nightly news for more than five minutes, you are well aware of third world problems—poverty, malnutrition, disease, illiteracy—the list goes on. But did you know there are first world problems?* The Urban Dictionary defines “first world problems” as “Problems from living in a wealthy, industrialized nation that third worlders would probably roll their eyes at.” Yes, you and I encounter them daily!

Some of my first world problems:

• Since the automatic locks stopped working, I have to manually lock the back doors of my van.
• Since a new security system was installed, if I leave school for a meeting and forget to take my key, I have to walk to the front door, push a button, and ask permission to get back in.
• Since my color cartridge dried up and I haven’t replaced it, I have to print everything with black ink.
• I haven’t upgraded my Internet service, and some web pages take 10 seconds or more to load.
• I have so many shirts in my closet, it’s really inconvenient to reach the ones at the end.
• I like the energy savings from my CFL light bulbs, but I have some of the early models that take up to 30 seconds after I flip the switch to reach full strength.

What are your first world problems? Did you identify with any of mine? Does it help put your day in perspective? Thank God for His blessings today!

*Have you wondered, where is the second world? The short answer is the former socialist states under the influence of the Soviet Union. The long answer is here.