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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that we should all be thankful for what we have and stop moaning about petty things if only just for today?

44 replies

AuntieMaggie · 04/02/2009 21:02

Even if you aren't a fan of Jade Goody I think that it's a perfect example of in most cases there being someone worse off than you.

It certainly makes me ashamed for being grumpy at the man who nicked my seat on the train this morning. Who cares - in the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter.

Sorry if it sounds a little harsh, but who cares where your SIL wedding dress comes from? (no offence meant it's just that there's a lot of moaning about petty things going on and Jade's news has brought back memories of my cancer scare.

xxx

OP posts:
DrowningInClutter · 04/02/2009 21:05

I feel really guilty as I was one of the people who said 'publicity stunt' when it all started.

Poor Jade and her kids

IwishIwasmoreorganised · 04/02/2009 21:11

Good post AuntieM, Jade's awful news has really made me think today too

KerryMumbles · 04/02/2009 21:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lottiejenkins · 04/02/2009 21:19

What has happened to Jade is very sad... It has apparently made a lot more young men go for cervical smears........... I dont know quite how to take your post Kerry.............

MaryMotherOfCheeses · 04/02/2009 21:21

I'm with Kerry, you can't dwell on these things. If it makes you count your lucky stars, that one good thing that's come out of it. But the trivial stuff in life keeps us going.

ScottishMummy · 04/02/2009 21:22

but the human condition is a one tortured one of self interest,and although we know of cancer,war,famine,we still moan about the snow/buses etc.doesn't mean we don't care,just means sometimes we need a reality check - like someone's mortality.to think yes that really is bad,my bus/snow diminish in comparison

herbietea · 04/02/2009 21:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

lottiejenkins · 04/02/2009 21:23

men should read women!

BettySwollux · 04/02/2009 21:23

AM, you are sooo right.
Sorry, but PMSL at lottie "It has apparently made a lot more young men go for cervical smears"

notnowbernard · 04/02/2009 21:24

Yes, it's tragic

Poor woman and poor kids

But she is one of 1000's who are battling this, day in, day out

The JG thread-count is going up and up...

(Just like 2yrs ago or whenever it was she was being slagged to the Heavens on MN)

KerryMumbles · 04/02/2009 21:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

InSearchOfLostKeys · 04/02/2009 21:28

Was thinking the same thing today AM. Not about threads though just particular petty problems in my life, they pale into insignificance really...

PortofinosDHwillDieIfHeForgets · 04/02/2009 21:30

"Life's a bitch then you die" is the old saying. Some of us certainly have it easier than others. It's easy to get caught up in petty things.

Agree with Kerry that shit things happen everyday. But sometimes there is a story that makes you stop and think.

Jade herself is someone who had mostly a shit life. She found a bit of celebrity but even that hasn't made stuff easy. Now she is seriously ill.

If the story sends women off to get their overdue smear tests, and mothers give their kids an extra cuddle and appreciate that life is more than just mortgage payments, then surely some good has come from this sad situation?

LoveBeingAMummy · 04/02/2009 21:30

I think she's more saying why don't we all stop and take a moment to think about the good stuff in our life and think about how lucky we are.

mamadiva · 04/02/2009 21:35

At the end of the day though as horrible as it sounds I do care more about how we will pay the rent this month than Jade Goody's cancer, I know that sounds awful but at the end of the day it is human instinct to look after your own.

I don't mean that to sound nasty BTW just that it is programmed to us to look after our own and at the end of the day I don't know Jade there are ore important things going on in MY life which probbly seem insignificant to you too.

But she is in the back of my thoughts this evening

PortofinosDHwillDieIfHeForgets · 04/02/2009 22:14

I think as a mother, the thought of dying and leaving young kids is one THE worst things. It certainly is to me. But then my mum died when she was 21 and I was 4. Maybe I am bit biased. I would give ANYTHING to have my mum with me now, and to know that i will live to see MY 4 yo grow up.

2shoesformyvalentine · 04/02/2009 22:17

I am with kerrymum,
I come on here to cheer up(my dad is dying) not to get all upset about a celeb(although it is tragic)

Original poster
AuntieMaggie · 05/02/2009 14:24

LoveBeingAMummy - that's exactly what I'm saying.

We all get bothered by petty insignificant things, myself included, but on days like yesterday it makes me remember that I'm lucky to be alive, have a roof over my head, etc, and that not so long ago I had a lot more to worry about than whether my foundation lasts all day.

It just helps to put things in perspective a bit.

I'm not saying get depressed about it or dwell on it or not look for things to cheer you up, but before you get wound up by little things just try to stop and think "does it really matter?"

I have in the past wasted time and energy worrying about what people think of the way I look, that DP has left his cup there, etc when it is just that - a waste.

I just think that if some people would stop and think about the good stuff in their life and how insignificant some of the stuff that bothers them is they might be a lot happier. I know I am.

OP posts:
wooga · 05/02/2009 14:37

I saw a clip from Jade Goody's docu on the bbc this morning.

HSMM · 05/02/2009 14:39

I drive my DD mad playing Pollyanna's 'glad game' (you need to read the book). She keeps trying to insist that there is not ALWAYS something to be glad about ... but there is.

HMC · 05/02/2009 14:45

Certainly many people including Jade Goody are far, far worse off than me, and it is cause for reflection and some thanking of lucky stars..but I reserve the right to moan and bellyache bitterly about my assignment deadline or what ever other bit of trivia is bugging me today.

What I would say is that when letting off steam about various things, one should always consider your audience. So a couple of days ago when dh was going through a cancer scare (got negative results yesterday) I didn't want to talk to my friend about her malfunctioning dishwasher, but today it's fair game....

LilRedWG · 05/02/2009 14:47

I can see AuntieMaggie's POV and Kerry's. From my personal experience (I am currently going through a terrible time with my parent's health - Dad has terminal cancer) that strangely it is the petty things that wind you up and keep life real. I try not to think of the bad stuff 24/7 but it is hard, so I bitch about petty stuff.

Not sure I'm making any sense (in fact, I'm positive I'm not) and I know I'm not getting my point over, so I'm off. Surfice to say, the big AND the little stuff is equally important.

TheFallenMadonna · 05/02/2009 14:48

Oh phew for your DH HMC. Do they know what's causing the problem?

FAQtothefuture · 05/02/2009 14:49

and there's me worrying about how to split the contents of 3 kitchen drawers into 4

LilRedWG · 05/02/2009 14:49

I think HMC has put it far better than I can in my sleep-deprived-adled-brain state.