Un-Homed But Not Unhinged: It Could Be Worse

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鈥淚t could be worse鈥 is a phrase I have often heard, and even said myself. And it鈥檚 true. There are countless things that could make my life far more difficult than it is now.

For instance yesterday morning, I went out to open the mobile closet and the key broke off in the lock. Great! After staring at the broken key in my hand and the initial shock wore off I remembered that I had a spare in the front of the van. And fortunately the front door was unlocked. Even better, although I can鈥檛 yet dig the piece out I can still use the stub key to open and close the lock. Yay! Like I said, it could be worse.

I鈥檝e also found myself perusing Craigslist to start seeing what kinds of living arrangements are out there and at what cost. There is a wide range but then something comes to mind as I look at various listings. I realize that I will easily fall into those cracks of credit scores and paystubs as someone whose life has fallen apart and is self-employed. Great! A system that is built on good credit doesn鈥檛 always evaluate the reality of the person in front of them. Why Would Anyone Do This?

But then again, it could be worse. I could still be feeling like there is no chance of getting a place this decade. Ok, that is kind of a melodramatic overstatement. But remember how I mentioned being under the magnifying glass makes things seem worse, so give me a break.

Meanwhile I just keep trying to have perspective on things as they play out. There are certainly some very lame things happening in my life, but none are life-threatening. No matter how bad I might feel at any given moment, there are plenty of people out there who seem to think I have some things figured out. And they come to me for help and guidance. I might tend to be worried about this, except for the fact that enough of them seem to find solace and actual help.

So no matter what, I hope for the best, try not to expect the worst, and find some contentment with whatever is actually coming my way. In any case it鈥檚 a start.

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About the Author

  • Joe Bright
    Joe Bright
    Joe Bright is a graduate of Iolani School and went on to study art at The Cooper Union School of Art in New York City, and later Chinese medicine at The American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine in San Francisco. Joe currently runs a small acupuncture clinic, Kama鈥檃ina Acupuncture in Kapahulu as the first dedicated low-cost 鈥渃ommunity acupuncture鈥 clinic in Honolulu. Joe has a varied background that has included working as a bicycle mechanic, freelance artist, teaching calligraphy and Tai Chi, a nanny, and even a CEO of a small entrepreneurial company. He continues to create art, even having work recently appear at the Honolulu Academy of Arts as well the Bishop Museum. He also continues with entrepreneurial projects when possible and serves on the Board of Directors for a local Buddhist meditation organization, Vipassana Hawai鈥檌.
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