The Scalability of First-World Problems: Considering Hurricane Victims' Difficulties
I had a personal reality check this week that ended in a fruitful reminder of the fantastic things I have. I live my life every day and don't give much thought to the things most of us take for granted. One of those things is my high-speed access internet, including hundreds of television channels provided by Google Fiber.
On Saturday, my Google Fiber service just disappeared, suddenly and without apparent cause. I was mildly angry when it became obvious the problem was not something the service provider or I could quickly fix. Tuesday was the soonest someone could come to identify and resolve the issue.
So, it would be three days with no TV and no internet. Irritation rippled through the rest of my family as they discovered life was not going to be normal for a few days. I was grumpy, and so was the crew.
After about 24 hours, we all figured out how to live with a less than perfect or speedy internet connection via tethered mobile phone. With the old rabbit ears out of the closet, I was pleased to discover there are more than a few over-the-air channels available for FREE!
In a more relaxed and less isolated state, I realized what I was experiencing was nothing compared to the troubles of many of those in Texas and Florida. Ravaged by high winds and heavy rains, their lives were in absolute disarray. A small hiccup in my day-to-day doings not only made me appreciate my wonderful life, it was also a reminder there are others who need my help.