We went to Disney World a few weeks ago. It was a great time as a family. It was perfect timing as we are exiting one trying season and prepping for another. Time to be together, laugh, and have fun.
Everywhere my kids went they were called princes and princesses, made to smile, and pretty much treated like the world revolved around them.
And for a week, it basically did.
The problem is that if we get treated like the world revolves around us long enough, eventually we begin to think it does.
Coming back was a bit of a rough transition for them. Suddenly they couldn’t do whatever they wanted, weren’t constantly entertained, heard the word “no” again, and had no choice in what their next meal would be. Add that to the tiredness and food detox and we had what I refer to as the “Disney coma”.
As I was in the midst of frustration with my children for acting like the world was all about them, it occurred to me I might also struggle with the mindset. As the car cuts me off in line, as the woman slams the door on me, as the teenager nearly runs my daughter over without an apology, when I complain about posh and entitled circumstances that I chose….our American society and I act like the world revolves around us.
And I think a big part of this is, because we have been told it does.
Common phrases in everyday society are “treat yourself”, and “looking out for number one”. With the food industry telling us they are willing to cater to what we want, to “open happiness”, and “have it your way”…it seems pretty difficult to not start to think that the revolve really does revolve around us.
We, as a society, are bombarded with the idea of entitlement and being all about ourselves.
And we have started to believe it.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the world DOES NOT revolve around us.
Most people who claim faith and love for Jesus would nod in agreement with the above statement, however I fear that our actions often portray a very different belief.
Have you ever cut someone off in a rush to be someplace? Ran a red light or stop sign? Tailgated the person in front of you going the speed limit? Texted or checked email and social media while driving? All those things are putting our own felt needs before others, and even endangering others lives for our gain.
Have you ordered at a restaurant, or coffee shop and gotten a totally botched order? Then proceeded to give the attendant or server major attitude as if your wrong doing was all their fault and harm was intended?
Have you gone out to eat and let your kids destroy the floor and surrounding areas, made no effort to clean up (because um, that’s their job), and didn’t even leave a 20% tip or say sorry? “It wasn’t a restaurant where you tip”, you might argue. I promise those people cleaning up your mess appreciate an apology, and cash!
How about your attitude and behavior after you’ve waited 20 minutes in a crazy line because the store was understaffed….what’s your attitude and behavior look like then?
Ever commit to something then backed out last minute or not showed, leaving someone to clean up your mess?
Or what about when life just happens? When someone was late when you were on time, when an accident occurs causing a large inconvenience, when a meeting goes longer than it’s supposed to, when things aren’t done the way you think they should be done…how is our behavior and attitude then?
I fear more often than not we feel wronged and justified in our annoyance, because whether we would give lip service to it or not, we act as though the world revolves around us. Like we are more important than others.
There is a hashtag I love, and has at times been used against me…as a much needed wake up call! It’s #firstworldproblems or #firstworldprobs because often we are too caught up in what we are doing to actually spell the word out. I’ve started using it in my head a lot. I hash tag mental thoughts to myself…it’s an issue. As I catch myself mentally or verbally complaining I often say to myself “first world problems”. As I listen to people talk, or scroll through my social media feed (of which the majority seems to be either bragging or complaining, but this is another post), I often mentally add #firstworldprobs.
As I was complaining about the food at Disney World on Instagram, a friend posted #firstworldproblems. Oh, snap. And yet, it was a much needed reminder. I was in Disney World, arguably the most magical and happiest place on earth! Even though the food had led to severe stomach issues all around…we were there! Eating more food in a day than most get to eat in a week! At a place where the cost of the trip was more than the annual income for hundreds of thousands of people in the world (wow…typing that out hit hard). And I was complaining about the food. Thankfully my friend hashtagged me a wake up call, because I needed to remember:
That the world does not revolve around me.
After every post I should have been typing #grateful #blessed #weknowitsaprivilege and yet I was complaining.
I have a tattoo on my wrist that says diakonos (in Greek). It’s from a verse:
“It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to be serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:26-28
That word servant in the greek is diakonos. I want to be reminded of my calling, to serve as Christ has served and to consider others better than myself. So I tattooed it on my wrist so I wouldn’t forget. Yet, how often I still do! I need hashtag wakeup calls on a daily basis.
Maybe we need to Do the Hard Thing and Get Over Ourselves this week. Detox from a “me” mentality, hear the word no from someone who will lovingly tell you, and practice restraint. Maybe when we’re about ready to complain or be unaware and selfish we need to catch ourselves and mentally change our hashtag. From #frustrated #annoyed #IwantitMYway to #grateful #blessed #humble #servant.
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This post is part of the #write31days challenge hosted by The Nester.
Click here to read all the posts in the 31 days of Doing the Hard Thing series.
