Ungrateful B*tch

I have wanted to write this post for some time, its just been difficult to face up to my own selfishness and pathetic insecurities.


My Darling Husband has encouraged me to wear more dresses and even shorter ones if I'm feeling particularly daring. Now, I must have English blood in me somewhere as my legs are lily white, always have been and sadly always will be. My knees, in my opinion, are pudgy. I need to shave most days to avoid resembling Sasquatch. I don't like my legs and I don't think they come close to contributing to any of my "alluring ways", ha ha, which I feel are dwindling faster than the packet of Jelly Tots beside my keyboard.
But to The Darling Husband my legs are just fine, he gets excited just seeing them as he very rarely gets to see them unclad by my staple jeans.


I think we (meaning I) too often complain about "problems" that others would love to have.
For example:
Little Ungrateful Me (LUM): My legs are ugly, too white/hairy/pudgy/whatever.
Little Think-Again Me (LTAM): At least your legs work, at least you have legs! Go take a look at Natalie Du Toit and get inspired, you little twit. Google the victims of Angolan land-mines, geez.


LUM: I have so many crow's feet, am looking so old, bah!
LTAM: Consider them laugh lines, you have so much laughter and joy in your life that its etched into your face. Be happy.


LUM: My house is so old and crumbling, it needs a whole new makeover.
LTAM: Be grateful you still have a roof over your head. Take a drive round the city at night and check out all the homeless people sleeping in doorways. And then go home and say a prayer of thanks while you snuggle under your clean sheets, with your head on a soft pillow in your comfy bed.


LUM: My bathroom is a dingy damp cave, I want to redo it all!
LTAM: You have hot water every evening and a private flushing toilet. Try crouching in the bush with Heaven-knows tickling your bum at night and no running water to wash your hands. Your bathroom's not so bad.


LUM: I need a good job with a great salary, why can't I get that? Its such a basic thing!
LTAM: Is it really? Then why are millions retrenched and unemployed. You have a job, it may not be all you need it to be but you will get back on your feet. Your have a good boss, your colleagues are like family. Stick with it. Stop moaning and get out there and do something if you aren't happy.


LUM: (on those PMS days) My husband is so lazy, he does NOTHING around here!
LTAM: You stupid cow. He works as hard as he can to provide for you and your child, he is a sterling father, he adores you (most of the time, not those times where you take the prize for Supreme Bitch). At least he isn't a chop who hits you or abuses your kid, or gambles or falls down drunk every night. Get a grip.


LUM: Why can't my child let me sleep in a little / leave me alone a little?? I need some me-time!
LTAM: There are mothers who would give the earth to have more time with their little ones, those mamas with sick children in hospital, those mamas who have lost their child and ache to hold them and tell them just one more time that they love them. Our children are not here forever, neither are we, don't take the time with them for granted. Now get up and go watch Teletubbies with him. Again.


This list can go on, and on, and on. I can be very ungrateful, I know. But more often than not my Think-Again voice reminds me that things can always be worse. Much worse. And that's when I say thank you to my God that he has blessed me with all that he has and everything that I have is more than sufficient.


My legs may not match up to Giselle Bundchen's but I bet her crow's feet don't come close to competing with mine. :)