The Big Picture

It's easy to put yourself into a little box, so you can focus on only that and choose "themes" that will define you at any given time.
Today, I am a young professional, a liberal, a new college graduate, a moderate feminist and an angry bitch. It all sounds very typical and a little too easy. And unfortunately, you don't learn much from easy.
I just talked to a college buddy who has spent the summer training and teaching middle school students in Watts, in South Central L.A. It's been 6 weeks since I've seen him last, and it seems like he's an entirely different person with a more complete understanding of what the world is all about. More complete than my understanding, to say the least.
My life, in the scheme of things, is so unimportant ... my problems, in comparison to real problems that people have, are less than inconsequential. How can they feel so all-encompassing?
What I need is a big dose of perspective so that I can stop bellyaching and start serving a purpose. I have two legs to walk on, a mind that works pretty well when I want it to and loads of opportunity ahead of me. Today I was looking at the Peace Corps web site for opportunities. Is that my reality check? Or can I find that "check" right where I am, with the right frame of mind? Who knows.