I have found that ‘First World Problems’ is not just a damn funny hashtag on Twitter (see Caitlin Moran and other such snorty-laughter-inducing funny people) but a pretty useful way of putting life in perspective. So you’ve had a shitty day at work, an unsatisfying lunch and then a hellish commute. But would you even get a whiff of such things as a career, loads of food and easy transport if you didn’t live a charmed First World life?

Now, chill your beans, I’m not about to march to speaker’s corner with my hemp shoes a-polished ready to kick up a strident stink, I’m just saying that if you find yourself getting narked because your ipod battery is doa at the start of your train journey, maybe just think ‘But aren’t I jammy to have an ipod anyway?’ and roll your eyes and grab a Metro/Stylist/[insert regional variance here]. And you’ll find yourself pffting away stress and untangling knots between your shoulder blades and being a touch more smiley for no huge reason. Magic.

But I am guilt of losing my sh*t over First World Problems. Here they are. And I promise to mentally – if not LITERALLY – pinch myself if I have dark, piddling little thoughts like these again and appreciate all the good shizzle again.

* There’s a baptist minister preaching loudly on my train? For 30 minutes? Oh well, I’m pretty sure it takes longer than that to break through more than 2 decades of atheism.

* M&S change their Christmas logo design and I don’t like it. Oh well, stop being a nerd and live your life.  Ridiculous person.

* When restaurants call you to confirm a booking. Pointless waste of time. I’ll call YOU if I can’t come, brasserie. Oh well, doesn’t hurt to check. You can’t blame them for being on their game, phoneaphobe.

* A top getting a bit small/grey/otherwise ruined in the wash. Especially if it was a favourite and you’d had that conversation with your other half about sorting out the colours A MILLION TIMES. Oh well, you do have a MILLION TOPS.  

* Having a cold. Oh well: Lemsip

* Anthropologie is too expensive. Oh well, did you really expect them to give away gorgeous dresses and deliciously smelly candles and embroidered tea towels and essential-to-life vases for free? Hmm?

* Too much pineapple = sore mouth and tongue. Oh well, at least you won’t get scurvy, eh?

So let’s all be fudging grateful, yeah? Or give it a go, anyway.

Laters, in-line skaters,

C x