It’s a Privilege to Have Your Problems
The Gift of an Hour
When I was eight years old, battling cancer, the days often felt endless. But every day, I looked forward to one thing: an hour of playtime with Latika. She was my only friend on the hospital ward, another eight-year-old child undergoing treatment for cancer.
That hour in the communal play area together felt like a world of its own. We played games, shared stories and escaped our reality. Latika made the hardest days bearable, her smile lighting up the room despite the challenges we faced.
Then one day, Latika wasn’t there. I waited, hoping she’d show up, but she never did and I would never see her again.
Years later, I learned she had passed away during the night. The loss was devastating. Latika didn’t get the chance to grow up, to make mistakes or even to complain about life’s every day problems.
Today, when I face struggles, I think of Latika. Her memory is a reminder that, despite life’s adversties, I’ve been given the chance to live fully and she wasn’t.
"This play area reminds me of the one where Latika and I spent our afternoons. It was our escape during those tough hospital days, where for an hour each day, we laughed and played as if nothing else mattered."
A World of Struggles
As we navigate our own challenges that include deadlines, disagreements or setbacks—it’s important to remember that someone else may wish for those very problems. Right now, families across the globe are fleeing warzones, desperate for safety. They’re fighting for survival, mourning loved ones, and dreaming of just one peaceful night.
A family sits amongst the rubble of their home, surrounded by the destruction of a recent attack.
Perspective shifts everything. As tennis legend Billie Jean King said, “Pressure is a privilege.” It’s a sign that we have opportunities and responsibilities worth carrying.
My Challenge to You
The next time you feel overwhelmed, take a moment to pause. Think about your problems in the broader context of what others are enduring around the world right now—families torn apart by war, people struggling just to survive or children like Latika who never got the chance to grow up.
We’re all self-absorbed at times, it’s human nature, and I include myself in that. But when you step outside of your own perspective, even briefly, you’ll realise how privileged you are to face the challenges in front of you.
So, stop for a moment. Consider this: What if your problems are actually privileges? How might that shift the way you tackle them today?
Stay Resilient,
Ro