The human race has endured incredible tragedies. During WWI, hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children were killed in ways previously unimagined by human minds. Generations of humans were slaughtered, all of Europe was torn to the ground. Think of that for a second. An entire continent, ripped to shreds. The ground, the buildings, the families, their very way of life. Warfare on a scale unseen on this planet raged for almost half a decade, destroying everything in its wake. But, in the end, the human race picked itself up, dusted itself off, and started re-building.

World War II followed shortly thereafter, and brought with it the most unspeakable crime ever committed: the mass murder of millions of human beings. Russia was demolished, with millions of casualties. The best and brightest, Russia’s entire future devoured by one madman’s desire. Imagine the humiliation of living in Italy or Germany at the time, of getting caught up in the fury, the rage, the hatred… then realizing the horror of it all. Imagine that. World War II brought an opportunity for great heroism, for unmeasured selflessness on the part of humanity. But, at the same time, it brought unparalleled shame, degredation, pain, suffering, and death. But, in the end, the human race picked itself up, dusted itself off, and started re-building.

I could cite more examples. The Challenger explosion. The San Francisco quake. The current violence of the Middle East. Or, I could go further back in history and dredge up awfulness that many would attribute to fiction or hyperbole. The murder of the Templars, the horror of the Inquisition, the near absolute destruction of the Native American, the Turk-Greek multi-generational hatred, the Irish/British problem, the destruction of entire races.

We as human beings have suffered… but we have also survived. Time and time again, we prove we can pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and start re-building.

When I look at my own problems, I’m reminded of something my grandfather told me. “Whenever you think you got it bad, open your fookin’ eyes, and look around. You’ll find someone who’s got it worse.” I’ll add one bit to the end of that. “He’s got it worse, and he’s still here. He hasn’t given up.”

I remember the kid on my corner, back when I was living in Torrance, with the tumor growing out of his head. I don’t think I ever saw him without a smile.

I remember my friend Danny from grade school — the one who was born without an arm. He was an amazing artist, and he never once complained about it.

I look at the homeless people living in Santa Monica, and I know just how close I was to being where they are now.

Every tragedy I suffer — I know it isn’t a tragedy. Not the failure of my marriage, not my falling out with friends, not the relationship I wish I had with my parents… none of it. These are not tragedies. They are set-backs. Speedbumps. Most of them caused by myself.

Life is pain. That’s what the Buddha teaches us. And that’s why he’s smiling. Because in the moments between tragedy, there are moments of sheer wonder, beauty, and sublime majesty. If our perception is filed with darkness, it is because we are afraid to look at the rest of it… to realize that maybe we are blessed. Not by God, or Yahwah, or Allah, or any other divine entity. Maybe “blessed” is the wrong word. Maybe “lucky” is what I mean.

I’m lucky. Lucky to have a job I love, lucky to have friends I trust, lucky to have lived seven years with a wonderful woman who still loves me.

We’re all lucky. Some of us luckier than others. Remember that the next time a tragedy pops up in your life. Look out the window, down the street, in your own backyard. Open your fookin’ eyes and look around.

Then, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start re-building.