I thought I was having a tough week.

I woke up this morning kind of irritated.

I had a ton to do, I’m in the middle of something stressful with work, and I wanted to sit down at my desk, put on my headphones, and work until I felt less under-water.

I didn’t. I couldn’t.

I got in the car, and went up to a food pantry in the Bronx. I had committed myself to an organization I sometimes help out with, and they needed some volunteers. At the time, I didn’t realize this week was going to be this crazy.

I got there, put on my headphones (at least one part of my plan didn’t fall through), and got in my zone. I would grab a sticker, a name at the top, and the order underneath, and start filling up the bags.

After filling out the first order, I opened the door, turned down the hall, and at the front of the line, saw a mother and her infant son, waiting quietly for their bag. The mother looked exhausted, as if years and years of fighting for each and every day had worn her down completely.

I froze.

I just stopped. Right there in the middle of the hallway. The organization had been incredibly short-staffed, which was part of the reason I went today, but that moment, looking at that mom with her son, and I realized that my mindset was completely skewed.

Sure, I’m in a bit of a tough spot right now with work, but quite honestly, I cannot convey my own horror at the thought that I was even trying to feel sorry for myself.

I want this. I want this business to take off, and to completely upend this industry. I work out of my family’s apartment, with working heat, water, air conditioning, and high-speed internet, while there are people out there who quite honestly do not know where their next meal is coming from.

Now I’m not realistically trying to tell you not to think that it’s tough sometimes. I understand it. We are all on that grind. Welcome to the world.

The difference between justifiable stress, and outright shameful self-pity is always remembering that there is someone out there who is having a much harder day than you are.

Never forget that, and stay on the grind.

#work