My dad, Bob Borradale was born in 1906.
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On his eighth birthday, World War I starts, and ends on his 12th birthday. 22 million people perish in that war.
Later in the year, a Spanish Flu epidemic hits the planet and runs until his 20th birthday. 50 million people die from it in those two years. Yes, 50 million.
On his 23rd birthday, the Great Depression begins. Unemployment hits 25 per cent, the World GDP drops 27 per cent. That runs until he is 27.
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The country nearly collapses along with the world economy. When he turns 33, World War II starts. He isn't even over the hill yet. And doesn't even have a chance to catch his breath.
On his 35st birthday, the United States is fully pulled into WWII. Between his 39th and 45th birthday, 75 million people perish in the war. I was born in 1949. (Dad and Mum raised six children).
At 44, the Korean War starts. Five million perish. At 49 the Vietnam War begins and doesn't end for 20 years. Four million people perish in that conflict.
On his 56th birthday he has the Cuban Missile Crisis, a tipping point in the Cold War. Life on our planet, as we know it, could have ended. Great leaders prevented that from happening.
When he turns 69, the Vietnam War finally ends.
Think of everyone on the planet born in 1906. How do they survive all of that?
When I was a kid in 1959 and I didn't think my 79 year old grandparent understood how hard school was. And how mean that kid in my class was. Yet they survived through everything listed above.
Perspective is an amazing art, refined as time goes on, and enlightening like you wouldn't believe.
Let's try and keep things in perspective.
