Recently I stayed in a hotel in Casino NSW.
I travelled to have a couple of days with Our Cow, who I coach.
It’s hard to get accommodation in Casino, and I ended up staying in a simple hotel that was three stars at best.
I met a girl called Kylie.
Kylie is a single mother who had been staying at the same hotel for the past three months – in a one-bedroom unit with her three children.
She had lost her house in the recent floods and could not get insurance (her home was in Lismore, and many insurance companies don’t cover this area).
The one-bedroom unit she was staying in at the hotel was about the same size as my living room. When I asked her where her kids slept, she told me ‘on the floor.’ She can fit two mattresses, and all three kids share this.
One of her kids at the time had the flu, and he had been at ‘home’ for the past three days.
I really felt for her.
It helped me realise just how lucky we are as a family of four living in a place where our kids each have their own room and their own bed.
When I asked Kylie how she was handling things, she replied, ‘I feel so lucky that the owners of this hotel are giving me a great rate. They are so amazing.’ Her eyes were full of gratitude and happiness that she had a place to stay that she could afford.
She wasn’t holding onto the fact she had lost her house.
She had a spark and a twinkle in her eyes that told me she would be just fine.
Experiences like this make me realise just how lucky so many of us are.
There is always someone else doing it tougher than we are.
It really put my issues to rest.
Kylie was going through a tough time, yet she could still find gratitude for what she had. I tried to imagine living in a one-bedroom apartment with my family of four, and I immediately felt claustrophobic.
I have so much respect for her.
Remember to value what you have, as there is always someone else out there right now (even In Australia) doing a lot tougher than you are.
Robbo
