I found out recently through the wonder that is the Internet that a couple of friends will be raising a child with medical conditions. Doctors confirmed their soon to be born daughter has a couple of health problems, one of which will require immediate surgery after birth, while others will continue with her throughout her life. Such sad news really puts things into perspective. One day you're thinking about how your investments have dwindled, how you didn't get that job you really wanted, how your golf game absolutely sucks. Then in one singular moment something like this happens to completely change your world.
My generation has been fortunate enough that these profound, life-changing events have not be imposed on us en masse. No war, famine, depression. Just good times, until something like this happens. And in some sense these personal ordeals are harder to cope with because there's no large network of support. When the entire nation is at war, well, everyone is suffering through it together; but when it's just you, who do you turn to.
