{"id":989,"date":"2008-02-26T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2008-02-26T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/beyondblue\/2008\/02\/an-assignment-for-you-if-you-h.html"},"modified":"2008-02-26T10:00:00","modified_gmt":"2008-02-26T10:00:00","slug":"an-assignment-for-you-if-you-h","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/beyondblue\/2008\/02\/an-assignment-for-you-if-you-h.html","title":{"rendered":"An Assignment for You: If You Hadn’t Been Born"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"baby.jpeg\"
\nIf you haven\u2019t already, you need to check out the discussion thread at Group Beyond Blue started by Beyond Blue<\/a> member \u201cLuthitarian\u201d called \u201cIf I Hadn\u2019t Been Born.\u201d His introductory post is below: he lists four things that would be different in the world had he not been born.
\nBrilliant!
\nIt is a combination of the assignment I gave you as Holiday Survival Thought #19\u2014to watch the Christmas classic \u201cIt\u2019s a Wonderful Life,\u201d and then to list five reasons you have to keep living<\/a>\u2014and Cully\u2019s suggestion of writing yourself an affirmation letter, like we\u2019ve been doing for each other as part of the Self-Esteem Forum<\/a>.<\/p>\n


\nHere\u2019s Luthitarian\u2019s post:<\/p>\n

Okay, I’m doing what I threatened to do. Larry suggested a thread on the topic “Did you ever wish you hadn’t been born?” I suggested the above as a corollary. What would the world be like if I hadn’t been born?” And, as I said, no taking the crapola way out of: BETTER OFF!”
\nEven when I feel my most worthless, I have to admit:
\n1) There are three kids and their children who wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t been.
\n2) I can think of many students who might never have found a passion for reading and literature if I hadn’t turned them on to books–or to a particular book.
\n3) I can think of many individuals who might never have found the lift they needed or the encouragement I provided at a particular time in their lives.
\n4) I can think of many individuals who brightened up with that “AHA!” moment as something–some insight, some connection, some idea–caught hold because of my teaching or ministry, or just friendship.
\nAnd so on. Get the idea? If anything, take a good, hard, look, and ask yourself, “At those times when I feel the crappiest, at those times when I feel life’s suffering has made me wish I had never been born, how would the world actually be WORSE OFF without me?”
\nI challenge you to tell me there have never been such times when you made a difference for the better!
\nThe country song, “I’ve Had My Moments” by Emerson Drive comes to mind.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This is an appropriate exercise for me today since it\u2019s my twin sister\u2019s birthday (and also Larry Parker\u2019s!<\/a>). So here I go.
\n1)\tEric would probably be married to a sane, but mean woman named Susie who tried to steal him back when we were engaged. As he reminded me yesterday, she wouldn\u2019t have panic attacks but she\u2019d probably tell him to get a better job, better friends, and a better house and car. Score, Eric! You got a head case \u2026 but one with a good heart who is just fine with your job, house, car, and friends!
\n2)\tKatherine and David would not have been born.
\n3)\tThe leading story for the Annapolis Capital exactly four years ago today (yes, on my birthday) wouldn\u2019t have been about a mom who was supposed to be watching two toddlers (her son and his preschool buddy) and a baby as they fed the ducks when the mom\u2019s two-year-old pushed his pal into the frigid and deep drink, and then couldn\u2019t do anything but yell because her baby was strapped to her. And because that story wouldn\u2019t have been printed, numerous moms in Annapolis and in the cities where the story was syndicated (yes it was) would still be feeling guilty about their mistakes.
\n4)\tThere wouldn\u2019t be Beyond Blue.<\/a> Well, I guess there could be, but it might be written by a mean lady married to Eric that insisted that all you need to feel good is a job that pays well, a fancy car, and a bunch of name-dropping friends. Or worse, a Law of Attraction fanatic who insists that throwing a smily face into the universe is the path to peace and happiness
\nNow it\u2019s your turn! List at least four things that would be different in today’s world without you in it. And wish Larry P. a very happy birthday!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you haven\u2019t already, you need to check out the discussion thread at Group Beyond Blue started by Beyond Blue member \u201cLuthitarian\u201d called \u201cIf I Hadn\u2019t Been Born.\u201d His introductory post is below: he lists four things that would be different in the world had he not been born. Brilliant! It is a combination of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-989","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mental-health"],"yoast_head":"\nAn Assignment for You: If You Hadn't Been Born - Beyond Blue<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/beyondblue\/2008\/02\/an-assignment-for-you-if-you-h.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"An Assignment for You: If You Hadn't Been Born - Beyond Blue\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you haven\u2019t already, you need to check out the discussion thread at Group Beyond Blue started by Beyond Blue member \u201cLuthitarian\u201d called \u201cIf I Hadn\u2019t Been Born.\u201d His introductory post is below: he lists four things that would be different in the world had he not been born. 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