This is Day 61 of the Positive 100, a countdown to Rare Disease Day 2014 and an exercise in being positive despite it all.

Have you seen the statistics quoted in this poster? “If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the world. If you have money in your bank, your wallet, and some spare change, you are among 8% of the world’s wealthy. If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million people who will not survive this week. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the agony of imprisonment or torture or the horrible pangs of starvation, you are luckier than 500 million people alive and suffering. If you can read this message, you are more fortunate than 3 billion people in the world who cannot read at all.” (and if you know the original source, please let me know! I can’t seem to find it!).

Dang. That’s some perspective.

You see, I’ve been having  a rough go of things lately. There was a 60 degree temperature swing last week that went from -20 to 40 and it triggered a major flare. The CRPS has spread to my thigh. My commute has been weighing on me and bad weather making it hard to visit friends has left me feeling more than a little lonely.

As positive as I have been trying to be, it has been a fight to see the light. I was starting to lose faith in my silver lining. I needed that perspective. I am loved, educated and have a home. I am not at risk of dying this week from conflict or terminal illness.

Before I go to sleep tonight, maybe I should count my blessings.

Do you count your blessings? Share your answer on social media with the hashtag #100positive days on Twitter, Instagram and Google+. 

Also, you can sign up to be emailed a recap each week of the challenge.