Pretty sure I would have Died.

So I'm a huge wimp when it comes to the cold. I literally start to shiver when it hits 50 degrees.

And its currently a whopping 0 degrees outside.

I just got home from campus after dropping off a take-home final for my Humanities of Asia class, and on the way, I was considering the numbness of my toes and face and thinking about how miserable this icky weather is. Believe me, I had on plenty of layers, but my poor face and toes just had to take it.

While ruminating on my poor freezing cold condition, I started to think about the pioneers. Thousands of people crossed the plains through the snow, and sometimes they had nothing to cover their feet. They had to carry all their belongings on aching shoulders while trying to keep their stiffening muscles working. They even had to cross ice-covered rivers, literally freezing once exiting the water. Sometimes children went to sleep only to have the frigid cold slow their hearts until they stopped, never to wake again.

The victims of WWII death marches (mostly occurring between Fall and Spring) had to walk on weary, starving limbs for days, waiting to reach an unknown future that usually only promised more suffering.

Walking home today, thinking about my cold feet and face, my first thought was, "Man, I would have been a sucky pioneer!" But really, it's hard for me to fathom how any of these people were able to survive. I complain when my face is cold, but at least the rest of me is kept fairly warm. At least my walk is only a mile or two and I know I am close to my safe, warm destination.

I really think I would have died if I had tried to cross the plains with the pioneers. I don't know if I would have had the courage to keep marching if I had been a victim of the Holocaust. I even thought about the Titanic last night when I drove home from work while I shivered uncontrollably waiting for the heat to kick in. I was SO COLD but I wasn't drowning in a partially frozen ocean. I can't imagine how painful all of these things must have been, but mostly I can't imagine the strength it would have taken to overcome these trials.

Don't get me wrong, I will probably still complain about the cold every day until April, but behind that will be thoughts of gratitude for what I have. I didn't intend this post to be so serious... but whatever.