"It's the little things in life."

We're always told to enjoy "the little things," to appreciate the moments that are more genuine, and perhaps less materialistic. As Americans, particularly because we come from a significantly developed country, we overlook moments throughout our day that are truly substantial. We can be oblivious to how significant "the little things" are, and we definitely forget to recognize their value. There are people across the world experiencing hardships that are unbearable to even visualize during the exact moments that we consistently overlook.

I go on drives when I am upset. Listening to music and being around different surroundings soothes my anxiety. Meanwhile, more than 80 percent of Liberian citizens are living on less than $1.25 a day. They don't have music-playing cars to turn to when the going gets tough.

When I have to go to the doctor for an annual physical, I get frustrated. I know that I am healthy, so why do I need to spend my precious time confirming so at my doctor's office? How ignorant is that, though? Because in the meantime, there are an estimated 1.3 million Ethiopians living with HIV and AIDS due to a lack of basic health care.

I become a high-strung feminist when a guy at college catcalls me. Concurrently, young women in Cambodia migrate to neighboring countries and become sex slaves as a result of rural poverty and lack of opportunity. I can't bear to withstand a comment from a male classmate, let alone comprehend the idea of literally being a man's property.

Every moment of every day, I am living a substantially better life than millions of people across the world. For goodness sake, I am sipping an iced coffee and listening to Ingrid Michaelson at a coffee shop as I write. If that's not privilege, I'm not sure what is.

Our day-to-day issues are trivial while others are unceasingly in a grave state, quite possibly one that is life-and-death. We don't live with food and water insecurity or a lack of basic education and healthcare.

I understand there is extensive brokenness in America. Of course our country struggles with poverty and corruption, among other deprivations, but we are generally extremely privileged people and a great difference lies between our hardships. The difference is, we are privileged enough to have all of the ability in the world to conquer our hardships.

We have opportunity to build ourselves and our lives.

We have freedom.

So today, learn to appreciate "the little things in life." Remember that though they are little, they carry great significance for those of us in developed countries.