In response to this status-comment I put on Facebook:

Heard on a BBC broadcast yesterday: 'When someone says "Life is hard" I'm tempted to respond "Compared to what?"'. I have at least two problems with that clever - or not-so-clever - retort. Do you?

Someone wrote (wisely):

It's hard to think of a clearer a invitation for deeper listening... it is the loving thing to do to unpack the story behind the statement. Problem two... it's just true. Jesus said "in this world you will have trouble".

However, I suspect there is an intuition behind the temptation of the statement... some people really do make themselves miserable by narcissism, or negative thoughts, or victim mentality... even when their circumstances are relatively trivial. I mean relative to those who are in abject poverty, or severe chronic pain, or true persecution. We've all met habitual complainers... they get attention, but they're not happy people.

Peace and joy are available to the soul who learns true thankfulness for the small things... a kind word, blue sky, rain, a friend, something to eat... even in the midst of a challenging life."