I have a relative with a genetic medical condition that is best described as a life-threatening enzyme imbalance. To learn more about this condition, I attended a national conference about a year ago that offered several seminars on various aspects of what life was going to be like living with this diagnosis.

I learned a lot of information that day. As time has passed, I have forgotten many of the details and would need to refer to the handout material I kept in the event my relative ever has a medical crisis. However, there was one session that has stuck with me over the weeks and the months of the past year.

A writer/editor for a popular girls magazine lead a session specifically for family of young girls with this affliction. When asked what to say when these girls ask "why me?", she had a very simple answer.

"Everybody has a 'thing.' Some people have diabetes," she said. "Some people are short. Some people wear glasses. Some people get cancer. Some people are overweight. Everybody has a 'thing.' This is just your thing."

Everybody has a "thing."

I have thought about this simple sentence several times over the last few months. And as I've wrestled with settling into a job that is less than challenging it hit me that, right now, this is my "thing."

Compared to many people I know, my "thing" is not so bad. I own a nice home. My vehicle works (at least it does today...knock on wood). I have a wonderful spous and a beautiful child. I have no chronic diseases (that I know of) and have not been in the hospital for a kidney stone in nearly two years (quick...knock on wood again).

As "things" go...having a less than satisfactory job is not so bad. Do I want to stay here until I retire? No...Make that Hell No. Not unless I get promoted off the bottom rung of the ladder. The work is not difficult but I an not challenged either. Some people would be fine being a phone jockey for nine hours a day, but I need more than that.

So what do other people do about their "things?" Diabetics adjust their sugar intake and take medicine. The visually challenged can get very cool glasses, contacts or Lasik surgery. Cancer, although much tougher, can be beaten in many cases. The overweight can (in many cases) modify their diet and exercise to lose weight.

Me...I can suck it up and deal with it. This is no time to be changing jobs. But this won't last forever, and I have hope that my "thing" can be cured.

By the way, as it turns out, my relative is doing ver well. There is a wide spectrum of symptoms that she could have had that often go along with the genetic makeup that accompanies this condition. Fortunately, she is one of the lucky ones. A little medicine per day and you would never know there is anything different about her.

What is your thing?