Strange Perspectives

I'm not perfect.  I do my best to be thankful for everything I have in this life but I know there are times when I fail at this.  That being said, there are two things I want to share.  They started out being two different topics but I can see how they can easily relate to each other.  I wonder if there is a lesson here for me.  God has a way of putting me in touch with situations that I am supposed to learn from.

Statement #1
It frustrates me when I encounter a person who is self centered to the point of not being able to see the world around them or appreciate things in  life that do not directly involve them.  Part of my being annoyed is that I want so badly for them to enjoy seeing other people being happy.  I have found that to be able to take part in other people's happiness and success makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.  I just want to share that feeling and when I can't help someone see this it makes me feel like a failure.

Statement #2
I work at a company that manufactures and sells high end appliances.  I spoke to a customer today who literally whined to me about how the $650.00 piece of kitchen equipment that she received as a gift was "too loud" and "didn't fit in the counter space she had reserved for it." She told me that she absolutely hated it and was going to give it to Goodwill.  My response to her was "I am so sorry that the person who gifted you this $650.00 appliance did not take your preferences into consideration when they purchased this for you." She said "It's just horrible... why would they do this to me?  It's just horrible."  I listened to her complain for 30 minutes.

I fear for the day when things are put into perspective for her.