I am Shirley-McLain-ian, to a degree.  I believe that I chose this life before I was born, and this spot on the planet to live it, and the people who were my family.  All these things I whine about, ...they've been happening forever, and probably will happen forever, and will happen whether I am here to gasp at the horror or not.

When one experiences an overwhelming trauma, I think a person tends to believe something like, "This horribleness is only happening here—it can't be like this everywhere.".  Of course it is not horrible everywhere, but once a victim focuses solely on their own trauma, it is only a short step to seeing it as the only trauma. 

From the way I have lived my life you'd think that pain and suffering were my invention, that my surveillance of it is novel and unique, and that no one has ever noticed injustice before me.  I have to keep reminding myself: It is not all about me.  It never has been.