Life is so horrible, huh?

We all have those days where we feel like our own lives just couldn't get any worse, or even more so, we're actually afraid to find out!!!
If you've read some of my work, you'll see that I didn't have a silver spoon, a great family... lol or even a family!! But I don't generally let those historical facts hold me down.  During those stepping stone years, I taught myself with history books and by observing rich people behaviors.  Because I lived in the hood, I didn't have to observe what I already saw daily. 
We've all heard the phrase, "No matter how bad you think you have it, there's always someone who's had it worse."  Have you ever actually researched the value behind this cliche?
When people ask me how I can be so chipper and smiley, "after all that I've been through"  or  "with a life like mine",  I always think about those who have had worse.  I've read about some of them:  Jesus,  Elie Weisel,  my own grandmother Miyoko Azuma,  the people affected by slavery, Native Americans who don't even make up 1% of the population of the land that was theirs to begin with,  Rapa Nui,  Maoris,   Hawaiians before and after Public Law 103 and its content, residents of Rwanda, those affected by Apartheid, and the list goes on.
Here's a list in short of great reads that will teach one many lessons of history,  struggles,  and defeat.