09-10-2013, 12:47 PM
I think most individuals here have experienced 'financial catalyst' at some stage of their lives. Most probably, more than a few are currently still experiencing it now.
I wonder what some of the lessons of this are?
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I grew up in a poor household; pretty much as poor as it comes. My parents were immigrants from Hong Kong and China; my father had broken english (and its still pretty broke today lol) although my mother had a few more years of schooling, and in Hong Kong english was more common as a second language back then. But they had no professional skills, and both found work in the hospitality industry (chinese take-away food, small restaurants etc). It was all cash in hand, and many times 'off the books'.
money was most scarce during growing up. There were 3 kids spaced 3 years apart, and I can remember each christmas exactly, because that was the one time of the year we ever got gifts or new things (my birthday is in early January, and so I got a 'combined gift' god-bless my parents).
this situation of financial scarcity pretty much lasted up until I turned 15, when I was of the age where I could get a job. So I worked at McDonalds doing the proverbial hamburger-flipping, cleaning of the grease traps, changing the burning oil in the chicken vat, throwing around the boxes of produce when the supply truck turned up once a week, and connecting the gas hoses when I had the pleasure of starting a 6am shift (opening).
and yet ... what JOY!! I couldn't believe I was earning my own money, and now could buy whatever I wanted (well, within certain limits, granted). I could actually buy a Guns 'n Roses CD!! I could buy new clothes!! (oh my gosh!) I could 'buy' a haircut instead of having my mother hack away at my scalp! all the pleasures and wonders of actually having disposable income.
I experienced a childhood of poverty. I am sure there are worse, but by any objective measure, there was not a spare dime to go around. No frivolities. No excesses. Everything accounted for; down to the last cent, in many years.
but during this period, I found the wonders of the school library and the local municipal library. And these books opened my eyes to the wonders of the written word. I adored language and studied it whenever possible.
- -
so what was the lesson?
that money can buy many things, but it can't buy passion. When you deprive yourself of many material things, and all that is left is the self, all naked before the world, you will see more clearly the things that are deeply important to you.
these days, I live a relatively comfortable existence; even working part-time. Most of this is due to my having a fairly simple lifestyle, and so expenses mostly go to the essential bills. It is not that I begrudge spending money (I have done so in the past, and had many experiences made possible by having a 'pot' of disposable income), it is just that these days I concentrate mostly on the experiences where income is not a factor.
so I have not forgotten my childhood in any way. I understand what it is like to scrounge for every cent, and to be utterly cautious about putting every single item in the grocery basket, and sometimes taking something out and putting it back on the shelf because the money is not there. It is a very depleting experience on the self.
but I commiserate with you. I really do. It is a most challenging thing to experience and live through; especially if there does not seem any end in sight.
- -
namaste fellow journeyers; this is not an easy planet to experience.
plenum
I wonder what some of the lessons of this are?
- -
I grew up in a poor household; pretty much as poor as it comes. My parents were immigrants from Hong Kong and China; my father had broken english (and its still pretty broke today lol) although my mother had a few more years of schooling, and in Hong Kong english was more common as a second language back then. But they had no professional skills, and both found work in the hospitality industry (chinese take-away food, small restaurants etc). It was all cash in hand, and many times 'off the books'.
money was most scarce during growing up. There were 3 kids spaced 3 years apart, and I can remember each christmas exactly, because that was the one time of the year we ever got gifts or new things (my birthday is in early January, and so I got a 'combined gift' god-bless my parents).
this situation of financial scarcity pretty much lasted up until I turned 15, when I was of the age where I could get a job. So I worked at McDonalds doing the proverbial hamburger-flipping, cleaning of the grease traps, changing the burning oil in the chicken vat, throwing around the boxes of produce when the supply truck turned up once a week, and connecting the gas hoses when I had the pleasure of starting a 6am shift (opening).
and yet ... what JOY!! I couldn't believe I was earning my own money, and now could buy whatever I wanted (well, within certain limits, granted). I could actually buy a Guns 'n Roses CD!! I could buy new clothes!! (oh my gosh!) I could 'buy' a haircut instead of having my mother hack away at my scalp! all the pleasures and wonders of actually having disposable income.
I experienced a childhood of poverty. I am sure there are worse, but by any objective measure, there was not a spare dime to go around. No frivolities. No excesses. Everything accounted for; down to the last cent, in many years.
but during this period, I found the wonders of the school library and the local municipal library. And these books opened my eyes to the wonders of the written word. I adored language and studied it whenever possible.
- -
so what was the lesson?
that money can buy many things, but it can't buy passion. When you deprive yourself of many material things, and all that is left is the self, all naked before the world, you will see more clearly the things that are deeply important to you.
these days, I live a relatively comfortable existence; even working part-time. Most of this is due to my having a fairly simple lifestyle, and so expenses mostly go to the essential bills. It is not that I begrudge spending money (I have done so in the past, and had many experiences made possible by having a 'pot' of disposable income), it is just that these days I concentrate mostly on the experiences where income is not a factor.
so I have not forgotten my childhood in any way. I understand what it is like to scrounge for every cent, and to be utterly cautious about putting every single item in the grocery basket, and sometimes taking something out and putting it back on the shelf because the money is not there. It is a very depleting experience on the self.
but I commiserate with you. I really do. It is a most challenging thing to experience and live through; especially if there does not seem any end in sight.
- -
namaste fellow journeyers; this is not an easy planet to experience.
plenum
