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Poverty Is a State of Mind
If you watched last night's final presidential debate, you heard both candidates speak to the fact that we are in the hardest economic time since the Depression. It's got many of us—and you—worried about finances and the future. For those who were already barely getting by, things are devastating. For those who are used to being moderately comfortable, preparing for a less cushy lifestyle is a challenge.
Either way, there's something to be learned from bloggers around the web today, who are putting up posts in support of Blog Action Day. Today thousands of bloggers will unite to discuss a single issue-poverty. They aim to raise awareness, initiate action and to shake the web! Sounds like a plan to us...
Poverty is a very real and critical issue facing people globally. As Americans, we cannot ignore the fact that there are those right here at home who can't afford the basics of food and shelter. Then we must grapple with the fact that our basics and basics in other countries aren't quite the same thing. A family of six living in a trash dump in the middle of Managua, Nicaragua, is happy just to have a little lean-to for shelter and one meal a day. We'd never expect people here to live that way.
Today, we can recognize the need to eradicate poverty, while remembering to be happy for what we do have instead of wailing about what we don't have. Yes, times are hard. For some, times are unbearable. But the majority of us are doing alright, even if we're living paycheck to paycheck or collecting unemployment. Things could always be worse.
Poverty is described as the state of being extremely poor, but it's also the state of being "insufficient in amount." You may or may not be living in financial poverty...but what about your state of happiness? Are you insufficient in amount when it comes to the way you view your life and the world? If so, maybe today is the day to challenge that state. What do you think?
Yes in looking back I can remembr when in our small 500 plus dogs and cats, no one commented on being well off or poor we all were just friends and that was a day when crime was always somewhere else or in the big city. Money; there was no need for a lot I went to the movie theatre free until I was seven Then it cost a dime to get in a bag of popcorn was a nickel and a coke 6oz. was a nickel and all candy bars were a nickel so you could have a ball for twenty-five cents. Well now we find ourselves in the biggest crunch financially this country has known, at least the generation of 50 and below. Yet we are still a free people able to worshio in the fashion that suits each of us and so far that has not been taken away. Lets all pray that, that day never comes when our freedom is totally lost to the minority of give me give me give me wins out and then we will have real live fear at our door step.
Yes in looking back I can remembr when in our small 500 plus dogs and cats, no one commented on being well off or poor we all were just friends and that was a day when crime was always somewhere else or in the big city. Money; there was no need for a lot I went to the movie theatre free until I was seven Then it cost a dime to get in a bag of popcorn was a nickel and a coke 6oz. was a nickel and all candy bars were a nickel so you could have a ball for twenty-five cents. Well now we find ourselves in the biggest crunch financially this country has known, at least the generation of 50 and below. Yet we are still a free people able to worshio in the fashion that suits each of us and so far that has not been taken away. Lets all pray that, that day never comes when our freedom is totally lost to the minority of give me give me give me wins out and then we will have real live fear at our door step.
There are a lot of people affected by all that has been happening with the economy. I also know what arabrab said is true. Growing up, I always had something to eat, we had clothes to wear (not the height of fashion) & a roof over at our heads. My parents felt it was important to work for what we wanted, that if we had to wait a while to get it, we appreciated it much more. No instant gratification here. Oh, yes, and always pay cash! Which meant having the money in hand. Poor? Never entered our minds!!
I agree. I also am trying to go from great pain in the loss of family members, job, and in a new state so friends aren't really around either.
I am really trying to get a good new start.
Growing up I didn't know we where poor. I just know that there where somethings that I had to wait for, work for or not get. I was loved, feed, clothed and clean. Today, I cry when I see people that are not even getting even that, i.e., love, food, clothing and not even getting to cleanes themselves. I think more needs to be done to see that the basics are at least met for all people. All of us should feel an obligation to help when we can.
I am in need of accepting the challenge.
It is very true .... I know when I start to worry about money and how I am going to pay all the bills and still have money for gas and food. I just pray ...I tell the good Lord whats on my mind and ask for his help and then I forget about it. Things always work out .