A Question, A Plea and A Look at Yourself

Ya know, there's only so much a person can take before alienating those who bring it on themselves. Good opening line huh? Got your attention I bet.

Let's call this post an open letter to those who think the world owes them one. It may make you angry, but stick around to the end and maybe you'll see my point. Follow with my analogy and perhaps you'll see similarities in yourself or someone you know. If any of this strikes you with shades of familiarity then I hope it will give you a prospective as to how you look and how those close to you are affected by your actions.

Life isn't fair. Matter of fact, it can be down right nasty. And in life, there are times that we all feel like we are getting the shaft. It happens. I know, you know, we all know that. And it is perfectly fine to feel anger, depressed and down right nasty when it happens to you but (and there is always a but) there comes a point where you must (and I can't stress this enough) MUST step back and think "maybe the problem isn't that the world is against me, maybe I need to change how I do things"

Example: Living paycheck to paycheck is not a venture solely reserved for you. Many, dare I say most people these days have to live that way. Complaining that others have this toy and that car may make you feel temporarily better about your situation but it only masks your disillusion with your own life. To be honest, most people that have all of that are probably so steeped in debt, that they'll never get out of it.

To feel you have to over extend your own lively hood just to fit in with the Joneses because that is how the world works, or how you feel you need to act to fit in is just plain wrong. Visiting check advance places to get money should only be a last stitch effort to pay a bill or get gas to get to work; it should never be to have money to go out on the town or to have extra spending cash.

Sidebar: When you do go out on the town and really can not afford to; throwing money around vis-a-vis buying drinks & shots to every girl that looks at you or buying your buddies beer & shots is not something you should ever do. You inevitably always regret it the next day when all the money you planned on existing on until the next payday is gone.

Back to our scenario. Visiting a payday loan place is great, temporarily. You have money in the now, but come payday, your pay is lightened considerably because now, that money you borrowed has to be paid back in kind; unless you, of course pay it off, then immediately borrow it again (to have extra cash) and start the vicious cycle all over again.

This brings us to the emotional state and the affect on those around you. You mope around, pissy & depressed because you have no money. Again, many, if not all of us have been in your boots and totally understand where you are coming from but (yes, that word again) if you do not share, open up and discuss your issues with those around you (who may just be willing to help) yet instead treat them with contempt, distance & frankly downright lewdness, then you should never say "the world just shits on me"

Most people have a support staff & trust me, I totally understand how pride gets bruised in admitting you need help or are defeated. Still, that support is there, often willing to help you along the way, but first you must open up to them, you must listen to them and most importantly, you must be willing to alter how you do things because obviously, your way is not working.

Also, you can not take out the angst of your situation on those who are (and have) been there for you, yet treat others that haven't or are not, like all is right with the world. That brings on alienation to your support staff and can (and will) ultimately damage it.

I say all of this because I know; I've been there and I've been that person; many of us have. Hoping to win the lottery is not going to happen and cure all of your financial ills. Getting payday advances to have spending cash to go out on the town is never going end your money woes. Moping around and treating your support staff with disdain when they are there to assist you will never cure your situation, unless you enjoy sitting around with an emotional grey cloud over your head.

And finally thinking the world owes you one because of a self created situation will only lead to anger, discontentment and ultimately leave you alone. Talk to those around you, be honest with them and yourself. Accept their help and listen to their advice. Most importantly, be willing to admit your faults, vow to do something to fix and not just patch it because in the end, it's not the world against you; It's you that is.