Have you ever just looked at something with a blank stare and tilted your head sideways for a bit? It’s not because you’re admiring the item in front of you. It’s because you’re lost in your head, contemplating all the ways in which something could be improved. I find myself a lot just thinking. Tilting my head as I debate the many perspectives of topics playing inside of my head.
What causes humanity to be dumb? To make poor choices? Is it the ability to get away with something? Tonight, I watched two instances of an overall lack of respect. The first one, a little girl was playing with fancy journaling pens that the store had near its registers. Clearly, others had doodled onto the shelf of the rack they were sitting on. Meanwhile, the adult she was with- watched her and did not say a word. I noticed the girl take her index finger and smear black ink onto the face of the white counter. Licking her finger, then smearing it again. The first thought I had: who is going to correct her behavior? Clearly not the woman with her in this instance but who is going to show her the way when older? If she shows lack of respect for other’s property now? Will she show that later in life on a grander scale?
The second instance. A woman holding a cellphone between her ear and shoulder, munching on Peanut M&Ms that she clearly picked up in the store and decided to open them, and eat while in the line. I must admit, I was taking bets with myself on whether or not she’d pay for them when her time came to check out. What can I say, I am a cynic sometimes. The girl and woman made their way to the register. She was next. She walked with them, then past a little bit. She acted like she was in the market for a new crafting machine and observed them on the high shelf behind the register. Then. She sauntered out. Items in hand still munching on her unpaid candy.
As I write this, I think “will the young girl become the woman who was behind her in line?” Both had a lack of respect in different but similar ways. One just committed a crime though.
When you meet someone in your life, say someone who is in a position of power, do you automatically assume that they will respect you? Or, do you assume that they will make you a doormat? Those in positions of power are normal people too. Many people elevate them. They act completely different around them just because they have a bit more power than they do in some un-altering life way. Just because someone is in a position of power, doesn’t give them the right to disrespect you without reasonable cause.
Reasonable cause you say? That’s a question I’m going to let linger for you the reader to figure out. Is there ever reasonable cause for someone to show a total lack of respect, just cause?
Let’s tilt our heads a bit more here. Poor man’s thinking versus rich man’s thinking. This is something I’ve been pondering a lot lately. What makes a person rich versus poor when it comes to spending habits? Personally, I’ve been cutting out the little spending here and there. I’ve stopped perusing thrift stores (ugh my absolute favorite) and have only went in to find items I absolutely need. Like the dresser I just bought. Thrifting is like an addiction for me. I enjoy finding things for next to nothing. Some things, reselling to make profit. It’s thrilling- it feels like I just won the lottery at spending money I didn’t need! Go me!
Poor man’s theory when it comes to building wealth. I’ve decided that a mindset of for example “I am just not like that to invest in a good pair of (needed) tennis shoes that I know will make my feet feel better and last longer than the brand I usually wear.” Cutting costs on something needed (proper footwear is a must in my opinion) versus buying five pairs of cheap Department store shoes for the same cost. They might look prettier but now you have four additional pairs of shoes that hurt your feet. Consumerism wins here. Of course I am not accounting for a person’s salary and whether or not they can afford a bit more of a quality shoe. If they can’t, chances are they are buying what they can- regardless of quality. Don’t come at me though.
I’m still deciding on a rich man’s theory lifestyle change for me. I think it’s going to just be, set a goal for something I will need (that’s quality) and will last me for a while. Or simply make saving money a positive thing. Money buys freedom.
The last thing I will say before I stand up straight, (ironic because standing up sideways could also mean one is laying down)((side note: I am laying down while writing this.)) I laugh.
Perspective is everywhere. Challenging yourself to see things different than how you were raised, what the normal is, is just <hopefully> going to make you a better person. And if not, well you’ve completely missed the entire motivating message within this blog. Congrats.
Danae Decker 