What is it like to be POOR. What is it like to struggle in life and find ways to eat?
Have you been there? Are you there now? I've been there, and tomorrow could happen to me again.
Being proud, is an important part of life. Work hard, yield the seeds you plant and the effort you put forth... hard work yields a great harvest.
Except...
When it doesn't work that way for everyone...
I grew up in a poor family. Not my fault, I was just a child. I grew up the hard way.
Can I buy a McDonalds burger today and not worry about the cost? Yes I can!
Could I buy a McDonalds burger many years ago and not worry about the cost? No I couldn't.
Let me explain.
I, like most, didn't have a fantastic childhood. My earliest memories of my childhood were problematic times, during periods of economic trouble.
I'm writing my experience today, not for you to feel sorry for me. I just feel it is something I need to share... to someone... who finds value in what I've been through.
As an example...
One of my earliest memories was walking with my family, in the rain, all the way to the bakery on foot as cars passed us by. My mother would send the kids in... "Ask them if they have any day-old-bread"
...day-old-bread was fresh yesterday, but today it was 50% off...
We got lucky most of the time. Yes! There was day-old-bread 50% off...
Except this one particular day, that is burned in my memory forever...
...
We walked 45 minutes in the rain to the bakery, to ask "do you have any day-old-bread?"
The answer was "sorry, we're out".
We turned around and gave the bad news to my mother, who also was frustrated, and she said "ok, let's go home".
So through that 45 minute walk there, we did another 45 minute walk home "with no bread".
Breakfast and lunch that next day had no bread. We were hungry and because the bakery didn't have a surplus of old bread, we didn't have any bread the next day.
Today I'm not rich. But I can afford a loaf of fresh bread, at the very minimum
....
I have have to wonder now... why my earliest memories as a child were asking for "day-old-bread" and the one time we couldn't get some, it's burned into my mind like a tattoo..
As a child, I remember Christmas food hampers... when the food bank gave us a big box of goodies. Life changed for us as a family (and I remember this) when my single divorced mother parked a big cardboard box on the kitchen table full of food when special people brought it to our front door.
How did they know? Why did they know we were a starving family?
...
To this day, I don't know how they knew...
...
Without the good will of people back then, maybe I wouldn't even remember my childhood.
I grew up poor. I lost a lot of my memories by blocking them out. I just remember the good times when they did have "day-old-bread" or when the food bank rescued us.
As an adult, I pride myself on NOT having to buy "day-old-bread" or needing a food bank to feed me... I want that good will to go to people other than me who really do need it.
But it is a very thin line from where I came from, and where I am now. I will totally support those troubled children during the special new times of their life, where food and starvation blocks out their memories.
I was one of those children. I will help if I can.
..
I'm not even sure why I shared this tonight, other than... it was something I'd only tell my closest friends. The blockchain makes it easier to tell everyone, so I did.
There are a lot of hungry families out there, and not all of the mothers and fathers are drug addicts either. The innocent children hurt. Throw a jar of peanut butter or something else into the food bank collection box if you can afford it. You could help an innocent child who needs it.
I wipe a tear as I force myself to remember this...
On a similar note.
You can give $200 to someone, or 20 minutes of your time. Depending on who it is, what the reason is, and what it is that is in need... paying it forward doesn't have to happen huge or big. Sometimes society needs to help the less fortunate whether it be big or small. Any bit helps.
I help people when I can, and I'm proud of that.
- Share a bit of yourself... ever been in need? Ever helped a family?
Without knowing for sure... I reserve this spot for @timcliff. He'll reply with something.... I know he will. @timcliff - share something. (and yes, I upvoted myself, but I'll prove I'll donate something to a family in need by doing so)
Thanks for sharing your experience,@intelliguy. I remembered my struggle when my parents separated when I was 12. It was difficult, my mom had a new partner then. I had to watch over our store and study at the same time coz my stepfather would scold me. I managed to survive until such time I ran away home when he tried to harrass me. I pursued my schooling until I graduated with my aunt's aid, however, I also had to help at her store.
We have different struggles in life to reach what we are now. Some were bittersweet memories but it helped us to become better individuals. 😊
Be proud. Cheers!
What doesn't kill us makes us stronger.. You are strong. If anyone asked, would you repeat the cycle and do this to another child? The answer would be an easy "no"
Thank u @intelliguy !Kudos to all of us here for surpassing amidst life struggles. We are all strong. 💪
Thank you for sharing! I grew up very poor as well. I got lucky when my mom remarried that i had a middle class life for the last 2 years of high school, and my stepdad cared enough to understand how awkward i was about asking for things, getting gifts, or even second helpings at meals. I feel it should be our responsibility to help ease the suffering of others.
Would you agree, you wouldn't have to buy them a porsche, a lamborghini, but a loaf of bread, a jar of peanut butter, or an on-sale turkey would be huge?
Yes i do agree! And also empower them to succeed. :)
I have been there, single mother raising three kids and all, but luckily I relied on my credit cards to feed us, which later I had to file bankruptcy. Being poor is not something we choose, it is just the situation and destine we were given.
I believe because of this experience, I am more humble and compassionate toward others.
You've bared your soul, and your story was written from the heart! Thank you!
There are people, who self-made their money, like those sharks on USA TV "Shark Tank" that would 100% disagree.
But what those sharks do not understand, is that they got opportunities when opportunities were available. Sometimes we all get an opportunity, but when it shows up, could be early or later. There still will be dry spots in life.. hard times.. just like the one you talked about.
I admire you for feeding your kids with your credit cards, and not leaving them hungry to go to the casino.
I read some of your replies, and I completely agree with what you said here: " It's like the hidden secret of society that only pops up when everyone is talking about it, but it's always there."
It seems that each one of us carries many secrets that we don't often talk about. I used to have a blog called Raw Thoughts and Feelings, where I wrote out my "secrets" as raw as it is or was..My readers were all in shock and very uncomfortable. My life journey was not "dandy" enough for common comprehension :-(
I know the feeling, waiting all month for the food stamps , that's what they were, so we could by some groceries.
It was enough to last us 4 children and mother and father about 2 weeks.
we had no car and usually took those 45min- hour long walks.
but fortunately, we had a neighbor that owned a restaurant and had bread daily for their business.
I remember waking up each morning to see if the left a bag of bread outside, sometimes in the snow, but it was bread!
Now I'm grown up,raised 3 great children, and yes we had some struggles but , it seems that after my children grew up and moved out, thinking it would be just me and my wife, things would be easier, she ends up with an illness and that its just me working...
Its always hard, and we wear out our body's trying to live paycheck to paycheck.
But one thing I have learned is no matter how tough you think it is, someone has it worst.
So yes. give what and when you can, I do, you may not think it matters, but the guy/girl, child that receives it wont think that way.
What you wrote, and what you are going through, is 100% exactly the type of person I wanted to see tonight. Thank you for sharing your story. It's like the hidden secret of society that only pops up when everyone is talking about it, but it's always there.
You're currently going through a huge struggle... Sorry to hear about your wife's illness. This is hard on her. It is hard on you. To ever think some families aren't going through struggles today, they are...
The time you spent tonight sharing is well worth it. We're educating the majority. Some of us (ok most of us) are busy with our own lives... but when you stop and think. ...even for a moment... not all of us are doing okay... it brings real thought and compassion to the realism of life.
I sincerely thank you for explaining your situation and best wishes to you and yours...
Thanks for sharing that about yourself.
I grew up with more than enough but i was taught that it was never enough. That also left some scars, so after I graduated I tried to live all kind situation of lives to see what felt like enough. Eventually I ended up with absolutely nothing and, funny enough, I finally felt like I had it all. I like good food and interacting with society and would like more opportunities to pay it forward though so I’ve worked my way out of that situation. I have some stuff now, probably not as much as most people in well off parts of he world, but more every day and I’m already able to pay more forward.
I’ll still eat day old bread from the bakery or fresh enough food from a dumpster dive, no need to waste it. ;-P
You got a big upvote for me, for honesty and candor. thanks for sharing. This is exactly the type of realism I was hoping by someone like yourself, telling their own story reaching out like I did. Thank you so much for that...
That’s what I’m here for. I want to connect with all the forward thinking people who are adopting this new platform and form of currency, rather than those just whining about Facebook on Facebook and complaining about they’re lives without trying anything new.
X-D
I always enjoy your posts.
I was a single mom of three children for about 10 years. I worked three jobs some times just to keep my head above water.
My children grew up knowing the difference between wants and needs. We had all the needs covering (barely) and at times, had to ask for assistance from our church.
Now that I am where I am in life, we are constantly paying it forward. WHether as a Stewards Of Gondor recipient, the tithe at church and even once when we were in a fast food place (many years ago), a distraught mother was upset, as was her one young child who wanted to get a cookie from the menu.. Mom said no... little scene ensued. Mu husband spoke up and paid for their entire food bill; including buying all four of the lady's children a cookie for dessert. Just thinking about that moment warms my heart.
The only way this world can work, is the give you received, and the give you offer. Politicians and accountants don't understand. The world works because of give and take and offerings and acceptance. This has happened long before the 1800's and cowboy days.. it is the way of the human race.
Thank you for continuing the chain of survival. It should warm your heart. You and your family is well by paying it forward.
Note: Don't do it to the point you become suffering too. Just the extra you have to offer is more than plenty.
Growing up in a former communist country, I can relate to a lot of points from this post. Food was scarce, the clothes we wore were baggy so it would fit us for years and when we did not have money for gum, we would eat acacia leaves because they tasted sweet just like gum. My grandfather had to steal a jar of marmalade because I did not know the taste of it.
Years of hard work has brought me and my family a somewhat stable income. Luck? I would like to think it was just plain hard work.
Nowadays I can afford to travel and buy gum and bread and 20 jars of jam. And I give a lot of what I buy because someone out there needs it more. I think I learned this when I was a kid and I shared my food with a mouse we found in our kitchen because I knew he also needed to eat.
For me, it's easier now because I have also changed my mentality, not so much for my parents who still have the fear in their bones. I sometimes do too, but it hits me mostly at night when anxiety is at its peak.
I am glad you shared this... So many people have gone through similar experiences but rarely is there a time to talk about it. You can pass someone on the street (or the internet) without even realizing it.
The collection of comments, just like yours, is nice to read. It shows that many of us who went through hard times did better, and appreciate where we came from. I find people like us don't judge or stomp on people because we know what it is like to have disadvantaged times in our life. We'd never cause harm to another person willingly.
Thanks again.
Thanks for sharing, and Yes! I grew up in a similar situation with a single divorced mom living on food stamps. We lived across the street from the projects. We were pretty poor, but I was not unhappy.
We were not quite so poor as you described, but I remember going to friends house and being amazed at all the nice things they had!
Now, as my name implies I've continually grown my wealth as an adult and I'm on pace to hit my first million (i think)by 2020 with any luck.
Fingers crossed!
Dear thank you for the story,our childhood define our personality and when you have carencies in your childhood you were a better person in the future because you know the real value of the think, we need to change the world and if we have the oportunitie for do it we will try and it is true some times the time spend is better than the money.
Thank you for share with us your history is amazing know that no one have a trouble in the childhood, in our case we travel every day walk around 7 kilometers every day for went to school and o today this is history i remember and feel happy for this because those make me better person.
Thank you for be a good person sorry for usurpate the site of @timcliff, i correct it.
Well i hope have a great life share with the kids who need some piece of bread.
Best regard @galberto
from El Salvador.
It does make you a better person, I agree. Hello to El Salvador. Never spoke to someone from that particular country (while they are in that country). The internet is beautiful where it can connect us like this...