Sometimes I wonder if you would take me back
Or if you would spit me out, turn your back on me and command I leave,
Disgusted by my audacity to claim your heritage
Sickened by the nerve to finally come home and expect a party.
Sometimes I wonder if you think of me as a foreigner;
A child who left, by choice, the sanctuary of your embrace.
Would you look at me?
Would you embrace me?
Would I be welcome?
Or have I shamed you?
Have I shamed you by not coming back in all these years?
Have I shamed you by allowing my accent to change?
Have I shamed you by making friends who are like family in this place?
Or have I made you proud as an ambassador of your offspring?
Africa, would you let me in, if I came home tonight?
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
Recession Obsession
When necessary I am fairly frugal, but I can usually justify indulgences with the argument that the world could end any minute, so I tend not to feel completely deprived.
The “Recession”, which used to just be a topic in my World History text book, has people obsessing and looking it up on Wikipedia, joining the Facebook Cutting Coupons group and acting like it is the first time they heard the phrase “History repeats itself!” The last time people freaked out this much, it was because they were not “Y2K compliant!” Now, before you go calling me insensitive (You know I will pull the I-haven’t-seen-my-siblings-in-5-years card!) it is important to remember, that everything is based on perspective and I only ever profess to writing from my point of view and the way you see it, is the way you see it. We can agree to disagree. Respect doesn’t cost anything! But I digress.
People are stronger than they give themselves credit for, especially in the society in which I live. The very fact that we have so many choices makes us feel weak and unable to deal with a lack of choice when it arises (AKA* ADD**) – and also why the retail industry robs us by using marketing tactics that make it seem like it was our idea to spend our dollars on their products.
The recession is like a cure for said ADD, mainly because it narrows down the choice we have on what to spend our money on, usually to the necessities, which allows us to be more appreciative of the indulgences we can justify once in a while. It will make us more compassionate of the communities who do not have the choice of whether to eat or not, or whether to vote red or blue, or which pair of shoes to wear on any given day. It’s not about feeling bad, it’s about being aware, so that if you can, you can get involved directly, to level the scales, or you can simply be appreciative.
So, when the graph of your personal finances starts to look like an upside-down exponential curve, remember that we are all dealt a different hand and sometimes the cards really suck and to win, you gotta know which ones to hold and which ones to fold and whatever happens in this round there will be an opportunity to deal again. History repeats itself.
*Also Known As
**Attention Deficit Disorder
The “Recession”, which used to just be a topic in my World History text book, has people obsessing and looking it up on Wikipedia, joining the Facebook Cutting Coupons group and acting like it is the first time they heard the phrase “History repeats itself!” The last time people freaked out this much, it was because they were not “Y2K compliant!” Now, before you go calling me insensitive (You know I will pull the I-haven’t-seen-my-siblings-in-5-years card!) it is important to remember, that everything is based on perspective and I only ever profess to writing from my point of view and the way you see it, is the way you see it. We can agree to disagree. Respect doesn’t cost anything! But I digress.
People are stronger than they give themselves credit for, especially in the society in which I live. The very fact that we have so many choices makes us feel weak and unable to deal with a lack of choice when it arises (AKA* ADD**) – and also why the retail industry robs us by using marketing tactics that make it seem like it was our idea to spend our dollars on their products.
The recession is like a cure for said ADD, mainly because it narrows down the choice we have on what to spend our money on, usually to the necessities, which allows us to be more appreciative of the indulgences we can justify once in a while. It will make us more compassionate of the communities who do not have the choice of whether to eat or not, or whether to vote red or blue, or which pair of shoes to wear on any given day. It’s not about feeling bad, it’s about being aware, so that if you can, you can get involved directly, to level the scales, or you can simply be appreciative.
So, when the graph of your personal finances starts to look like an upside-down exponential curve, remember that we are all dealt a different hand and sometimes the cards really suck and to win, you gotta know which ones to hold and which ones to fold and whatever happens in this round there will be an opportunity to deal again. History repeats itself.
*Also Known As
**Attention Deficit Disorder
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