An older acquaintance’s second wife was… bonkers.
There’s probably a legal term that better describes her but I’m no lawyer and I wasn’t privy to the restraining order documents.
She was barely older than myself when they were together. She would say many bonkers things that would be accurately described as bonkers things that someone who is bonkers would say.
But one thing she would say has stuck with me to this day…
Money is a renewable resource.
Now, of course, technically this is not true and that jives with the whole bonkers source, however it’s also kinda true. There’s always more.
I’m in Dawson City, Yukon currently. On Wednesday, I flew here from Toronto in Business Class. I did the chi-chi lounges with “free” food and drinks, real glass glasses for your wine on the plane, the flight attendant taking your meal order, real cutlery (which btw… seems to contradict the whole airport security thing, I mean at the very least its offensive to plane hijackers to suggest they could never afford Business Class), all of it.
It was lovely. I haven’t done that for an entire trip before. It was decadent and special… but here’s the thing…
As I looked around at my fellow uppercrusters, none of them were that bothered or luxury-struck. This was common for them.
It reminded me that there is a LOT of money out there. My fiscal reality is not the same as someone with less than me and, at the same time, not the same as someone with more.
There’s a social theory called the ‘Culture of Poverty’. I’m sure it’s contested and its name alone kinda gets my back up too… but it refers to the notion that we all kind of get stuck in our fiscal realities. Without even thinking consciously about it we assign ourselves a station in life. A class level.
For example, “I don’t belong in fancy places.”
That’s garbage.
There are, without question, hard fiscal realities. I know that to be true from experience. However, it’s a trap to think you can’t have and do better. That it’s somehow ‘out of reach’ or that those people enjoying more in life are somehow ‘not like you’.
Garbage. All of it.
To quote the great Depeche Mode, people are people.
Never think you don’t belong based on money.
If you have the money to pay the bill, you belong.
Reach for the things and experiences you want. Sometimes you get them.
Money isn’t finite. Provided you’re willing to work, learn, work, and repeat…
Money is a renewable resource.
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(Pictured: Author somehow weasels his way into snooty airport lounge, proving that if he can you can too)
So were you able to afford Business Class on my erroneous (1200$) annual subscription???
I do love your thoughts.