How Do You Live?

The question today is of no importance to many people, in fact most don’t even wonder, as they live just fine. Most have jobs they either enjoy, or al least put up with until a better opportunity presents itself. Most of you live in decent housing, with all of the amenities required for getting along on a day-to-day basis.

Many have a decent vehicle, maybe not new, but not so old it would be considered obsolete. In the movie Armageddon, it was pointed out, the Russian Space Station was 11 years old, and most of you have cars not even half that age.

Are you living in an area you desire, or are you somewhere, only due to circumstance? I know some of you grew up in the town you are at, and it’s inconvenient to move away from friends and family. Everything you are is because of where you are. Why change a good thing?

Have you ever wondered about how others are living? I don’t mean your Facebook friends, I mean people you have never considered thinking about. Which people do I mean? Everyone in your neighborhood lives pretty much as you, nice house, decent car, okay jobs, enough food, hot and cold running water, electricity, cable, internet, and a basic acceptance of the rest of the neighborhood.

Suppose things changed? The company you work for decided to outsource the work you have been doing, and in fact they have decided to downsize big time. Everyone you knew at work no longer employed, and in point of fact, the job you did was suddenly as obsolete as an abacus.

Suppose you no longer could afford the car, the power company payments, the internet, or cable, water, sewer, garbage, or the mortgage? How would you get along then? No longer able to use your phone, as $100 a month is just too much all of a sudden.

A “catch 22 ” jumps into the equation, as you cannot even get a job without an address, or phone! I know, because I have been there. Those homeless people you’ve heard about, are in that position. No phone, or car, no home or job. No assistance because they’ve lost the things most consider, trivial things.

A person cannot apply for the basic support items, as they no longer have an address. I know you’re thinking those people can get help from a local shelter, but those shelters have rules too. The rules are different from place to place, but all to often, the homeless, or helpless folks aren’t able to apply for help, due to the rules.

The people who are in that position also have their baggage. Yes they’re homeless for whatever reason, and contrary to popular belief, it was not simply a choice! They aren’t in these circumstances because one day they decided to quit paying the bills, or decided they wanted a change.

Most of these people are in that situation due to circumstances they really had very little control over. A fire destroyed the house, and insurance was too expensive, because all of those wages went into feeding children, and living expenses, we all take for granted.

Look at your own bills. Could you have what you have, if you only made minimum wages? How would you live? You would knock some of the frivolous expenses out of the picture, so you may continue to manage. Which bills would you forgo, to ease your burden? Phone? Insurance? Food? Cable? Water, power, sewer, garbage? Vacation? Recreational activities? Your toys?

What toys am I talking about? Snow mobile, Atv, Jet Ski, Motorcycle, Bicycles standing in the garage, Downhill Ski gear, Sporting equipment, Boat, Surfboards, Exercise equipment, Electronics? I can keep listing excesses, many here in this country have. If you sold all of that would you be able to save your home, for long enough to be able to get back on your feet?

So, I have a challenge for you. Tell me what you would do, what you would go without, how you would change crappy circumstance, to make your living conditions better. Will you do that, and tell me How You Would Live?

Here is something to brighten up this subject….

Tracy Chapman – Give Me One Reason (39th Grammy Awards, 1997)