Why stick with poverty?

The majority of people these days want to live in comfort and luxury - they then strive to become richer than what they are. Some of us are happy where we are - but wish we could make a little more. Others are poor, but are happy poor. Kudos to them! There is a story about a king who became deathly ill and his physicians told him the only cure was to find the shirt of a truly happy man. So the king sent out his advisors to search for this truly happy man. They searched far and wide all over the world but could not find the perfectly happy man. Those who had money were not happy with their lives, those who were poor wished for more money. Then one day they happened to be passing a little shack on a small farm and they overheard a man inside exclaiming his thanks to the Lord. He thanked the Lord for all he had and proclaimed that he was truly a happy man. The advisors were overjoyed when they heard this and rushed in to get the happy man's shirt. Only, the man was so poor he did not own a shirt. (and just to give you an idea of what kind of things I tend to remember - I read this story when I was 7 years old and attending a gifted summer school) (grin) -Tink

I had a boyfriend once that grew up in a poor family. His father had left and mom was left to raise 6 kids on her own. They lived on public assistance. He seemed to have the mindset that the world owed him something. He didn't even try to work for a living. He was just content to be. Yet on the other hand I have known people that were born into poor families and they have worked really hard to better their lot in life and have succeeded. I think everyone is different and some have the will to succeed.

I guess most of them who choose to be poor are those that were not educated or if they are educated then they are just plainly lazy of doing things out of hardship. But I do see persons to who purposely chose to be happy being what they are and never aspire being rich too. I see the persons like Mother Theresa who chose to be contented in helping the poor instead of enriching herself she chose to be with the poor instead.

I have known wealthy men and women who have had a great deal of monitary wealth and have in the most important areas of their life have been very miserable..happiness,health etc.Some of my husband and my happiest times were when we were on the bones of our behinds.Guess one has to be capable of defining happiness? Cheers

There are some people who will never get out of poverty through no fault of their own. They do not have the tools with which to climb out of deep poverty. They do not have the ability to get the education to get ahead in life. This is always sad. Then there are the people that you describe. The ones who have the ability to climb a little higher but do not try. Maybe they get into debt and do not know how to get out of debt and just continue to slide down. Then there are the ones who were middle class and illness strikes and it takes all their savings to battle the illness. Eventually they even loose their job. No job, no insurance, no savings,disability,total poverty. This is the person you should feel bad for. They were literally hit by a train wreck. They will never be able to recoup and get back to where they were. And it is not their fault. Shalom

I am one of those people who seem to remain in the same position with each passing year. I'm young, only 24 and with 2 children. Of course I did not plan or intend to raise them alone, nor did I ever imagine they would have special needs. I can plan my way out of this rut, but can never find the resources to carry out my plan. Their needs limit the time they can spend in typical daycares or after school settings, I really do not have any friends, and my few family members are against helping us physically. My father supports us, and I do have public assistance, but it always seems I'm at a stand still. I've worked and had many full time jobs. My longest job was almost 2 years. I was fired because I'm not reliable. Well, *I* am reliable, but there's no telling who's waking up with a fever, or if my son is going to last in another new daycare. The final straw at my last job was on a snow day and I had to pick up both kids early, and had no one else to do it. Any job I have the experience to get is also something where I'm needed there, and not where I can take any work home (cashier, driver). There is a catch 22 with going to school; For me to get help paying for daycare, I have to attend school and work at least 35 hours per week. I know that might not seem like much, but my daughter is in school for 30 hours, and obviously there are school vacations. My son is in school for 12.5 hours. I have to find a daycare to cover the rest of my working time and time while I'm at school. They have to accept social services, and be able to handle special needs and food allergies. There is no one to watch them on weekends, evenings, or holidays, trust me I've tried. I've had one sitter work for me more than once but she's not relaible. There's also occupational therapy for both kids, speech therapy for both, and my son has physical therapy. That's 5 trips per week to the hospital for therapy and of course none of the therapists' schedules match up to reduce the amount of visits. No neither of them get these therapies at school. My daughter also attends social skills groups, and takes violin lessons (christmas present). I have skills to get a job. Nothing "official." I can read and write well, and am very anal about grammar, but am not able to get any type of editing job because I don't have a degree. I was going to school for pediatric occupational therapy and to have a second certification in early childhood special education, with a goal to specialize in sensory integration dysfunction and autism. My son was kicked out of daycare (again) and while looking for a new daycare I lost my job and daycare assistance. I did maintain a 4.0 while in school. Yes I understand that I decided to have my children, but like I said my plan wasn't going it alone. I do not think my lot in life is to be poor, but I have always had a hard time finding a way out. (I cannot babysit other children- We live in my father's small basement and he will not allow it. Every time I am working, he raises my rent, never giving me the chance to save. He owns his own business and is not hurting financially at all.)

It depends upon what the cost of being rich is. There's usually a price, heh. My soul? My friends? My life? I don't mind being poor. Poverty is a predictable crisis, I can deal with predictable...predictable means I can plan. Predictable means I can live the way I want to, despite things. Not that I would pass up money if it was offered, without cost or question, but...living a volentary life of poverty never seemed like that much of a horrible thing. Myself, I reach low, in hopes a star will fall down to me -- because I always believed the saying; "Those who reach for the stars are doomed to fall to their knees." I don't think anyone's "destined" to be rich or poor...I think it's society and how the government manages the economy which determines whether you are or aren't most of the time these days. I know many a smart person, who finished high school, college, worked hard...reached for their dreams...and were left scraping by. Who still are, even. It just...really all depends on who you are, and the circumstances.

I suppose it depends on where you live and the conditions of your birth and life, if you parents were very poor and not able to educate you then you future is likely a poverty stricken one as well, I do not believe there is one parent on earth that doesn't want better for their children,but some times it is just beyond their control. In north America there is no reason for a child to be living in poverty because every child is given a free education,I know it costs money to send children to school but they do not need to go as fashion plates but clean and tidy and prepared for the day at school and hopefully that is on every parents agenda

I understand what you are saying, but I know people who are very poor in material possessions, but very rich in Spiritual Wealth. You really can't judge wealth by material positions. Money in the Bank can mean absolutely nothing to a Man who is Spiritually Wealthy. This man is blessed by being poor (in material wealth) while he is doubly blessed by being Rich in Spiritual Wealth!

I do think that some people are more blessed than others. I don't believe that anyone wishes to remain poor. It is a hard spot to crawl out of. I am considered poor because of my income. I have always struggled but I have always struggled to do better. and I have succeeded. I guess my success would depend on whose scale is doing the measuring. on my scale...I am doing great. I left an abusive marriage and raised 4 very beautiful girls on my own. there was a time where we used the pantry for a refrigerater, did not have a phone, hot water...and cable was really a ridiculous extravagance. I had ethics and alot of integrity. I heated water to bathe my kids. I somehow managed to keep them fed, clean, warm and not naked. I have worked hard and learned some budgeting strategies on the way. All are grown and doing well now with just the 14 year old to go. I don't get child support and never did get much help from the dad's . Moneywise....I qualify as poor. Am i? In many ways, I am richer than those with much more money. If you could meet my family...you'd know why. Its not all about money.

I think that some poor people are just lazy, some have bad breaks, some just dont try hard enough, I believe everyone can upgrade themselves into a better person, you dont have to be rich to be rich (if you know what i mean) but most poor people just dont try. Yes I do think some beleive thats where they need to be and they cant get better, for example people on walefare at home sitting making money while we are working paying for them. They can get up off ther behind and make a better person of themselves if not then I am above them b/c i pay them, and they do nothing. if we pay them to live than they should work for us. this is just how i think. I'm not poor, I'm not rich (but will be one day) lol,

I'm not among the poor, but unfortunately when my husband isn't overseas we usually live pay check to pay check. That was a choice we made though when i had our daughter. We felt it was important for me to stay at home with her while she was young, but we were happy. I don't think you need to have all the money in the world, but it is nice to be able to live comfortably. Our decision was based on our daughter and her being able to be with me and not being raised by someone else. I don't believe that some are born to be poor though. You just have to work really hard at what you want to achieve and at what level you would like to make money. You don't have to be poor. There are those that if they would just put a little effort in they would be able to accomplish so much more than they are, but it takes motivation and it does take time. You might have to live in poverty for a year or two to get where you wanna be, but i think working your hardest and trying to make yourself better not only for you but for you family is a goal that should always be there. When you get a little better, you set yourself a new goal to get just a little bit better. It's all in how you look at it. If you see yourself as always being poor and just give up, then yes, your always gonna be poor...but, if you set yourself higher than that you can get out of that slump. thanks for posting and God bless

Everyone is born to equal.But due to the nature resource and society situations, some are living in poor. You are right, several of them refuse to work and want to get every thing for free. But most of them are working hard to change their fate. I was born in a little village. My parents and relative are all not rich people,but we never give up. My cousins and I studied and worked very very hard because our parents told us that we could have good lives only through the hands of hourselves. We turned down the help from the government and tried to save every penny. Now two of my cousins and I are working in government agencies, one of my cousion is a very successful bussinessman. We were poor,but are living comfortable now. I only want to tell the people who are living in poor that you should change your life through your hard work. Don't rely on others.