Topic: "Dad, what does it mean to be poor?"
izzynavi's photo
Mon 04/30/07 08:03 AM
I could not find a forum that best describes this topic....

A financially stable father wanted to let his son know what it meant to
be poor. So he arranged for his son to spend a weekend with a family
from a farm. He would spend three days and two nights living in the
country.

After the allotted time, the father picked up his son and returning to
the city he asked his son: “What do you think of the experience?”

“It was okay.” answered the son with his sight fixed in the distance.

“And….. What did you learn?” insisted the father.

The son answered: “We have one dog, they have four.
We have a swimming pool that fills out our yard, they have a never
ending river, that flows with cristal clear water, that has fishs. We
import Oriental lanterns that light up our garden, they have the stars,
the moon and candles to light up their house.

“Our yard extends to the fence, their to the horizon. We buy our food,
they sow and reap theirs. We listen to CD’s, they have an eternal
symphony of birds, frogs, toads and other animals chirping, while
sometimes you can hear the neighbor plowing his fields.”

“We cook on an electric stove, while all they eat has the taste of
charcoal flavor. We live fenced in, with an alarm system, they live with
their doors open protected by the friendship of their neighbors.”

We live connected to the cellular phone, the television, the computer,…
they, in turn, live connected to life, the sky, the earth, the sun, the
water, to their animals, their crops and their family.”

The father was astound by his son’s deep consciousness on the matter….
Then the son concluded by saying: “thank you, dad, for teaching me how
poor we are.”

Each day we become weaker in spirit, unable to appreciated the great
works of nature our Creator has given us. Hope that this makes you think
and re-evaluated your lives somewhat. God Bless you all.

GaMail50's photo
Mon 04/30/07 11:35 AM
Ty for your post. As a rural person, I don't really want what the city
has to offer. It's ok for those who do, but it's not for me.

no photo
Mon 04/30/07 12:05 PM
awwww i really enjoyed that! good post

Abracadabra's photo
Mon 04/30/07 12:14 PM
It’s so true. I forfeited big bucks to live as a poor person in the
country. And without a doubt I’m richer here with no money than I would
have been had I stayed in the city and grew a large bank account.

Choosing a simple life close to nature over the rat race of the city was
the best choice I ever made in my life. Now if I can just find a woman
who can appreciate the simple life too I’ll have it made in the shade.

RainbowTrout's photo
Mon 04/30/07 12:18 PM
Don't want the concrete and asphalt jungle. I would rather live in the
real jungle.

davinci1952's photo
Mon 04/30/07 12:33 PM
and if you live by a corporate run hog feedlot you have? huh

Jess642's photo
Mon 04/30/07 06:19 PM
This freedom of choice thing, is kind of what it is supposed to be...

How many are living what they choose, and where they choose to live?

Great post/thread...there is always a flipside to how we perceive our
lives.

Thankyou.flowerforyou

no photo
Mon 04/30/07 06:25 PM
Nice.

lulu24's photo
Mon 04/30/07 06:31 PM
and a beautiful way to show that there are good points about each
lifestyle. to take the good...that sort of optimism is special.

grizz11952001's photo
Mon 04/30/07 07:03 PM
ive gotta say that was a nice story but it doesnt allways workout so
well . not knowing where you are going to live or eat or how to get back
an forth to your job an trying to stay clean enough that no one will
know you are hungry an without a place to stay sucks going for days on
end with no food changes you inside an out . two days makes you hungry 3
makes you sick anything after 4 makes you mean up untill you hit the
second week then you get weak from it an not as social towards others
some of these so called help places should be shot i only found one that
would help me during my crisis back then (helping hands in bentonville)
an oh dont forget popular house for the medical. thanks to those i am
still around to talk about that time but dont wish to the thing is
remembering it an knowing that someone else is there right now living
the same . law is no help for the poor there either just more tickets
you cant pay. so jail you will eventualy go . had to leave the hometown
an then come back after 8 yrs to live an make it financialy . no being
poor just sucked bad. i like knowing where my bed is an that i have a
meal when i get there. an a job to go to . the bad thing is people
posing as poor an standing on corners make it bad for the ones that
really are but let me say a poor man will eat what ever hes handed if it
is food an he is truly hungry.

Redykeulous's photo
Mon 04/30/07 10:58 PM
Izzy, that was a very nice post. I think it's purpose was not so much
to make 'poor' sound enticing as it was to remind us that there are many
riches to be had and treasures to be found no matter what walk of life
you must take.

I know the 'farm' life, it's hard, but the family I have and those that
I know living that life, are among the kindest, generous folks I have
ever met.

Me - I'm the city cousin, dubbed that many many years ago. I like the
city, but I also like to think that my fortune is not lacking. For the
lessons of your post, I learned through the patience and kindness of my
farm family. The reminders of which are always pleasant and worth
revisiting.

thanks!