Old Dreams for New Employees

The goal should always be for balance.

I talk of trust, honor,and dignity, none of which seem to barely survive in these times of tests. These are the things that built nations, territories and modern civilizations. As Americans we believe the values of these little notions, but in the information age have very few examples. Our society is severely divided between the the 'haves' and the 'have-nots'. We watch television to calm our thoughts and weep when we see goodness. Murder, theft, and misfortune are now commonplace we barely get upset when our political leaders cheat, lie and steal. The very things that used to be a summons for revolution only now get a glance of mention. The reason for all of this numbness is exhaustion.
The majority of American wealth is controlled by less than 3% of its people. Which means that the other 97% are working harder than ever before. When the nation of United States was founded many of its inhabitants all had equal chance for prosperity. At the same time, many people grew up with the knowledge of skills necessary for basic survival. If a person did not have the talent for living in modern towns, they could always go into the wilderness for food, and shelter. In today's modern society, there is no more wilderness, and too many rules to follow for basic living. When the people traded their lives of self-sufficiency for lives of electricity and grocery stores, liberty and freedom of choice became harder to find.
Yet, liberty is not today's problem that most people face. The ability to get basic needs, to feed, clothe and educate their children. are harder to obtain. More importantly, pride, dignity, and the sense of self worth.
Many people today work long hours at under paying, thankless jobs. Yet, they are grateful because of fear of losing anything less. Television and marketing have convinced people to maintain a certain lifestyle, and to live anything less would be disgraceful.
At the same time, television also paints pictures of dreams. It shows other people who have managed to succeed in living their dreams. We teach our children that to value their lives and to dream beyond the four walls for which they currently live in. The reality is that sometimes in order to get their dreams means living in the sacrifice of their personal beliefs. Often the quickest way to success is to go along with anyone one who is power of influence regardless of the values for which they live.
This sounds terrible, but it is the sacrifice many people make because no one wants to be made an example. The alternative for independent thinking is banishment from the community, economic hardship, ruin of reputation through lies, or all of the above. It is an punishment of the old world, meant to take away a person's pride. Their dignity, their self-worth. For people with children it is to high a price to pay when just going along will pay the bills.


Then, there are the dreamers, people who believe in honesty. The people who still believe that hard work is still the only way to success. They believe that treating people with respect is still a way to make friendships. Yet, for those people pride is a vice, and something not born from the status of their jobs. Self-worth is much deeper emotion. It comes from faith, and from self knowledge. To get this type of dignity requires each person to live a life free of guilt or regret. This form of pride comes from living each day with integrity and with truthful honest intention.

Working for companies and working for others is necessary for many who do not have the opportunity to live self-sufficiently. Yet, everyone has the ability to make a choice to find work that is fulfilling. By fulfilling I refer to work that may not pay the most, but a job that allows a person to be themselves without repercussion. A position within a company that allows for friendships, and the possibility for time off without worry of being replaced. One time not so long ago, working for others was a means to contribute to the community. It is this balance of family and work that most people want to achieve. It is the promise made to each child born in America. Yet, as with most promises some sacrifices must be made. People must sacrifice personal time with time spent in groups and community projects that hold elected leaders accountable for their actions against the community. People must sacrifice buying things that put them into debt for the sake of maintaining a lifestyle. People must sacrifice personal comforts for living a life with little or no carbon footprint. This is what most working people dare to dream.

The dream of a life lived in balance is never as far away as it sometimes may seen to be. It just requires a little effort to find.

Bumbas, ...Happy Trails!