What is your relationship with money ?
Sigh… where do I begin. Money has always been a complex issue in my life … it’s like a member of the family really. Was I the only child who grew up in a house where money was a source of conflict? I don’t think so. I’d love to hear your stories.
I was taught that money was hard to come by, that it didn’t grow on trees, and that I would have to work extremely hard all my life to earn it. Oh, and debt was a part of life. I was also told that my salvation would come from higher education.
My parents were two hard working, intelligent and responsible people who lived their life with integrity. They paid their bills on time and lived frugally. As children, we always had everything we needed and we were happy.
I was in high school when I started feeling like Cinderella. By all means, we were not poor, my parents loved each other as well as my sisters and me and they never forced me to wash the floor on my hands and knees before I went to the ball… although I did have to scrub my white socks every saturday morning …
Basically, the one guy I really, really liked started poking fun at my “cheap” leather jacket, my dad’s older car, our small house and for the first time, I felt ashamed and inadequate. His father was a (hardworking) millionnaire. Sometimes, the comparisons were astounding… for example, he wore a watch that cost twice what I had paid for my first car.
We did see each other on and off for a number of years but ultimately, I guess we were living in two separate worlds. Although I had very little money(paying for college and University and living on my own) and he had the world at his fingertips I would always fight to pay for my own drink or movie ticket when we went out. Again, it’s like money was a silent character in our story.
Ironically enough, although I haven’t seen or spoken to him in over 10 years, last week his picture was in the paper and the caption said : A royal Wedding. Turns out he married the girl he dated after me… and yes, her father has money too. They are living a prosperous life together and I wish them well.
Now, is money the only reason why it didn’t work out between us? Obviously not. Our relationship was complex … to say the least. But when I saw his face as I was sitting there in my jammies reading the morning paper (after I had started a load of laundry, cleaned out the litter and tidied up our modest abode,) I felt like Cinderella all over again. I saw what I was lacking instead of recognizing all I have.
So why am I blogging all this? I don’t know. I didn’t think I would… but ultimately, I think it’s a big piece of the puzzle that helps me to understand my relationship to money. Money isn’t just about numbers in a bank account. Wealth is a state of mind. With our thoughts, we either attract it or reject it… and sometimes we do both.
Are you a blogger with a point of view on money? What is your relationship to money? I’d love to start a dialog about understanding the money energy and how you relate to it.
