Very Privileged
In our materialistic world where the notion of “me, me, me” is frequently reinforced (sometimes by the media and sometimes by the people around us), it becomes easy to loose sight of humility. I hesitate to talk about humility, because when people call themselves humble I often think the contrary (an example was the only Q&A of one of the Miss South Africa finalists which I happened to glance the other day). But the point that I am trying to make is that, through our daily trails and tribulations, when something goes our way, we easily consider it a right, not a privileged. Even people who have our best intentions at heart sometimes push us to such a train of thought: trying to convince a burned our friend, colleague or family member to take a break and some “you time”, congratulating people on an award or achievement, saying “you deserve it”. There is nothing wrong with saying these things, but one must never loose sight of the distinction between rights and privileges.
I have been very fortunate this year because of the support (moral, emotional and financial) which I have received from my family this year. Yes, I am the youngest and still dependent on my parents, but I am also an adult and knows no-one “owes” me anything. Whatever I get, I get out of love. I am privileged. But my privilege level might soon go through the roof.
My mother owns a beach house near Langebaan. We never used it much and I don't particularly like it very much (although I shall always remember it as the place where I welcomed in the new millennium). We've been renting out the house for years now, with more than a fair share of hiccups.
Yesterday, my mother formulated a plan: sell that house, buy a flat in Stellenbosch and have me live there. The plan has more to it and it basically boils down to me becoming self-sufficient. Well, considerably more self-sufficient than I am at the moment, at least. The speed at which this plan formed caught me slightly by surprised. My mother had set the wheels of this plan in motion this morning already. While I am very happy and excited about this prospect, I strain to reel myself in. I want to approach this matter as objectively as possibly. Just because I shall benefit from this plan, does not necessarily make it a “good plan” on the whole. However, I still find the “pro” column of the list of global implications of this plan to be much larger than the “con” column. While I am no financial expert, I believe properties in Stellenbosch generally only appreciate, so it seems like a sound investment. When I move out, the option remains to either rent out the flat, or sell it. There are lots of other details which I won't go into now, but it seems like this thing is going to happen. I can only pray that it will work out for the best for everyone.
On Saturday I finally moved into my new room in Stellenbosch. While I look forward to my stay there, it also has several drawbacks one simply cannot ignore. Luckily, I do not have a formal, written contract, so I can give notice and move out whenever I want to. But I don't think that this is going to happen soon; I think (and hope) that this real-estate transaction won't be completed for some months.
I feel very privileged, very blessed, very loved.
This morning I read an extract from an interview with Rick Warren. He said that life is not a series of hills and valleys, “ups and downs”, but rather a two way track. Wherever we are in our lives, there are always good things and bad things going on. Perhaps the bad overshadows the good or vice versa, but both are always present. When we are down, we must seek out the good and when we are happy, we must take caution of the lingering or looming bad. This point of view is by no means new, but it did get me thinking about this year. I have repeatedly labelled this year as a “bad” one, and will probably continue doing so for a long time. The academics were murder, I and problems with family and people close to me and a plethora of other things. But, I still “passed” a screening for depression. Simply filling out that form (I think I have previously mentioned that I was not impressed with that test, because it was obvious which answers would lead to which diagnosis) made me realize that I am still in a position where I can appreciate the good despite the bad. I know I'm loved, I know I have a purpose and I appreciate what and who I have in my life (now more so that a few months earlier, but that is a story for another day). I am blessed.
Baruch Ha Shem!
I have been very fortunate this year because of the support (moral, emotional and financial) which I have received from my family this year. Yes, I am the youngest and still dependent on my parents, but I am also an adult and knows no-one “owes” me anything. Whatever I get, I get out of love. I am privileged. But my privilege level might soon go through the roof.
My mother owns a beach house near Langebaan. We never used it much and I don't particularly like it very much (although I shall always remember it as the place where I welcomed in the new millennium). We've been renting out the house for years now, with more than a fair share of hiccups.
Yesterday, my mother formulated a plan: sell that house, buy a flat in Stellenbosch and have me live there. The plan has more to it and it basically boils down to me becoming self-sufficient. Well, considerably more self-sufficient than I am at the moment, at least. The speed at which this plan formed caught me slightly by surprised. My mother had set the wheels of this plan in motion this morning already. While I am very happy and excited about this prospect, I strain to reel myself in. I want to approach this matter as objectively as possibly. Just because I shall benefit from this plan, does not necessarily make it a “good plan” on the whole. However, I still find the “pro” column of the list of global implications of this plan to be much larger than the “con” column. While I am no financial expert, I believe properties in Stellenbosch generally only appreciate, so it seems like a sound investment. When I move out, the option remains to either rent out the flat, or sell it. There are lots of other details which I won't go into now, but it seems like this thing is going to happen. I can only pray that it will work out for the best for everyone.
On Saturday I finally moved into my new room in Stellenbosch. While I look forward to my stay there, it also has several drawbacks one simply cannot ignore. Luckily, I do not have a formal, written contract, so I can give notice and move out whenever I want to. But I don't think that this is going to happen soon; I think (and hope) that this real-estate transaction won't be completed for some months.
I feel very privileged, very blessed, very loved.
This morning I read an extract from an interview with Rick Warren. He said that life is not a series of hills and valleys, “ups and downs”, but rather a two way track. Wherever we are in our lives, there are always good things and bad things going on. Perhaps the bad overshadows the good or vice versa, but both are always present. When we are down, we must seek out the good and when we are happy, we must take caution of the lingering or looming bad. This point of view is by no means new, but it did get me thinking about this year. I have repeatedly labelled this year as a “bad” one, and will probably continue doing so for a long time. The academics were murder, I and problems with family and people close to me and a plethora of other things. But, I still “passed” a screening for depression. Simply filling out that form (I think I have previously mentioned that I was not impressed with that test, because it was obvious which answers would lead to which diagnosis) made me realize that I am still in a position where I can appreciate the good despite the bad. I know I'm loved, I know I have a purpose and I appreciate what and who I have in my life (now more so that a few months earlier, but that is a story for another day). I am blessed.
Baruch Ha Shem!
posted by phantom-99w at 10:12
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