I never meant to do it, but I have always felt my worth because of things and not because of what I know to be true about myself. What I mean is that I have never been materialistic, but I have been measured and believed (or not) based on what I had to show for my advice or knowledge rather than the fact that my advice or knowledge was sound. Let’s face it: everyone is from Mississippi – they have to be shown in order to believe.

Capitalism rules not only in America, but everywhere. It has been called other things and practiced in different ways, but value has always been placed more on status and money than anything else. Most people strive to follow whatever is currently lucrative, and they continue to judge based on what someone has or does. Even celebrities have more authority than someone who has the actual knowledge because the celebrity is popular and has money.

I’m not saying that there is no one who wants to be a teacher or fire fighter or doctor; I am saying that there are those who choose to be a surgeon, for instance, because of what they think would garner a larger income. Plastic surgeons initially did work that would help restore; now they include (or perform exclusively) work that would enhance. And there are those with no people skills who go into areas that require them because of what the salary is.

What concerns me most, however, is situations like the following: When parents who love their children and do everything within their power for them believe themselves to be failures because they cannot provide all the things their children want or need, but a child can be adopted into a lucrative family to boost their status or follow a trend (with the child only being an accessory). Throughout history, this concept has led to parents giving up their newborns to what they consider a “better life” for the children. It does happen that a child can be brought into a loving home, but it also happens that a child can be brought into a home to become a servant or accessory.

Society has failed in many ways because of the concern for what is tangible at the moment, and has placed value on things rather than people. This of course has caused people to continue this circle and make decisions based on things rather than people. And things include how they believe they are perceived.

People outside of your inner circle are not really concerned about what you have or don’t have (or shouldn’t be), and valuing the opinion of the masses is always going to have shortfalls. We came into this world alone, with nothing and no one, unless you were a Siamese twin, and even if it was a multiple birth or a lucrative family. We are going to leave here the same way, alone. Things cannot come with us.