Today over on Twitter I was scrolling through my feed and came across a post that said:
Talking about money and salaries with people who have or make bank freaks me out and makes me anxious.
Anyone else?— Katelyn Bowden (@BadassBowden) February 28, 2019
This post is from an AMAZING lady (well, my perception from Twitter anyway) named Katelyn Bowden who is the Founder and CEO of BADASS (Battling Against Demeaning and Abusive Selfie Sharing). In case it isn’t clear, BADASS is a 501c3 nonprofit comprised of victims trying to end image abuse and revenge porn. That’s a mission that I fully support and quite frankly I am in awe of people who live with passion and stand for something. I am inspired by people like Katelyn…who are doing something that maybe, just maybe, will leave this world in a better position than they received it.
In any event, in her thread she commented with the following:
Probably because I have been living off of less than $1000/month for over a year. Like, I can’t process making 100k a year or more. I immediately feel intimidated and worried that my intentions won’t seem honest because of the income disparity.
— Katelyn Bowden (@BadassBowden) February 28, 2019
I took note of these comments because she is the second female, who I believe to be doing amazing things for people every day, that has said that they have anxiety around people who have or make money. It just goes to show, no matter how AWESOME you are to other people (I mean I look up to people like this) each one of us can probably find something that we feel inadequate about that other people simply won’t see nor necessarily understand.
What is it about money that can make one feel inferior to others if you don’t have it. I felt that growing up with the “rich cousins” who got nearly everything handed to them by their mom and dad. Yeah, they were made to work, but their mom and dad provided WELL for them, if you catch my drift. Meanwhile my little sister and I lived the life of latchkey kids because mom worked multiple jobs to support her two girls. Indeed, while the “rich cousins” were getting entire new ski equipment, clothing, toys…and the Nintendo for Christmas when it first came out (which was flaunted pretty heavily) we were were lucky to be getting food from the food bank, hand-me-downs from friends, clothes from the thrift store, and seeing the fire department Santa. I’ll never forget getting a dictionary and jacket that Christmas. It wasn’t fancy, but it was practical. Somewhere I STILL have that dictionary. It also took me YEARS to not feel inferior to the “rich cousins.” I don’t feel that way now. But that was part of my journey…my life lessons.
Funny thing about money…I know plenty of people with money that I wouldn’t pee on if they were on fire…because they aren’t good people. Shit bags, if you will. Further, some of the people living the richest and most fulfilling lives don’t have a lot of money. I also know some people with financial means that are the most humble and kind individuals that anyone could ever know. Good people aren’t defined by the money they make or have. Good people are just good people regardless…and they will be good to you regardless too.
With everything being said, events from today made me think and want to share this thought: Don’t EVER let the fact that someone has more money than you intimidate you or influence the way you feel about yourself. The light in you shines just as bright as theirs regardless and we all have our own path in life. And who knows, maybe that person that might be perceived as having “money” could have once been homeless, standing in the middle of the woods on a milk crate, with a tarp draped around them, while warm water heated on a fire is pored over their head from a flower watering container, calling that experience “a shower.” No, you never know a person’s journey until you take a moment to get to know them…but you can’t do that being intimidated by things that don’t matter…like money.
Until next time friends…
~ Memoirs of a Strong Woman ~ 