Well...unless you've seen the movie Jerry McGuire, you won't understand what that phrase means. Actually in this case it has to do with a football player demanding more money from his agent in order to stay with a particular team. For me, it conjures up a much different meaning, and comes out of the mouths of many people who have no idea what it means to be in a position where there's no dollar sign at the end of something you're doing. That in order to find a place in society, you have to be productive in a way that brings an income, so you're not in a position of living off of the government or those who say they work very hard for a living, and resent the fact that their taxes support those who are sick or less able.
Granted I'm sure there are those who, for whatever reason, are determined not to work because of the lack of motivation, education, discipline or intelligence, but I do see that it's an unfair habit for a part of society to place us all in a category of "people who live off the system." Of course these are also the ones that have not been sick a day in their life, and believe that even if they were to become sick, they would somehow still be able to put a dollar sign at the end of whatever they were able to do.
The point is, if you look hard and long enough, you will find there are varying degrees of illness, either physical or emotional, and granted there could be someone right now who could be productive in some way, but has chosen to give up the fight and not try any longer.......what about those of us who fight every day to bring about change in the world in a quiet and unsuspecting way? Unfortunately they live behind the scenes where no one really sees what or how they might be contributing to society. After all in my book......you're being productive if you put a smile on your face when you go out in public. Lives everyday are changed by those unsuspecting, quiet, and seemingly detached individuals, who are in reality struggling just to remain independent in some way.
Maybe this should have been another blog about judging others.....or feeling more empathy for those who can't take care of themselves for whatever reason. The bottom line should be, who has the right to even speculate what is going on in someone elses life and then have the audacity to judge them? Really none of us have the right because we have no clue as to what goes on behind closed doors. Whether someone has given up because they are lacking the ability and skills to go out and work, or they are physically or emotionally ill, most often through no fault of their own and are dependent on others.......wouldn't it help society as a whole if we gave each other the benefit of the doubt? Wouldn't it help if we tried at least for a day to walk in their shoes to see what their life might be like, most often using what energy they have to just take care of their own personal daily needs?
Most often it's not noticed what it takes for a sick person to even hang on to a positive attitude in the midst of their suffering. That is takes every ounce of energy and strength they have to not become a victim of their circumstance, and that what they need more than anything to hang on is recognition and appreciation for that strength, words of encouragement and a true understanding of what it takes to deal with a physical or emotional illness. I often wonder, what these self righteous people, who believe they have all the answers and everyone should follow their lead, would do if they were hit by a truck or diagnosed with cancer? How would they feel then about society saying......Show Me The Money?
