Privilege

After writing the post yesterday on why I take my breakfast and lunch to work I realized how privileged I am to be able to do so. Not just everyone has that option.

For instance, I have the TIME to purchase and prepare food ahead of time. I don't have kids to shuffle around, or multiple jobs, overtime to work, or additional travel requirements. I am free most afternoons and evenings. This is a privilege some of us don't recognize. It's easy to say you should plan ahead when you have the time to plan ahead. Not so much if you don't. Yes, we all have the same 24 hours each day, but not all of us are free to use it in the same way.

MONEY is also a necessity for this kind of lifestyle. Everything from being able to purchase food at a grocery store, to being able to get to a store in the first place, and then having a place to prepare and store food. Again, the privilege of transportation, housing, and modern conveniences are often overlooked when it seems like everyone has them. The truth is, not everyone does.

A sense of RESPONSIBILITY is another privilege we often overlook. Being in a position to take responsibility for myself, living on my own, having a (somewhat) stable mind, and a sense that I can, in fact, make a difference in the future of our planet and species. Again, it's easy to overlook this freedom that not all our fellow humans have. 

So, while it can be tempting to puff oneself up over 'sticking it to the man' or being frugal (or wise) with our money - and somehow intimating those not doing this are NOT - it's also good to recognize our privilege and be grateful for it. I am, and did not mean to imply otherwise.