Life in China and Giving Thanks
What does the coin in the picture mean to you?
A Penny Saved Is… Not Much
If it’s a penny, it’s pretty much worthless now no matter where you live in this little world.
Imagine instead that the coin in the picture is a gold coin. If you’re reading this, it’s still probably not worth a whole lot to you, but it might be a year’s salary to someone else (even if gold coins are a little hard to split up…)
Turkey? Real Vegetables? Fruit?
The daily fare of hundreds of millions of migrant workers in China is often not much more than a cheap form of ramen noodles, some soy paste or flavoring, and those little packages of spicy vegetables.
Yet they still end up sending a huge portion of their earnings home to their families and aging parents.
And they definitely don’t buy new clothes and any form of ‘toys’.
Be Thankful For What You Have And Use It… Better
This isn’t meant to be a “feel good about your life because the other guy’s life sucks” kind of thing, but in realizing how hard life is for many people out there, you had best also realize that you are blessed with many things, including a warm home to sleep in, an abundant source of good food and clothing, and some extra choices that the vast majority of people in this world don’t have.
Life is really hard for most people in China, despite the growing ranks of the rich. Yet they get by, save money, and work their asses off. It makes you think: Could I get by with less, a whole lot less? Save the extra, or give it to a cause that ‘teaches men to fish? Be thankful for everything I’ve been blessed with?
My life isn’t hard at all in comparison to the average Chinese person - in fact I’m damn lucky to have been born into this time and into a wonderful family and place. I’m grateful for all of this while struggling with the issues of fairness and equality that grow greater by the day. Especially in China. And I try to live simply and be more thankful for what I have, while trying to save for a freer and more stable future (and the day that I can help others without putting my own family’s futures at risk) - a choice that many don’t have.
What about you? Has living in China hit you with the realization what a lucky card you’ve been dealt in life? Most people reading this would qualify as quite fortunate.
