There are many reasons for poverty in someone's life. Some reasons are out of the person's control (i.e., born in a third world country or stem from systemic influence causing certain ethnic groups' inability to find adequate paying jobs; however, that is not the focus here.
Living in Southeast Asia, I am confronted with poverty on a daily basis. But, there is a Western poverty in developed countries which needs to be addressed. Very few Americans are suffering from lack of food, but a significant percentage earn less than the basic minimum needed to live.
I am no stranger to Poverty. I see it every day. I live in the West Virginia coalfields. West Virginia has the highest number of students eligible for free and reduced lunches in the nation. An adjoining county is offering free breakfast to every student in the county. If all students are eligible for breakfast more free and reduced students will eat. They will not have to deal with the stigma of Poverty right in their face. West Virginia Schools deal with hunger by incorporating meals in their after school and extended summer school poverty programs in schools where poverty is the greatest. Poverty is painful, humiliating and debilitating whether it is in Africa or West Virginia.
Obviously, Jawa couldn't pay the bill. He also couldn't get his car back, so he had no transportation to go look for a new job. The bill went into collections, and eventually, Jawa found himself the defendant in a legal action. He missed more than three days of classes at university, so he received failing marks in several of his courses. Because of his poor academic performance, his financial aid was discontinued, and he had to drop out of college.
Jawa was a relatively smarty guy, from a decent family, and through a chain of unfortunate circumstances, his life was almost ruined. How much more difficult must it be then for people from broken homes or ghettos, people with children or with a criminal record? A large percentage of the American population lives, hanging by a very narrow thread, which could break at any moment, setting them adrift, slipping into the oblivion of those two relatives, homelessness and hopelessness.
The constant practice of "the prodigal lifestyle" puts millions everyday in utter financial despair while they blame the government and their next door neighbor for all their financial troubles. We live in a society of non-sober thinking that knows nothing about personal accountability, it appears this way anyhow. New generations of young people grow up everyday left to fend for themselves possessing less financial knowledge than the preceding generation.
The type of friends, environment or programs we watch can have a negative impact on our wealth consciousness. It is important that we make necessary changes where practicable. Why keep a friend who always tells you to be contented with a job that cannot give you and your family a decent meal? Why remain in a place where you are surrounded with people who have no desire to break away from poverty and lack?
So the next time you think about money, your mindset and making a difference. I hope you will feel a shift, even if it is a small shift, because even a small mindset shift can lead to big changes.