Changing My View of Life

Money is power, nothing can surmount the value of money, or so people say. When I heard the remark, thoughts ceaselessly fluttered throughout my mind, trying to assess the concept of money. Money tends to turn humans into peons. Money is very decisive since the power it wields tends to deprave our humanity. I was deluded into despair, creating envy and malice towards others. Spoiled and egocentric would describe my past self. Nothing mattered most than my possessions. Until a pandemic hits my family, changing my view of life.

Self-awareness is developed in the spring of youth. My youth was filled with teasing since I was stubby child. I was very self-aware of my condition, but the teasing did not bother me. During this time frame, the Power Balance bracelets were a viral sensation. The bracelets claimed to boost your strength and balance, which in reality only caused a placebo effect. The bracelets did not take too long to infiltrate the school. A spiffed up boy wore the bracelet and waved their arms intriguingly making everybody yearn for one. I winced at his egotism while others praised him like hero. Their reaction had me mystified and rage started to weld inside me. I envied him and wanted to be praised as well. From that time on, I envied everybody's possessions. As to halt my rampage, a pandemic strikes United States. The whole ordeal began when stockholders withdrew their stocks simultaneously, causing unemployment around the country. A tremendous amount of people were left astray. The factory that my dad worked in filed bankruptcy which lead to his unemployment. Since we are a family of three, my mother did not distress over labor. My dad's income was plentiful and would even have enough to spoil me. My daily dosage of goods started to gradually disappear and became apparent that I was not going to regain my privileges any time some.

Under these conditions, my father managed to find temporary job as a gardener. My mother started to make Mexican delicacies called tamales. Tamales are considered to be very arduous and time-consuming to make in Mexico. Although to her, cooking is like second nature. Hours pass by as she finishes her masterpiece. I would watch her gracefully manipulate the ingredients as she worked on her craft. My mother woke up really early to prepare and sell them to the people to gain extra cash. My parents hesitantly decided to cut the cable and to sell one the two cars they owned. As the only child, I watched interminable hours of work just to scrape by for the week. I never witnessed someone put so much effort into their work with a smile. I was baffled on how my mother cooked and sang to the lastless ranchera (Mexican music); how my father left with a determination that could defeat dragons and came back spuing out corny jokes and be the only one laughing. I was mad at myself for being the sour one in the bunch, feeling left out of the enjoyment. Rather than feeling sorry for myself I decided to help my mother in anyway. I started to take care of simple chores to relieve some of my mother’s burden. My dad was pleased on how I assisted my mother. In an exhausting day my father plotted himself beside me while I scribbled math equations on my desk. His chair creaked as he leaned towards me to examine my work. Creases folded across his forehead, questioning the content of the paper. With a blank stare I looked at him and he says, “You don't worry about us, we are working for you to have everything to succeed. I will work and support you alongside your mother. I am no expert in academics but you have a good head on your shoulders. Make the most of your intelligence and become whatever you want. Cause I know that you can do accomplish your dreams, and we do to. So for now just focus on your studies and leave the labor to us.” I was shocked and did not peep a word throughout my father's eye opening lecture.

Indeed it is certain, that I became on what I envied so much. I became an ignorant spoiled child that only pleaded for luxury. Blinded by my greed, I did not give a light of day to my surroundings. My humanity was being ingurgitated by the darkness slowly staining my heart, but my father cleansed me with his words of wisdom. I am grateful of my parents and promised them to start view life with a smile.