Lucky Bum

I was born lucky.

I know that.

I got practically nuthin' to complain about in my life. I was never starved as a child. I got parents that love and take care of me. I never had to walk miles in the snow to sit in a cold classroom and read outdated textbooks. I never had to eat a sugar sandwich. I don't get sick very often at all. I'm fairly strong and rumor has it I'm decently talented as a writer.

I got a lot goin' for me. Does that mean I'm outta touch with the people that don't have all that goin' for 'em? Perhaps. I'd hope not. There are plenty of examples of people that have a little money and lose track of what really matters. People with money put themselves in communities blocked by fences, key cards, guards, bright lights and cameras. They work in different areas, eat in different restaurants, they live in a whole other world with different problems. I never had anybody threaten me with tax evasion or had to worry if we had the right kind of caviar.

Other things create barriers between people too. Money isn't the root of all evil. Want is. Everybody wants what somebody else has. He wants to be stronger, she wants to be prettier, the poor want to be rich, the rich want to be richer, he wants that person to notice him, he wants to be invisible. All these wants make people think they have nuthin'. All they can focus on is what they're lackin instead of seein' what they do have.

I'm a bum and I got lucky. I was born into the right place, at the right time, to the right people. I didn't deserve those things but I got lucky. Someone else could've used those things but missed out on a few of 'em. I can't be blamed for where I got lucky and somebody else didn't.

Things could've easily been bad for me. I could have serious health problems, be in more debt, or any number of things could be worse than they are. I'm aware of this. I think that as long as I am and as long as I try to sympathize with those people I don't think I could lose touch with those less fortunate than myself. It's important to remember that we aren't always the least fortunate in the world. I know with things like myspace, youtube, facebook, and blogs it's easy to think we are the center of the universe. You get caught up in people visitin' your pages or payin' attention to what you're doin' you can forget what's important to the rest of the world. Sometimes it's your day, others it's not. Most of the time it's not. Gotta help those less fortunate than ourselves so they can get to a place where they can help themselves. Hold 'em in your heart and be kind to one another as best you can.

All we can do is appreciate what we got and do our best to create a lil luck for those that ain't got it. I'm lucky. I know it. I got lots worth appreciatin'. I could be much worse off but I'm not.

I'm thankful for that.