Now is probably a good time to check back in. It's been several years, miles, smiles and tears since I've last posted. Rather than bore you with a full on recap in one giant post, I think it will be good to reflect on a few things that have been happening one post at a time. Eventually we'll get caught up.
I work at a casino near my hometown, and it's been such a great opportunity filled with many amazing insights into cultural divides and life in general. On most days I park in the employee parking lot, walk past a few homeless men or women on my way into a building filled with equal parts prosperity and despair.
On one side, there are the folks gaming for entertainment. They have been blessed in one way or another to have the opportunity to visit the casino and spend amounts of money without fear of consequence. Maybe the money was earned, maybe it was given. Either way, it's extra. It's disposable income. A few hours on the floor and they may find that they turned a grand into ten, or lost it all. They enjoy themselves, often our conversations are filled with stories of travel, family and happiness. They depart with a kind goodbye and I'm sure they'll return again.
On the other side, a side that is difficult to see, is a group of people with a dream of one spin or one had that can entirely change their lives. A jackpot or roll of the dice would be a game changer; an opportunity for independence, for momentum, for relief of pressure of being able to make it. These people have a different look in their eyes and a different tone in their voice. You can feel the desperation that is sometimes hidden behind a weary smile. I think they like to try and convince you that they are just like the others but it doesn't take an expert in reading body language to tell you that couldn't be farther from the truth. They depart usually without notice, and I wonder if they'll return again.
What I find ironic about this scenario in life is that no one stops to notice this. Maybe they do, but it sure doesn't appear that way. It appears that no one realizes how silly this is. I don't mean the gambling part in specific, I mean that we as humans are so used to the divide that we don't see how divided we are.
Even more ironic if most people were to be asked what they think of me; the young gentleman in a nice tailored suit walking the floor rubbing elbows with the high rollers; which side of the fence I would reside on I'd guess that they assume it'd be the wealthy group - the financially privileged. When in reality, as blessed as I am with boundless opportunity and love, finances have never been consistently in my favor. And I take blame in a large part of that, as I'm assuming most of the second group do as well.
Just an observation, a few thoughts and possibly a reason to start a conversation. Love as a form of currency, now that may be the next post...be well.
Today's post is focused on the irony of life. In particular, the brutal separation in society created by money; those who have it and those who don't.
I work at a casino near my hometown, and it's been such a great opportunity filled with many amazing insights into cultural divides and life in general. On most days I park in the employee parking lot, walk past a few homeless men or women on my way into a building filled with equal parts prosperity and despair.On one side, there are the folks gaming for entertainment. They have been blessed in one way or another to have the opportunity to visit the casino and spend amounts of money without fear of consequence. Maybe the money was earned, maybe it was given. Either way, it's extra. It's disposable income. A few hours on the floor and they may find that they turned a grand into ten, or lost it all. They enjoy themselves, often our conversations are filled with stories of travel, family and happiness. They depart with a kind goodbye and I'm sure they'll return again.
On the other side, a side that is difficult to see, is a group of people with a dream of one spin or one had that can entirely change their lives. A jackpot or roll of the dice would be a game changer; an opportunity for independence, for momentum, for relief of pressure of being able to make it. These people have a different look in their eyes and a different tone in their voice. You can feel the desperation that is sometimes hidden behind a weary smile. I think they like to try and convince you that they are just like the others but it doesn't take an expert in reading body language to tell you that couldn't be farther from the truth. They depart usually without notice, and I wonder if they'll return again.
What I find ironic about this scenario in life is that no one stops to notice this. Maybe they do, but it sure doesn't appear that way. It appears that no one realizes how silly this is. I don't mean the gambling part in specific, I mean that we as humans are so used to the divide that we don't see how divided we are.
Just an observation, a few thoughts and possibly a reason to start a conversation. Love as a form of currency, now that may be the next post...be well.
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