SomethingToShare.com
Motivational and Inspirational Stories
Select a Story Dealing With Family, Friendships & Relationships >>> |
|
In Time
Author:
D Anthony, D-Rose Impressions, 12/99
When
was the last time you felt powerless? Have you ever
really felt lost? Ignored? Victimized? Forgotten? When
was the last time you felt alone? Imagine how overwhelming
it would be to feel that way on a regular basis. Imagine
the despair… the helplessness. Hard to comprehend
being there, huh? Maybe we will… in time.
Working in the financial industry, I get the opportunity
to interface with various customers. During these instances
in addition to responding to account queries and executing
account adjustments, I endeavor to positively impact the
customer's mood and situation whenever possible. During
a recent call I wasn't able to effectively impact either.
To the contrary this call left me in a temporary state
of despair. The gentleman, senior in years, explained,
with some difficulty, his tenuous predicament. After growing
progressively worse the last few years, his eyesight had
recently deteriorated to a legally blind status. He had
no family or otherwise dependable assistance, other than
his aging wife (with her own state of diminishing health
and capabilities). Squinting and magnifying glasses, for
years the means by which he managed his own affairs, were
now no longer viable.
As I listened to this humble yet obviously proud man
with his lifetime of experiences, I painstakingly imagined
what he must have been feeling. I pondered how difficult
it must be to have worked so hard, and for so long, to
manage the affairs for your family… for your home…
for yourself - only to see your control dwindling with
each passing day.
This man wasn't complaining, however. He wasn't looking
for sympathy. And he wasn't asking for a hand out. This
man was simply informing me, in an almost apologetic tone,
that his fixed income and other bills would not allow
a payment of five hundred dollars for the month. He didn't
know how previous monthly statements had been overlooked
- but he could make his standard monthly payment of one
hundred and fifty dollars.
As I listened to his story, I felt for this man.
He had no one to look out for him. He had no one to help
him manage his affairs - no one to help him understand.
My guess is during the time when this gentleman grew up
a loan was money you got from someone who cared about
you and your predicament. You borrowed the money, said
thank you and paid it back as soon as you could. This
man probably didn't fully comprehend what it meant to
borrow a little money at a time and have escalating fees
and annual percentage rates. Somewhere in the back of
his mind he is probably trying to figure out how he can
pay back money each month and never really see the amount
owed decrease. He has no one to explain to him that on
a ten thousand-dollar loan, with a twenty percent interest
rate - eighty percent of his minimum monthly payment doesn't
go toward paying off the loan. And to make it worse…
he had other loans with other institutions.
When the call ended I just sat there thinking about his
predicament. How did he get here? Shouldn't there be
some kind of protection against this sort of thing? Where was the fairness… the allowances that come
from a lifetime of doing the best you can? Where were
his family and friends… the people who could
help him to understand?
Each day the people our society should treasure and protect…
the people, from whom we have the most to learn, find
themselves in similar difficult situations. Organizations
that neither know, or particularly care about their situations,
are more than willing to extend long term, high interest
loans. Seniors, whether because there is no where else
to turn to, because of pride and the desire to remain
self reliant, or because they do not understand the ramifications
- willingly accept those loans. And whether it's to pay
for skyrocketing medical costs, a gift for a grandchild,
something target marketed via the local TV shopping channel,
targeted mail and phone scams, food for the week, or expensive
medicine required to make the pain go away - the bills
mount, the financial hole deepens. Imagine what it
must feel like to be between their rock and hard place
…
Don't our parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts and neighbors
deserve better in the later years of their life. After
a lifetime of dedication, hard work, wisdom, concern,
hopes and dreams - don't the seniors members of our society
deserve a little more - more than being ignored…
forgotten about… taken advantage of… and worse
of all even abused. Throughout history most civilizations
have held their elders in the highest esteem and treated
their wisdom with the greatest respect. Why don't we?
If we don't do something about their cycle of pain what
does that say about our society… about us? And what
are we teaching our youth? If we don't address this cycle
of pain then what can we look forward to? Will advanced
years bring us similar confusion, alienation, lack of
control and despair? Will we grow to know what it feels
like to be forgotten about… to feel unappreciated?
Only our actions and time will tell …
Be Sure To Click Like To Get Updates On Facebook!
Your
thoughts on 'In Time'
Select a Story Dealing With Family, Friendships & Relationships >>> |
|
Or you can choose one of the following links to select inspirational stories from one of our specialty pages;
Dealing with Death, Loss and Grief Page
Faith and Spiritual Foundation Page
Inspiration and Motivation Page
A Little Perspective Page
Life Impressions Page
|
