The Money Issue

If you're in cliff-hanging suspense about my job situation, don't be.

At present, I've got some interesting leads and some edifying experiences under my belt, so let's just say I'm taken care of.

But what about you? Do bloggers have no regard for those precious eyeballs, connected to precious neurons bouncing preciously about your noggin?

The newsflash for your noodle: money reigns supreme.

If you've just graduated from college or high school and want everyone to know you're just fine, thank you very much, get a paycheck. A regular one. Doing anything. The more miserable the job makes you, the better.

"But why?" -- you fairly question this snarky provocation.

Simply, to learn that others gauge your success based on financial stability. And if you appear to have a steady source of cash, concerns about your individual aspirations or personal well-being can take a backseat.

The good: I hate money. Like a diploma, it's a piece of paper that has no value to humans, but we afford a compelling persuasion -- such that our behaviors must be affordable. Have you ever seen a squirrel snag loose change from the sidewalk? That would be nuts! Ahem... if you excuse the terrible humor, what I mean to say is: the items of real value to squirrels are nuts. A nickel's just dead weight.

The bad: I need money to sustain a living and fuel my dreams. So in a cash-strapped economy, it's practical to ignore the personal, emotional or social benefits (or costs) of a job, focusing solely on its financial promise. Unfortunately, capital gains can never refund time spent on unfulfilling pursuits, or repair the personal damage of an exhausting, dispossessed working life.

The ugly: No one wants to talk about money. It's awkward, it's impolite, it's far too enmeshed in social value judgments. But if finances are so touchy, why does cash run the show? If humans are mere arbiters of our printed valuations, why do joy and inspiration serve any purpose in our lives?

The conclusion: I've got no sharp insights. But a drive toward honest, fair and conscientious financial exchanges could, at the very least, draw some human value from the lifeless bills we trade.