I know we all say it. “I’m broke,” someone asks to borrow money, or your child wants another toy, or A stranger asks for help. Oof that last one. I’ve said it mindlessly so many times, but the truth is, it’s not true!
I am an honest person. I don’t see the point of needing to be dishonest. If you don’t like my truth, I can’t help that. Yet countless times I muttered those words, “I’m broke.” I never once felt bad or dishonest when saying it. When we say it, it’s meaningless. It’s not said in context. It’s more of an excuse, dismissal, or a shutdown.
Every time we make that comment, it devalues it, to people who aren’t really broke; it’s deep and impactful. Yet, to most of us, it is empty words with a lost meaning. That’s called semantics.
Semantic satiation is a psychological phenomenon. Repetition causes a word or phrase to temporarily lose meaning for the listener. The listener perceives the speech as repeated meaningless sounds.
You can mindlessly say those words. You may never feel the true impact because you have never felt the harsh reality attached to it. The absolute definition of it:
2. ADJECTIVE [verb-link ADJECTIVE] If you are broke, you have no money.
Synonyms: penniless, short, ruined, bust [informal] More Synonyms of broke
I’m writing this article because something devastating happened to me. I’ve been investing for a while and have had my money spread across three platforms. I had one big long-term investment that I got consumed with. Every single dime I had left, I was dumping into this stock. I had been averaging just thrilled waiting for the endgame. Excited and hopeful, the prediction came through; 59 days ago, someone stole my basket. Everything I had saved my whole life in an instant was gone. An actual employee at Robinhood.
Me being me, I suffered in silence. My parents were the only ones I told, and they offered to bail me out, but I’m hardheaded and proud. So I kept it to myself and sucked it up. I have been so angry. I worked so hard my entire life to have a career and make good money to take care of myself. In one moment, it was all gone. As the days went by with no answers and no accountability, I chose not to dwell on the loss. Instead, I started thinking about how I felt being “broke”. I literally have never been impacted by financial problems, so it was a brand-new feeling.
In reality, I really wasn’t broke. If I were broke, I wouldn’t have a house, food, water, lights, cable, cell phone, or games. I mean, think about it; Most of you, maybe all of you, have never been truly broke. As I pondered deeply, it truly sank in my heart. The word “broke” means two completely different things for each of us. To some of us, it is just a word we use to excuse ourselves. We use it to avoid the issues we face. To others, it means facing the reality of poverty, a.k.a “BROKE,” every single day. I couldn’t imagine waking up and wondering how to pay for food or something to drink. I would not walk over to my fully stocked refrigerator. Instead, I would wonder where to go if it starts raining or snowing. Instead of staying in my house, I would be uncertain. What about sickness, where to go to try to feel better, while I can choose to stay in bed? Twenty unhoused people die every single day! That is unacceptable. It hits me in the gut to think about it.
The origin goes back to Miquel de Cervantes’ quote in 1605 by Don Quixote: “It is the part of a wise man to keep himself today for tomorrow, and not venture all his eggs in one basket.” In other words, do not risk everything on one venture, plan, idea, product or person and risk losing everything.
http://tiny.cc/v2qpwz
Cervantes’ was warning us not to ever trust and rely on one thing. You can hide all your money and savings in a mattress, and have a fire, and instantly it’s all gone. You can put all your money on a “sure thing’ and lose a bet, and it’s gone. Like me, you can pour it all into an investment and wait for the payday. However, the stock market could crash. You might also be caught up in a bad investment firm and have it all taken away from you.
55-63% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck. On one unfortunate day, they might lose their job and not find one soon enough. This could lead to homelessness in an instant.
I want to make an impact on my community and hopefully spread the desire to others, so we all work together to leave this world a better place.
JaxBeachHippie 