Seeds of respect

My head is working overtime, my body can't keep up. That working-class family education will be the reason for my self-respect to be mirrored on physical performance. 'Respect must be earned', a common expression that is often linked to behavior and the impressions you leave with the people you meet. Our so-called 'Liberal' society of today, blended the norm to being merged into the meaningless mass. A little philosophically minded man is easily an outsider, artists are more often disrespectfully named subsidy-hungry 'leftist' outcasts. “Working for your bread” implements that enough 'bread' eliminates the need to work and real life can be lived. In today's world it's not the effort that earns respect but the result of that, measured by performances and goals achieved.

Generally worn respect is a Utopian fantasy. An onset writer with a good selling novel, reaching the top ten of most sold books, doesn't automatically get the respect of the literary elite, on the contrary. A nurse in a nursing home may carry out her work with passion against a disrespectful monthly fee, as in various sectors like horticulture, call-centers and on manufacturing-lines, a modern form of slavery is introduced that, when it comes to self-reliance and self-respect, crushed any straw of hope. Self-esteem is linked, according to my experience, with pride, freedom and realizing your right to be, supported by receiving compliments and love of others. Small uplifting words as; 'You've done well,' when your unemployed neighbour tries to strip the weeds out of your driveway, or; 'What a beautiful drawing,' while some children made a mess on the sidewalk, expressing their creativity, are the seeds needed to grow self-esteem. Self-respect is growing by every appreciation for making the effort, not by rewarding only performances.