Freedom of Choice and Entitlements
Memorial Day is a Holiday many people look forward to as the official beginning of summer (for those of us in the northern hemisphere) as well as a day off from work. Somewhere in the backs of our minds we know that this day is a remembrance of those who gave their lives and energies so that we could have a day of leisure as well as the freedom to choose how to spend our lives and energy.
It’s interesting, isn’t it, that there are so many choices available to us that we take that gift of freedom for granted? Whether we choose to be a couch potato and sleep late, spend time with family or friends, or catch up on chores around the house, having that “extra day” really makes a difference in our daily routine.
The Laws of the Universe tell us there is a “cost” for everything we do, that is, the energy it takes to be that couch potato, to go on that trip, or to wash those windows. To take that day out of work, there is the lost productivity. If you work in the private or public sector, your employer or the taxpayer is paying you to stay out of work that day; if you’re self-employed, you lose a day’s pay. Either way, we have the freedom to squander the day or use it to enhance the quality of our lives and that of others. I wonder how many of us would modify our choices of how we spend our time if we considered the price that was paid by someone else so we have that freedom of choice.
If someone gave you a very valuable gift, you’d probably thank that person, and think of them every time you used that gift. That’s the way it’s supposed to be, to demonstrate gratitude to the giver. It’s easy to be grateful when the gift is something specific. As soon as the gift becomes more abstract and less tangible, our perception of its worth becomes fuzzy, because cognitively, we have to create our own value for it. We assign value to abstractions in a similar way we value our own self-worth. If we don’t think much of ourselves and indulge in unhealthy lifestyles, it’s difficult to ascribe value to others who have given their lives so we have freedoms. Likewise, if you’ve never worked to earn the money to purchase an object of your desire, it’s hard to appreciate that someone had to work to pay for that object when it is given to you.
There are many examples of entitlements in the world today. Whether it’s healthcare, job benefits, food stamps, paid pensions, or Freedom, we need to remember that someone had to give up some of his or her life energy to compensate for that entitlement. Perhaps we should spend some time considering the only real “entitlement” our Constitution affords us through the sacrifices of our Military: the Right to the pursuit of Happiness.
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About Dr. Virginia
As a licensed Psychologist practicing Cognitive therapy, I work with my clients to help them identify the personal issues that are preventing them from achieving a more satisfying and well-adjusted life.
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