Inspiring story I found and wanted to share:
A wise man, to a large group of people said, “I am going to give this $20 bill to one of you but first, let me do this.”
He crumpled up the $20 dollar bill, then asked, “Who still wants it?”
All hands raised up in the air.
“Well”, he continued, “What if I do this?” And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty.
“Now, who still wants it?” Still the hands went into the air.
“My friends, we have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.00.”
* * *
Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way.
Sometimes we can feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value.
Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless.
The worth of our lives comes not in what we do or who we know, but by WHO WE ARE.
* * *
Here’s the part where you tell me: Have you ever felt worthless? What did it take to remind you, that you are not?
Please share in your comments, and inspire us, reminding us – we are not alone.
Christine Macdonald 
I’ll go first.
Yes – I’ve felt worthless. When I was broken up with, when I got fired from a job, when I relapsed on drugs, or when I had to borrow money from my mom as a grown adult – all those things made me feel worthless.
Then I remember – I wasn’t the right person for whomever broke my heart, the job wasn’t right for me, and I needed to be let go, I relapsed because I am human and still struggle like every addict on the planet (what, I’m not invincible?!). Mom is there to help, as all parents want to be, if they can, and I am to learn lessons in managing my finances.
All hard lessons, that when I learn them, remind me of my worth.
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One of the reasons that I sometimes consider myself “an a-hole” is that I can never recall a moment where I doubted my self worth… and this was well before my injury, so it is not like that was a factor!
I have talked about how it was for me when I was young and it crystallized for me when I was 13 and about to enter high school. My birthday was coming up and my aunt really was gushing over me and telling me how attractive I was. I definitely remember that evening or even earlier, going into the bathroom and looking at myself, confirming the things she told me and discounting all the things that kids were saying about me.
Now I was cocky before then but what that moment did for me was helped me to understand why I felt good about myself and allowed me to be more sympathetic if anything with those who were teasing me or just generally darkly spirited.
In fact it is my sense of self that has me on the tangent that I am on. Anywho I think YOU are beautiful and more than a survior– any and all of us are “survivors” of a sort… but you my dear lovely Christine… are THRIVING in the face of all you have over come!! That is why you deserve a “You Go Girl”… because you have EARNED IT!! (like Smith-Barney used to do!)
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I am always amazed when I learn of people who’ve never had self worth issues. Good for you! Thanks for the support and love, my friend! xxoo
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yes
In 2006 I ended a horror story of a marriage and went through a year or so of feeling less than worthless I wrote about it here: http://lance-myblogcanbeatupyourblog.blogspot.com/2011/05/shimmer-in-sand.html
Being a parent is the best way to remind yourself that you have worth. Being a single father for two and half years showed me purpose. Most of all, writing brought value to my personal confidence. After being dormant, creatively for the 10 years I was with that person I divorced, i unlocked the basement and started putting number two pencil to paper. I’m editng my first novel, publishing next month. It’s been a hell of a ride.
good post….you made it rain
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I’m off to read your post now. Thanks for reading and your comment. Happy to meet you and looking forward to learning more about you through your words. xxoo
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Reblogged this on Be Proud to Be You.
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Thanks so much. I’m happy to pass on this inspiring story I discovered on line. I wish I knew where it originated from!
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You’re welcome! Yeah I know what you mean. All too often the best stuff seems to come from an unknown source!
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Reblogged this on notaninterestgroup.
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Thanks for the reblog! LOVE that this story is getting out there. x
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I love, love, love this! Thank you!
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I love it too! Thanks for reading and commenting!
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It’s a nice inspirational story, but I am always seeing a little beyond most things. For example, if he had vomited (or worse) on the $20 would all the hands still be up? I think not. This is because there is a tipping point. The sad truth is that people with very serious problems can bring you down with them. I am not saying you should not help them, but rather that you may not be trained to help them, and you should therefore be careful how you go about it because you may make things worse for them and for yourself. In some cases the wise thing may be not to try to help people directly, but to convince them to seek counselling or medical help.
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Even a bill with vomit on it has not lost its value.
The mere fact that you are saying it’s best to convince a person to seek help professionally, is a statement which proves the point: all human beings have value.
Of course, some people can bring you down – and need help. It still doesn’t take away their value. That’s all this story is saying.
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I have learned the only person who can truly lower my value is me. That said, it is a constant battle trying to remember it. It is so easy to tell others of our experience and give them hope. But there always seems to be a seed of doubt up between my ears.
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You are not alone, my friend. x
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I always manage to learn a lesson while picking myself and my ego up whenever I feel worthless and down. If you don’t learn anything then you might as well stay down.
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Well said and I agree!
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Wow. Such a great story. I’ll likely have to pass this one on…
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Plese do! 🙂
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