Wait Till I Get My Money Right

I had to laugh when I first heard this song. Simply because the phrase in the chorus - la, la, la, la, wait till I get my money right... - wow, I can remember hearing that ALL of the time as a kid. My father always talked about this magical time when his money would "get right" as if it was something wholly beyond his control.

In retrospect, I now see that as a sort of victim mentality that many cultures place upon themselves. (And no, I am not reading anything into the song, just thinking about my experience as a little black girl growing up.) I think of it as a victim mentality because the phrase because there was always a lot more emphasis on the "waiting" than on the "getting."

By all accounts, my father actually made a very decent salary. Probably a lot more than many in our neighborhood. So, why were we always renters who never once considered buying? Because what needed to "get right" was my dad's priorities.

Drinking, cigarettes, and other *stuff* took up a considerable portion of the family budget. Money that would have been much better invested in real estate or a college fund for my brother and me.

In a lot of ways I've kept that sort of "wait until I get my money right" mentality. Lamenting the things that could have, should have, and didn't happen for me instead of investing my time and energy into making the things that I truly want and desire a positive reality.

It is all in your perspective. And in your actions.

Namaste,

Samara Leigh