We just wanna make the world dance.

Today, I’ve learnt life lessons, and gratitude.

For as long as I can remember, my mother has always watched all of those shows you find on daytime TV for home improvements, buying new houses, recipes, gardening, etc. She seemed to be in awe of them. Somehow it became a stereotypical joke between the two of us that she watched them because it was the type of show that middle-aged women like her were supposed to watch. I love real-life shows and true story things, but those were the kinda shows that have never taken my interest, so to me, naively, they were junk.

As I entered a friend’s bedroom a couple of weeks ago, they were watching one of those same programmes I had seen my mum live for whilst growing up. At just 5 years older than me, this friend was far from fitting with the stereotype that me and my mum had created for ourselves, so I questioned it. I certainly wasn't expecting the answer I received...

“Why do you watch this rubbish?”
“Because it reminds me that I won’t be living in a shitty place like this for the rest of my life.”

The place we were living in is far less than a mansion so I could see the points that were made, but it made me think. Soon after, I moved back to my mum’s house. Whilst growing up, she was always able to find something to moan about in our house and now I am at this age, I don’t blame her, because I can see all the faults. As somebody recently learning to always strive for improvement, I can probably see them better than her, now.

When somebody entered my bedroom at my mum’s house not too long ago and made a comment, I was ashamed. At that point I was still the girl who felt that material objects mattered, and as somebody who was always made to feel like nothing more than dirt on the ground for not having a material social status, I cared. Now I see my mistakes.

I finally see just why my mum still watches those ‘junk’ programmes. We live in a house with so much wrong with it and so much potential to change it, but we are held back. My mum still holds that dream my friend has, and I admire her for it. At an age that is probably over half her lifetime, my mum still has dreams, dreams that mean more to her than a new possession. All she ever wanted for us as a family, was the best.

Well excuse the cliché, but you succeeded mum, because ‘the best’ comes in the form of lessons, experience, mistakes, and advice.

I have truly learnt that life is about the people, the feeling, the love, and not the latest trainers you 'just have to have' or the notes in your wallet.

Money does not make the world go round, and you are a moron if you believe it does.

I may not be rich with money, but it is the only thing I am not rich of.

Courtney’s Imagination★