feeling_poor epitome of incomprehensibility ...can happen in the absence of actual privation. Can happen in the presence of comparison. To my mind, "poor" occurred when I was in Germany: coming into contact with the possessions and plans of other students, and then considering mine. For instance, my old phone was normal until suddenly it wasn't. And the not-normal feeling felt like poverty. Now. Feelings. A few different people have told me, essentially, that you have to accept feelings as they come. Say, "Hello feeling, you are a feeling, I accept you." But the next step is to find the reason for the feeling. Ask, "Why is this feeling here?" (Last year, a counselor said she personally wouldn't go for the framing "Is this feeling reasonable?" But I think evaluation happens either way.) So the why, the reason, is that I was comparing myself with others. It wasn't actual poverty, as in privation. A classy_choice like the trip already cost money, after all. So my feeling can be accepted, but renamed. Lower-middle-class consciousness. Lower-middle-class self-consciousness. Lower-middle-class self-helpless consciousness. ...Nah, all that is too long. I'll call the feeling Fred. "Fred," I'll tell it, "with all due respect, you're bothering me right now, so why don't you make yourself useful and give me your best financial advice?" "Nah," Fred will say, tossing his mane of romance-book-cover blond hair. "You can't afford my rates." 230903 ... e_o_i (I just noticed that Fred and I both say "Nah." Synchronicity! Soulmates!! But I think his soul depends on mine, and not vice-versa, since he's my invention. In this universe, at least...) 230903 what's it to you? who go blather from