Complicated Word, Do We Really Deserve It
-This word has caused me a lot of grief over the years. It was only until a short time ago that I realized I had been misusing it and it was being used in the wrong context, because the word is actually quite complicated and like a priceless piece of art, it’s value is only what one interprets it to be. I use to think people should get what they deserve. If you do the right thing and are good to others, in turn you will get what you deserve when it is returned to you some how. I work hard, I deserve a vacation once in a while. I ate all my dinner, I deserve a treat. I do poorly at something I deserve poor results. Do we really deserve anything?
The definition for “deserve” is; do something or have or show qualities worthy of (reward or punishment). I would say consequences are close to the same thing. Deserve, is not what it’s cut out to be. When I’m really low and feel like my life is just one big fat mess, not because I have done something to make it that way, but because someone else’s actions are causing my distress, I do not feel as though I am deserving what I am going through. I’m a generally good person, I would never do what they have done to me, to them, therefor, “I do not deserve this”. When people who are just plain selfish and insensitive towards others, I do not feel they are deserving their rewards, yet they are often rewarded some how. To not understand how people who are not deserving of what they have, yet seem to have it, frustrates me to no end. It’s simply circumstances and manipulations. It’s not because they deserve it. I work just as hard, if not harder then they do. Why should they claim to be deserving of it and I am not. Because they have manipulated and put their desires before others, they are on top, they reap the rewards of those who are truly deserving of it. They don’t “deserve” it, yet feel as though they do and those who are not their equal in status, simply are not deserving of it. A sense of entitlement, because they feel they are better than those who do not have as much.
I could not wrap my mind around how it all works. I do all I can to make others happy, do I not deserve to be happy too? No, I do not deserve it. No one really deserves anything. What, or who, implements what one deserves? If someone is truly deserving, how do they go about getting what they deserve? What dictates who deserves what? If I were told, by my creator, in the beginning of my life that I would be wealthy and happy, have 4 kids and live on a lake, would I deserve it, just because I was told it would be like that? Do I have the right to be angry and frustrated if it wasn’t so, even if I did everything I was told to do to make it happen? If I were the only person on earth perhaps. There would be no variables to contend with. I know in my heart I deserve better than this, but because variables came in to play, what I feel I deserve can be taken away. I’ve been told by many “you deserve better than this” or “you don’t deserve this crap”. Do people really ever get what they deserve? Do we even know what we deserve for our actions? I saved a life when I was a kid, what does one deserve for that? Did I only deserve the feeling I had within myself as my reward? Which was well worth it to me. Does a child that goes hungry, get beaten, abused or neglected really deserve it? Will the person who does such a thing ever really get what he or she deserves for their actions? I think twice now before I use this word, either out loud or in my mind because it’s really quite meaningless when you think about it.
Can anyone give me a good example using the word DESERVE that does not have a better term for the example? Here is a link to Quotes using this word. The next time you utter this word out of your mouth, think about what I have written.