The free blanket is put down along with the comment “It’s not the color I want”.
The yellow gold diamond bracelet is returned to the giver, with the message “You should know I want white gold”.
The mother looked at the registration table that her child wants to attend. “No, I can’t afford it”. The response given, “It’s well worth the money” encounters the final determination “It’s not whether it’s worth the money, but if I have the money.”
Exchanges occur every second. Many have no need for a price tag.
Sitting with a child who has become so hyper he has no awareness of his actions. Standing next to him, looking into his eyes calmly, by example, inviting him to breath deeply, is not valued the same as a CEO making 50 million a year.
Caring for an elder with dementia, soothing her shoulders and back, without knowing if she is mentally aware of my touch is based on compassion. My actions will not award me $65,000, the settlement given to a man claiming the police used excessive force on him.
I watched a group of boys at camp. They are having a similar experience as the boys whose families have paid $2,000 to attend the camp. The boys I watch are there due to a generous foundation. The exchange is not free. Someone shared their wealth. Someone who may not see the look in the boys’ eyes as the snapping turtle was lifted out of the pond. The boys might never know what it took for them to have their experience. The exchange has very little to do with the cost, and everything to do with who has the money.
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