First Class or Steerage


by Kevin MacAskill - Date: 2007-03-29 - Word Count: 483 Share This!

The great photographer Alfred Stieglitz took a photo which he called "The Steerage." It was his signature work and depicted life below decks, in the golden age of sea travel. Steerage was the cheapest form of travel and a far cry from the luxury of the privileged first class. The picture earned its enduring status by immortalizing the class difference of the time. First class still holds its distinction today, although the differences are less dramatic.

On a recent plane flight, due to a scheduling snafu, I was up-graded to first class, from my seat back there, in economy. Ah, the wine, the personalized service, the extra leg room. But the most delicious part of the experience was that it was "First Class." My ego feasted on the experience.

While being treated in this first class manner by the airline, it caused me to reflect on how seldom we treat ourselves in the same way. A surfeit of modesty or the echo of parental prejudice inhibits us from enjoying what could be ours, in many cases. When we refuse to treat ourselves in a first class manner, what kind of message are we sending to the world, our friends or ourselves? We forget, at our peril, that the sub-conscious mind is lurking, eager to soak up these subtle impressions.

First class is too expensive, we rationalize. We have a responsibility to be prudent. After all, a penny saved is a penny earned. I once read of a method whereby one could eliminate agonizing over small amounts of money. The advisor suggested that one should decide on an amount of money that you would not worry over. For example, if you decide on $20.00, then buying that silk tie could be a possibility, rather than the one you liked almost as well. Best of all, your money conscience would rest easy.

Then, there is what I will call the Mercedes Factor. Owning and using an item of unquestioned quality can be its own reward. I own a camera which is a similar model to the one which the Canadian team used, on their first conquest of Everest. It is now technically obsolete of course, but in its heyday, I never ceased to enjoy its excellence whenever I used it. An item of quality is like that. You can argue that a Mercedes is not the world's best car, but you have to agree that it has a certain cachet.

Your financial circumstances may be such that you can't go first class in every instance. However, as in most things, it is the attitude that counts. Let's keep a keen eye, ceaselessly on the look-out for those fun times when we can treat ourselves first class. They will be more plentiful than we at first imagine. So, go ahead, go for the first class experience. Tell the world and soon even that submerged sub-conscious mind will rejoice at the message.


Related Tags: attitude, excellence, first class

About the Author: Kevin MacAskill works at home in British Columbia, Canada, surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery. This prompts him to reflect on life and the human condition. You may use this essay in an ethical manner, providing this resource box is included.

To find links to sites which will help you in your goal of creating prosperity, intrinsic motivation and affluence, please visit: http://www.prosperity-patterns.com/ His Blog… http://prosperinet.blogspot.com

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