What is worth? (Part 2)
If you haven't read part one, please do so now or this entry won't mean much.
This is how I define worth. Worth is in the eyes of the beholder. My value is based on the total sum of values assigned to me. I am a beginning fencing coach and I earn value based on the fact that others see me as a descent beginning fencing coach. When I spent two years working as a temp for the state, many saw me as "unemployed" I lost worth due to that. Meanwhile in the temp job I was earning titles like "development whizkid", it was meant as derogatory, but gave me worth because they acknowledged worth. Later when I was told "poof" you are a systems administrator. My worth dropped like a stone because I had no system administration skills period, and I was suddenly in charge of an enterprise application. Over time using my whizkid super powers I am teaching myself sys admin skills and my worth is appreciated along the learning curve.
Every aspect of my life can add worth or take worth away and so my worth is not a static thing written into my DNA to be with me until death. You create the reason for your existance, thus you are in charge of your own worth.
In the Red Dwarf episode called "The Inquisitor" the crew has to justify their own existance proving they are having a worthwhile life or they were to be erased from time so some other sperm can join with the egg and give that person a go at it. For a comedy they really tapped into some deep issues. Like the fact that worth is completely subjective.
My total self worth is the sum total of all worth assigned to me by everyone I know. The more I value them the greater the value of their assessment of my worth. My parents and my wife have a great deal more effect on my worth than the stranger I held the door for at the store the other day.
It has been suggested that my entire worth system is flawed, however I fail to see a better way. It could have been like someone explaining Islam to an Evangelical, the difference being at least I am willing to consider the possibility. This is more like someone telling me that the wall I see as Green is actually yellow. It surely is from their perspective, I just have to find a place to observe it from where it appears yellow to me as well.
