Something I don't talk a lot about is that until early high school my family survived on section 8 housing and commodity food. Some people may recognize this can, but if you don't the tl;dr is it's the least appealing part of any commodity food box, whether you eat pork or not.

There was also a "Beef With Natural Juices" with a similar level of visual appeal. But, when you live below the poverty level...what you get is what you work with.

Since my parents were first and second generation immigrants that started over, we didn't have any wealth to speak of.

That meant that when things went badly (and when you're poor nearly anything unexpected goes badly) we were at a high risk for being on the street. My parents hid this from us, but it was present in all sorts of ways.

For example, when I was 11 or 12 a neighbor's dog chased me and I broke my arm hopping a fence.

We had no health insurance and my accident nearly destroyed our family, although I didn't know it at the time. I just thought getting a Raiders cast was cool, which, fortunately the doctor said no to because he knew that wouldn't be safe in the neighborhood we lived in.

I think about those experiences regularly, but especially when people are frustrated with government, angry with public officials, or say to someone without much, "well why don't you do something about it."

Whenever I have that feeling, I always say to myself "you first."

The reality is that being poor is exhausting, expensive, and it destroys dreams. Not to mention the extra minefields of sexism, racism, etc.

If this is hard for you to imagine, that's ok. But, try using "you first" more often.

Live out of your car for a week. Empty your bank account to pay someone's rent so they don't get evicted. Show up for someone and then keep showing up, to see what happens and how it feels.

I don't have a lot but I no longer have to eat from cans where the only thing on the label is "meat" or "cheese."

I still say "you first" at least once a day.