Bitter Bread to Win

Working hard, but not playing hard.
Salary for oneself, money for the whole household.
— Breadwinners.

I am my family's sole income earner.
My mother's a pastor.
I am sending my younger brother to college.

Basically, I am covering all the household expenses.
Logically, my current salary is our financial source.
Theoretically, I am not saving anything.

A traveling scholar once said, "Traveling — it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a great storyteller."
You know what makes me speechless these days?
Bills — When I see my bills. And there sure is a never-ending story to that.

Girls at my age what do they do?
Post at social media about how perfect their eyebrows are?
I can also post a perfect thing at social media — my bank account. It's perfect zero for you.

Boys at my age what do they do?
Hit the gym and have their "Leg day", "Biceps day", "Triceps day"?
I also have a lot of special days. I have "wash-my-own-clothes-day", "cook-my-own-food-day", even "clean-my-own-room-day" — whatever day I can create to save myself from another bill.

I've been bestowed with the responsibility of a middle-aged married daddy. Sometimes, I realize, "Oh! I'm starting to be the man I want to marry!"

Do I look like bitter to you now? (Ha!)
Do you even know what's bitter?

Bitter is the feeling of not being able to do the things you are dying to want every day.
Bitter is the state of acting like you don't earn enough money for yourself when you actually do.
Bitter is the act of carrying a responsibility weighing much more than yourself.

Being a breadwinner is no joke.
And as superman says it, (Ahem!) *sings* "It's not easy to be me."

However...

Do you think I am clinging on to the bitterness of not being able to live the life of a 24-year-old bachelorette as I please?
Do you think somewhere down the road, I'll just stop?

I'll give you a straight answer.

It's a No. It's a No for me.

Once in our lives, we will be or have been forced to be dependent on somebody else.
They may have sacrificed their time.
They may have given their strength.
They may have offered their dreams.
All because we are dependent to them.
We didn't make it to where we are right now just on our own, did we?

Breadwinner dad may miss to climb that mountain he adores,
but it's okay — as long as his son can climb that stage with a diploma in his hand for graduation.

Breadwinner mom may not be able to go to her favorite salon,
but it's okay — as long as her daughter can go to her favorite school she talks so much everyday.

Breadwinner child may not have the chance to find her own time in dating due to responsibilities,
but it's okay — as long as her parents find their time on earth prolonged due to medicinal supplies their child provides.

Do you know why breadwinners are willing to do that?
Because they don't have a choice?
I don't think so.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is because they believe...
that no matter how much money they spend for the bills,
no matter how long their overtime in their jobs would be,
no matter how many night-outs and travel vacations they miss,

Breadwinners sincerely believe that the people they are supporting...
are much
more
worth it.

I don't know who has been a breadwinner for you.
You may be a breadwinner yourself.
But there is one thing that I think we would all agree of:
That the bitterness of the sacrifices we do for our family can never overpower the sweetness in the smiles of our loved ones.

Working hard, but not playing hard.
Salary for oneself, money for the whole household.
"Thank you, Breadwinners."