The quote was something along the lines of: “I learned that you can’t just stab people when you get mad.” My friend and I huddled around the computer in amazement as a 30 year old man was carried off in handcuffs to serve the remainder of his life in prison, his last words dangerously close to humorous, all things considered.

The humor didn’t come from his prison sentence, of course. And it goes without saying that it wasn’t a result of his actions. It was that a grown man was “learning” something that any kindergartener this side of a “My mom is the best, because…” finger painting probably already has a firm grasp of.

After humor, however, came a bit of relief. Because as obvious as that “lesson” seemed to be to me, I had to feel grateful that I have the type of life that I don’t need to learn lessons like that. Maybe if I had lived my entire life in that man’s shoes, I would’ve turned out just like him. But, much to my advantage, our realities are completely different.

Then I began to think of the lessons I’ve taken a firm grasp of and stored in my mental rolodex for later use over the years. Most of them financial, some relationship-oriented. Better savings plans, reductions in wasteful spending, more effective ways of communication, etc.

Are the lessons I’ve learned viewed by others the same way I viewed the convict’s? Is Paris Hilton sitting somewhere laughing at people like me who are forced to learn the benefit of appreciation of what you have? Does someone like her even need to learn the upside of appreciation when she’s in no danger of experiencing the downside?

Surely, there are acceptable behaviors and common courtesy guidelines that we all have to play fair by. But in the game of life, are we all on a level playing field? You could argue that elevating your mind and bettering yourself is beneficial to everyone despite social status, but benefit isn’t the issue here. The question is if it’s essential.

Does Paris really need to learn the street-smart lessons of the man who lost his entire life to a bad decision? And in turn, will the convict really benefit from the information she’d have to offer when he has zero chance of ever experiencing it?

Perhaps there are others firmly positioned in life’s inside track, marvelling at my ignorance of the world how they see it. Maybe one day my eyes will be opened to the realities of those with unlimited possibilities, and maybe they won’t.

And if not… Then I guess it really doesn’t matter now, does it?

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