Choice.

It definitely matters that they chose to start.

Did they choose to start gambling? Or did someone force them?

Ugh.. this just makes me feel all sorts of awful. I struggle to find the exact words.

So, with my therapist's guidance, I was able to do my own after she picked out things I specifically needed to work on. I ordered a DBT spiral workbook and learned from there, I can now apply these skills daily. It's saved my relationships and life. And yes, you have to re-wire basically your entire brain and world view. I was able to get it done in about a year.

Yes, there would be a reason for the creepy.

Yup. People WANT to work. And some people cannot afford to get jobs. Yes, I'm serious. Work clothes, a place to sleep, a permanent address, identification can all be barriers to employment.

Playing devil's advocate is important for understanding both nuance and thinking dialetically.

You could be great at managing money and still poor because of the systems in place to benefit the wealthy and punish the poor.

Again, being good with money will not dismantle the way it is against us.

This. My city is doing a "poverty simulation" local event to "see what it's like to be poor in (insert my city here) when the MAJORITY of us in this city ARE poor. There are homeless camps everywhere, too.

There was enough money, there was always enough money. There was always too much greed.

List making and sticky note apps!

This isn't the eighties, man!

That's awesome!

Well, shit.

Jesus man how old are you?

You can almost hear the country kids crying about how early they wake up.

It's part of listening and reflecting back to the spea..

SQUIRREL!

As a former service dog trainer who trained dogs specifically for disabled veterans there's a reason I refuse to talk about the military and how it treats their people.

You just didn't want to admit to yourself!