really..what's reality?

I'm tired of all these reality shows on TV. I don't watch them really, but I've seen a few different episodes, and they all get housed in incredible mansions, and lay around doing nothing but talking to the camera in their little "interviews". Or then there's the "reality" shows that turn out to be scripted, sort of. You know, the ones where young girls live in impossibly expensive apartments and drive ridiculous cars and work as interns (that's a non-paying job) at magazines. But you see, this is my problem with these shows -- that's not reality. Who do you know that lives like that? Here's my perspective of reality:

Reality is finding out your pregnant before you get married, and have no insurance to pay for the maternity care. Reality is finding out that since you actually do have a job, you may just be too "rich" to qualify for government aid to help you get through this tough time in your life.

Reality is working full-time while putting yourself through school, just to make a better life for yourself and your family. Reality is making too much money to get enough financial aid to cover your expensive school bill, but not enough money to pay that bill.

Reality is finding an amazing pair of shoes that were originally 90.00 in the store on sale for 19.99. Reality is buying those shoes, then taking them back, because you realized you'd be $20 short on rent for that month. Reality is cutting coupons just to save the extra five dollars, so that maybe you'd have enough money that month to rent a movie and have a date night with your spouse.

Reality is canceling your anniversaries to go to funerals. It's watching your family suffer through the death of your niece. It's watching your father suffer through pain that cannot be diagnosed, and not being able to do anything for him because you can't afford private insurance. It's watching him deal with government programs such as the VA system to provide all his health care, and seeing how it never gets anything done.

Reality is doing filthy jobs just because it pays the bills. It's not driving a Beemer around LA looking hot. It's not blowing money on designer clothes while cameras follow you around. It's doing what you have to to make ends meet. It's not quitting the one job you have until you find a better one. It's sticking with the job you have because it's better than no pay check.

Reality is living with your decisions and paying the consequences. It's frustrating to see people living with no responsibility or care for their actions. We've become a nation of no consequences. We can always pass the buck, blame someone else. It's not our fault, it's our parents ... or the person that came before. This is going to kick us in the butt sooner or later. But if we stay grounded and aware of what really is real, we should be prepared, right?