Has anyone else experienced feeling guilty since they grew up in a wealthy family? My parents...

Never went without a meal, clothing or a decent place to live growing up .. we were not rich but still felt blessed.

No reason to feel guilt about being raised wealthy. That said, you should be leading your own life by now. Do something with the start you were given. You owe your parents and yourself that. Be a good person in your own right. Give to good causes and help others when you can.

AngelUnforgiven · 51-55, F

Im not anywhere close to rich and i feel guilty sometimes. I think its just human nature. Every winter and every Christmas i think about those who are out there on the streets as i lay in my warm bed next to my heater. Up until about 2 weeks ago i was working 90 hours a week i didnt have time to do anything else so i couldn't volunteer or do anything productive it was just work and home. No one should be homeless or starving in this country. I haven't decided how i want my schedule to be now but if i have more time i plan on giving back.

HootyTheNightOwl

The guilt and shame that you carry aren't really yours to bear.

While you were raised in a privileged way in some ways, your parents obviously dropped the ball when it came to letting you see and experience things associated with the less privileged in other ways.

It might have helped you to better understand more about the world at a younger age if you had gotten to go out with your parents and seen the low class neighbourhoods and the homeless - and to experience what it was like to go without something that you broke because you were careless with it.

At least in these ways, you might have been able to understand at a younger age that you had a very different life to others because of your parents money and that some of the taxes they paid went towards providing the less fortunate with some of the things they need that you took for granted.

I'm not going to bash you because you were just a child and you weren't exposed to things to help you to see that there was a whole different way of life just a few streets away from where you lived that you didn't even know about because you weren't exposed to it.

You had to rely on others to show you that and allow you to witness it in a controlled way - which obviously didn't happen until you were older and able to see it for yourself.

In a way, you are fortunate that you were able to see what you did and realise that you had a better upbringing than children who didn't have much because we have governments now who still have no idea of how the world works for those who are of a lower class to them and they think that "taking away the allowance" of a disabled person will be enough to force them to take up a job - rather than accepting that they might never be able to work due to their disability, employer biases or the fact that they are a liability when it comes to health and safety laws.

Roundandroundwego · 61-69

At first, after my education, I actually took really hard jobs that payed less than five dollars an hour and required me to have post graduate degrees. I was supposed to give back to society.
After that, I gave to family, and then they pummeled me black and blue and a wise judge put elderly me out on the street.
As a working homeless person, I don't feel badly about having once had a life. You're done using me, so, I don't mind being free!
My billionaire family members can feel good about me being homeless, they're fine!

Coralmist · 41-45, F

I think if you're a good person inside, if we are rich, mid class or poor doesn't matter. It's all secondary really. Don't feel guilty, you seem to be grateful 🌸

deepblacknothingness · 56-60, M

You shouldn't feel guilty because you can't help what you're born into. What matters is the person you grow up to become. I grew up very poor myself.

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BiasForAction · M

The challenge in life is doing the most with what you have. Your situation requires considerable thought as you have more options than most. Choose your options wisely and always realize the you can do much for those who have fewer opportunities.

GeniUs · 56-60, M

I'm a white male so my advantages vastly outweigh those you had...oh wait that's just nonsense that people say. If it makes you feel guilty/uncomfortable do whatever you need to to make you feel better about it I'm sure other people have loads of great ideas about this, I'd just say do a little voluntary work not too much you don't want to make it a chore.

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NOS4R2 · 41-45

Im sure you can assuage that guilt by giving to the needy. Those well off are in a good position to help those in poverty and illness.

Convivial · 26-30, F

Swings and roundabouts... You may have missed out on learning valuable lessons by never having to go without

WandererTony · 56-60, M

We dontbchoose our parents. But we can strive to be better persons ourselves. You have the consciousness. You are a good person.

Strongtea · 22-25, M

I get you, people from school call me snobby/stuck up because I’m posh.

ninalanyon · 61-69, T

No need to feel guilty for being lucky, that was not in your control. But quite a few wealthy people should feel guilty that they don't use their luck to make the world better a better place.

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Donotfolowme · 51-55, F

If I were you, I would travel to find the ones in need and get the happiness by fulfilling one of their dreams

deadinternet

can i have some money

BritishFailedAesthetic · M

Why am I thinking of that Citizen Khan episode with Alia's boyfriend's dad: "I've got more money than you" *strong Midlands accent* 🤭

Sinead65 · 56-60, F

Just be a good person simple as that. Don’t need to be brainwashed into feeling guilty for having money.

MartinTheFirst · 26-30, M

I wish I had that to feel guilty over

NativePortlander1970

Years ago I knew this 17 year old young woman online, I was 26 at the time, in a web based classic movie themed chat room. Her father was an investor worth about $35million, and she was extremely unhappy. Everytime she would try to talk to them about issues she was having they'd give her a few hundred bucks and told to take her friends to the mall and the movies and something to eat, all she wanted to do was for them to spend some time wuth her to talk and get some advice, and to hear "I Love You" from them, not a few Benjamins and told to have a good time, she eventually took her own life.

dirge

the struggle is real.

Punches · 46-50, F

If you have all this money, why not ship your boyfriend's two daughters off to boarding school to get them out of your hair?

1490wayb · 56-60, M

you share your wealth or volunteer with charitys??

Lilymoon · F

Not sure you're gonna get much sympathy lmao

Musicman · 61-69, MVIP

You go girl! Rich is excellent! So where is your next vacation to? When is your next shopping trip and what will you be shopping for?

HumanEarth · F

Hell, I'm not guilty for being poor.

swirlie ·

No, not at all... 🙄

Show me a person who feels guilty about growing up in a wealthy family and I'll show you a person who never grew up in a wealthy family.

Monaschandroff86 · 18-21, F

Weren’t you miserable being rich and spoiled what’s the point in having money if you don’t know the value or if you didn’t earn it yourself

FreeSpirit1 · F