Aren't Quotes Fun?

In writing the last post, I used a quote I have used before that is attributed to George Orwell.  In looking for the exact quote, I came across this discussion  about the quote.  Being a curious person, I was intrigued with the background to the saying and how the saying evolved. 

But in reading the discussion, another quote in the same vein, from an essay by Orwell about Rudyard Kipling caught my eye, "He [Kipling} sees clearly that men can only be highly civilized while other men, inevitably less civilized, are to guard and feed them."  How often do we see that still today?  I guess that idea applies to all of man's history.  I immediately thought of not just warriors, but farm workers, mechanics and plumbers.  How often do we realize that the wonderful meal we just ate, or the car that was just repaired, or the water that comes out of our faucet weren't the result of some magic we conjured, but results from many people getting dirty and doing what we don't or won't do?  But am I the civilized person, or the less civilized? Do I take responsibility for what I am doing?

We garden and raise some animals for food.  We discuss where our food comes from and its background.  We drink whole milk and raise our own chickens for eggs. Hopefully we will be eating our own fowl soon. I'm reintroducing myself to fishing for another source of meat.  We talk about hunting, but the cost benefit is questionable in our area at this time.  That may change. Our children listen and argue with us and that is how they learn and we refine our thoughts and actions.  Overall it is a process that works for us.But still, which person am I?

I've been thinking about personal responsibility and personal choices lately. Certainly making decisions is a part of the everyday life of a coach.  Teaching is the same. Life is the same. My thoughts have been weighing the idea of "retiring" from teaching and working in another field, becoming the "less civilized" on purpose. Certainly this would mean a pay cut, but will the benefits outweigh that?  And that is not just monetary benefits. Certainly a decision like that would change how I could care for my family, be responsible to them.  But how would it change?  Maybe I could perform some things better.  Acquiring money isn't the only way I care for others. Maybe I could actually provide for my family in a better fashion.

I've written in the past about changes in my teaching situation.  More changes have taken place after those were written.  Maybe this change is just another in a string of life's changes.