I'm probably not in the income bracket most of you are in, anymore that is, I left my high-stress good-paying ($60K a year) job at SBC for a super-low-stress low-paying job (and I'm much happier!). Still, my girl makes good money, and together we bring down about $80K a year. She drives an '04 Mazdaspeed Miata, I have an '03 Civic EX (and a weekend toy in the 1-car garage [see sag]).

Anyway, we live in a nice duplex that's only 2 years old, buying a house in November, and have many nice things (my 53" TV, JDM PS2, and Cannon Mini-DV come to mind). Our health is excellent (we're young 34 & 26), as well as our family's health.

Not just because of the recent tragedy, but at least once a week, I find myself feeling bad for all that I have when there is so much suffering in the world. Honestly, I wish I could help somehow, but I never do anything. My attention inevitably turns to those who have a lot more than I and I wonder if they feel the same way from time to time. It's almost like I'm adding a bit of sorrow to my world from week to week as a form of payment.

Don't get me wrong, I'm cursed, my ex-wife is more than a handful, and a psycho ex-girlfriend puts me in fits of rage almost monthly, but all in all, I consider myself to be VERY LUCKY.

I do consider myself to be a spiritual person, hardly a week goes by that I'm not reading about Zen, some sort of philosophy, or religion. However, I'll have no part of organized religion whatsoever, the division it brings, and the history it has of failing it's people is nothing if not unforgivable.

Anyway, do you consider yourself lucky, or do you always want more, no matter what you have?

 

I know that without a bit of talent, skill, hard work, some luck (being at the right place at the right time) and God's help I wouldn't be where I am today. However I always want more, no matter what I have today or tomorrow, there will be something more I will want. I think its basic human desire.

I don't feel quilty or bad about my success, in fact I feel damn good about it.

 

I don't consider myself lucky or having it too good. I did not inherit any of my money or luck into it. Between the wife and me we brought down about $300K last year. We are 33 and 31 years old. It wasn't luck though. We have 3 engineering degrees and 2 MBAs between us. My wife has worked a MINIMUM of 60 hours a week for the 10 years without so much as using a single sickday. (I don't work quite that hard. )

We earned what we have and want more. That is the American way. Only in the good ole' USA can you have this many great opportunities and no limits on how far your ambition can take you. Both my wife and I grew up lower middle class. I won't say poor because we always had enough to eat and a roof over our heads but it definitely wasn't a life of luxury. We didn't like our situations so we took the actions to better it. I don't feel bad about our success, in fact I feel damn good.

 

While I am grateful for everything that I have (I'm a homeowner all on my own, all my student loans are paid off and I'm hoping to be an S owner any day now), I don't consider myself lucky. I've busted my butt to be where I am today, although there are many people who have much more materially than I do.
I don't feel guilty for where I am financially, because I came by it honestly. I try to do what I can to help others in my spare time, but it's also my profession, so I could rant for hours on this topic!

 

i want a jdm ps2.

 

I dont ever feel bad because although I weigh the people less fortunate to me, I also tihink about all those who have it much, much, MUCH better than I.

 

I'm lucky to have a great family, the rest? its not enough, I'm nowhere where I want to be, or even thought I'd be now.

Toys are just that, toys..

I feel for people that are in a bad way, I've been through my share of crap as well. So I very rarely dwell on it

 

I'm lucky.

Not rich, but lucky in many ways.

Too many people are so obsessed with what they want rather than enjoying what they have - it's sad.

 

I consider myself fortunate, but there's still plenty that I want to accomplish and be able to provide for myself and my family. So yes, I do want more out of life.

 

i think some of you are not getting it. sure, many of you have worked hard to earn what you have today, but what if you were born in a situation where you DIDN'T have the opportunity for an education, for instance, and other privileges you possessed while growing up that allowed you to develop the ability to earn what you have today?? sure, having the drive, motivation, and dream are essential in becoming successful in life, but those attributes alone are not sufficient for any individual to actually succeed. just look at any third world country and you'll see how being born in an unfortunate situation have the tendency to hinder one from becoming affluent in life. any one of us could had easily been born into one of those less fortunate situations, and the fact that we didn't, we should in a great sense feel fortunate and grateful for that. furthermore, some individuals are born with "disabilities" that hinder them from taking advantage of the opportunities that we are surrounded with, and again, any one of us could had easliy been born into THEIR situations. now, i don't feel bad for having it better than others, but i do feet grateful that i was not born into a lesser fortunate situation...