Ever feel bad for how good you've got it?
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 897
Likes: 0
"Only in the good ole' USA can you have this many great opportunities and no limits on how far your ambition can take you"
Ummm, methinks that you are watching too many '40s propaganda movies!
Opportunities abound everywhere as long as you are willing to look for and find them.
This is the lot we have been given in life - and we have to do the best with what we have. There will always be someone to feel upset about those that are more unfortunate than them and to aspire to those who have more (unless there is someone arrogant enough to think they are the be-all and end-all). But we have to, in some way, accept that we are 'luckier than others' and 'not as lucky as some' and live our lives to the fullest, as you never know when each day may be your last - preachy? Maybe, but just look at all those people whose lives ended at the hands of a tsunami, enjoying their holiday or weekly trip to the grocery.
Saying all that, yes I do sometimes feel bad, for being 'lucky' in life, but then try and remember the above and am grateful to carry on enjoying the good things I have been given in life!
Did I just write all that, phew, I must be quite bored at work to have come up with all that!
Ummm, methinks that you are watching too many '40s propaganda movies!
Opportunities abound everywhere as long as you are willing to look for and find them.
This is the lot we have been given in life - and we have to do the best with what we have. There will always be someone to feel upset about those that are more unfortunate than them and to aspire to those who have more (unless there is someone arrogant enough to think they are the be-all and end-all). But we have to, in some way, accept that we are 'luckier than others' and 'not as lucky as some' and live our lives to the fullest, as you never know when each day may be your last - preachy? Maybe, but just look at all those people whose lives ended at the hands of a tsunami, enjoying their holiday or weekly trip to the grocery.
Saying all that, yes I do sometimes feel bad, for being 'lucky' in life, but then try and remember the above and am grateful to carry on enjoying the good things I have been given in life!
Did I just write all that, phew, I must be quite bored at work to have come up with all that!
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,709
Likes: 1
From: Berkeley
Originally Posted by wantone,Jan 11 2005, 01:24 AM
I wish I was 2" taller then I'd be really happy
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,590
Likes: 0
From: West Springfield MA
I gave up the guilt instilled by twelve years as prisoner of the nuns. It just wasn't worth it. I am happy and proud (in a good sense) of what I do, both professionally and in my chosen hobby. I feel I give back a reasonable amount where I think it will be useful. As to those with less than me, I know there are some who are in their situations because of things beyond their control and others who chose not to make the effort. Folr those with more, some have worked harder than I to get where they are and others have simply been born into wealth. AS the Boss sings, "Some folks are born into the good life, Other folks get it anyway, anyhow."
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 17,288
Likes: 39
From: Nashville
Interesting thread! I don't think I think about it much unless it is displayed for me on TV. Look at all of the poor suffering, starving people in Africa. How could they possibly make their life better, or find a $ opportunity?
Education seems to go a long way in helping people. People in the ghetto's in america seem to have more kids than normal....and they don't give a shit about even 1 of them..... People seem to (for the most part) do what their parents did.... it is pretty hard to break out of it. It sucks, but I don't have any idea how you break the chain.
In america there are lots of opportunities.... in remote 3rd world countries i don't think there are many opportunities other than attempting to get out without drowning in the ocean.
I grew up in middle income family....my dad was extremely selfish and very unloving......luckily I am the opposite with my kids.... I went to college...worked a couple of crap jobs at first, then got a decent job..... started a mortgage broker company with my wife in 1994...hired some employees...... lucked into someone who understood Section 8.... and then bought a handfull of rental houses. I am 35 and in decent financial shape... my job is boring, but pays pretty well.
Education seems to go a long way in helping people. People in the ghetto's in america seem to have more kids than normal....and they don't give a shit about even 1 of them..... People seem to (for the most part) do what their parents did.... it is pretty hard to break out of it. It sucks, but I don't have any idea how you break the chain.
In america there are lots of opportunities.... in remote 3rd world countries i don't think there are many opportunities other than attempting to get out without drowning in the ocean.
I grew up in middle income family....my dad was extremely selfish and very unloving......luckily I am the opposite with my kids.... I went to college...worked a couple of crap jobs at first, then got a decent job..... started a mortgage broker company with my wife in 1994...hired some employees...... lucked into someone who understood Section 8.... and then bought a handfull of rental houses. I am 35 and in decent financial shape... my job is boring, but pays pretty well.
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 17,288
Likes: 39
From: Nashville
The manuf guys at our plant make about $30k a year to bust their asses in a hot smelly plant....... i kept thinking about getting an NSX... i would feel like such a dick driving it to work though. It would cost me ~$850 per month plus insurance, etc.... and the plant guys basically live paycheck to paycheck driving a 1998 dodge neon.
I didn't tell the plant guys not to go to college, but I have decided to not get an NSX. I hate to stir the pot and have everyone all pissed off that I am driving something more expensive than their houses.
I didn't tell the plant guys not to go to college, but I have decided to not get an NSX. I hate to stir the pot and have everyone all pissed off that I am driving something more expensive than their houses.
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 64,605
Likes: 1,226
Originally Posted by VTEC_Junkie,Jan 11 2005, 02:57 AM
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...