That phrase never made much sense to me. It just plain confused me. On its own I don't get it, but I think it's the unknown second half to another phrase, "Be happy with what you have... don't let the things you want make you unhappy." Once I put that together in my brain it made perfect sense. I just wished I could have put it together sooner.
I've always known this about myself. I've never happy with what I've got, and I'm always looking for the next upgrade or cool new thing. I tend to focus on what's missing in my life rather than what I have. It came to a head this weekend at the Chris Cornell concert. After his set, instead of thinking, "Wow, what a kick ass set. I'm so stoked I got to see Chris Cornell," my first thoughts were, "Damn. He didn't play song x and song y."
I have got to try and change this about myself. So I thought I'd start by making a list of some of the good things I do have going for me. Here it is (in no particular order):
- A lot of potential close friends. I know a lot of people and I get along with a lot of people. I just need to cultivate those relationships and help them grow.
- Time to spend with those friends. The free time I have isn't spoken for, and I can put it towards building those friendships.
- My job. I love my job. I get paid to be the center of attention. I know it won't last forever, and in a year or so I'll be forced to find something else, but until then I'm gaining experience and building my little vita. So, it'll be easier to find a new position when I do have to leave.
- My other job. I get paid to teach people how to dance! Dr. Huggard would be proud. I took my money pit addiction and turned into an income device that will at least pay for my habit, if not turn a profit.
- Fri. I love that little guy (even though I shut him out of the room so I can type this up without him sitting in front of the screen). He continues to love me no matter what. The best cat I could ever ask for.
- My car. Its NC State Red, gets great mileage, and its even a little sporty. Soooo much better than the truck.
- Gas prices are going down! On the way back from Charlotte I saw gas for $3.67!
Now let me take this opportunity to say that YES, THIS IS A GOOD THING. Recently some facebook friends of mine (and don't get me started on how Facebook has bastardized the definition of friend) have joined a group supporting high gas prices. While I understand the primary argument, that industry needs an impetus to force changes that will reduce our dependence on foreign fossil fuels that destroy our environment, I think it's a short sighted perspective. At the risk of sounding cliche... Think of the children. The people who are being hurt the worst by high fuel prices don't necessarily even drive cars to be fueled. Soaring fuel prices increase the cost of everything else. Diesel cost more and so it costs more to transport food to the grocery store, the alternative ethanol pulls corn away from animal feed and so the staples meat, bread, and milk cost more. Now the poor family, who rides the bus because they can't afford a car, has to choose between bread on the table or new clothing or medicine or quality shelter. All because gas prices are high. High fuel costs increase the divide between the haves and the have nots. I agree that something needs to change and the industry needs to break free of damaging fossil fuels, but I don't think we should be passive and let high gas prices force a change, ignoring the marginalized. The change needs to be in ourselves. We need to actively make choices that will force the industry. Buy an efficient car not because of fuel prices, but because its the right thing to do.
Now that I've completed my ranting and raving...
- Dance. I feel like I'm hitting a new golden era of development. It's still a slow process, but I'm making new connections and developing a deeper understanding of concepts... and I might get to do a stag leap in my paso :)
- My house. While it may not look that great, I've put a lot of work into this place, and its a hell of a lot nicer than it was. And despite what it looks like, the neighborhood is pretty quite. Plus, its close enough to ride the bus to campus.
- My body is changing... and I don't mean like it did in middle school. I'm exercising more now, and in conjunction with dance, its creating muscle definition and flexibility that I've never had before. I am going to look good in my Latin shirts. Period.
So when I stop and think about it, I really do have a lot of good things going for me. These are just a few. And I actually feel a little better about things now that I've reminded myself what I do have. I'm not 100%. I've still lost something very important, and there is a huge empty void there now, but that just means I have more room for new friendships and deeper relationships.
Always look on the bright side of life. Da-doot, da-doot, da-doo-da-doot.
Later that same day...
16 years ago
3 comments:
Right on man! On the subject of the kids let's also remember that in the summer when gas prices are at their highest the kids don't benefit from the availability of free lunches or breakfast at school. Of course that's looking at things from an American perspecitve. Just think how the poor are fairing in the smaller, less wealthy countries which either use or have their curreny tied to the US dollar.
yup, and I didn't even get into how rising diesel costs push push public school funds away from education programs like music and PE, and into school bus gas tanks. But, I bet that's what you're getting at with the lunch programs...
Now I do wonder at what point it would be more cost effective for them to transition to hybrid buses, which have a high upfront cost but lower fuel needs...
Good words.
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