4.15.01

Hey Kids. Sorry I didn’t write the promised entry last week. It was just one of those weeks, ya know? Well, tonight isn’t much different to be honest. So, although this one might not be a scathing criticism on materialism in American society, I hope it’s still interesting to you.

This weekend was a good weekend; a relaxing weekend. I spent my Friday night watching movies and then Saturday I hung out with a friend of mine. This friend and I hadn’t spent a whole lot of time together just the two of us in quite some time, so it was good to hang out , ya know?

This friend of mine just recently got a good, high-paying job at a computer firm. I mention this because this is sort of a test for me and my new philosophies. If this had happened to him two years ago, I would have been jealous as hell. I’d have been pissed off at the world that he was making more money than I am, that he was going to have more opportunities to do cool things and buy more stuff; but now I can really, truly, purely be happy for him. It is really a good opportunity for him to expand his skills and make a better life for himself. I’m very happy for him.

I know you’re all thinking “Well, yeah, isn’t that what you’re supposed to do?”. Yes, it is what you’re supposed to do, but I don’t think people do it as often as they’d like to think. Let’s face it, if a friend gets something and you don’t, it’s going to make you jealous. You’re going to think “Why does he deserve it? I deserve it just as much as he does?”. Maybe that will make you work harder for that big promotion, maybe it will make you want to look for a better job; especially when you see him driving that new car or buying that new surround sound system.

That’s why I’m so happy that I can honestly feel good about this friend getting his new job. It doesn’t make me think “Damn, I wish I could make more money”, it makes me think “Good for him.” And that really feels good.

On a similar note, this friend and I talked about our careers some on Saturday over a few pints of beer at our local Irish bar. He made the comment that he would rather work a job that he may not enjoy doing 5 days out of the week, as long as he makes enough to be able to do what he wants on the 2 days of the week that are his. Knowing him he’d spend his weekends driving and working on classic muscle cars. He has said he’s always wanted a red and white ’57 Chevy, a Shelby Cobra Mustang, and who knows what other cars to tinker with all day Saturday and Sunday. So he’d have some expensive toys that would fill his weekends with joy.

I used to have this philosophy myself. However, now I’ve decided that I’d rather do something I love 7 days a week, as long as I can make enough money to live. He wants all the bells and whistles and I’d be content with the standard model.

To me, there’s nothing wrong with either philosophy. Again, it’s all about what makes you happy. If you’d rather be really, really happy for 2 days out of the week – great. If you’d rather be happy every day – great. It all just depends on what you want to get out of life, I guess. With my philosophy, I’ll never know the joy of driving a Shelby Cobra Mustang; but with his philosophy, he’ll dread Monday mornings.

Speaking of being happy every day, I’m still trying to figure out what that magic job is for me. Although some of you might disagree based upon some of my ramblings here, I’d have to say that my talents lie in writing. It’s something I’ve always done and I have been told more than once that it’s something I’m good at. I don’t know if I am or not, ya know? Frankly, I’ve never really tried to be good at it, it’s just something I enjoy doing. So, I’d like to find out if I do have the stuff to make it a career.

Well, that’s about it for tonight. After a nice, relaxing weekend, I think I’ll turn in early so I can get a decent week of work in, too. Seems kind of fitting.

Space Monkey