Are you happy with a "normal" life?

[RearAdmiral]

Your care free friends will have a lot of fun once they hit retirement age...

This is why babysitters were invented. You can still have this normal life and not be a total lame-o.

I guess it is key to live within your means so that you have more freedom.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I think there comes a point in your life where you have to choose between a few paths.

- Really ambitious. Sacrifice personal life for work. More financially stable. You realize you can work your ass off now and maybe retire early down the road.

Check -- and then you realize that for the most part, corporate America sucks and would discard you in an instant if they thought it would help the bottom line. Hard work typically gets you more hard work while the slackers keep coasting.

- Really anti-ambitious. Sacrifice work for personal life. More financially unstable. You realize life isn't about working and place fun and happiness above knowing where your rent or food money will come from.
- Middle of the road. You balance work and personal life. You realize that life isn't about working, but that it's necessary to live a decent lifestyle and provide for your family.

Personally, I could never be anything but the last.

That's the ideal. I've had so many friends over the years whose work chant boiled down to "money, money, money" and when it finally came down to it, they realized it didn't matter. You want to make a decent living, yes, but what is the point of making a huge amount of money if you're absolutely miserable?

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I realize that most dreams require money and time, both of which are in incredibly short supply. The culture in America (unlike France, Europe, etc.) promotes living to work rather than working to live. I enjoy what I do, I guess I just wish we had 1-2 month vacations like they do in other countries.

Yeah, it is certainly an eye-opening experience when you visit Europe and interact with the people there. They just seem so much happier and more content.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Very much so. I've found the greatest attitude is to stop "reaching for the ring". I'd be happy if I had this or I'd be happy if I could do this with my life.

Enjoying the moment and where you are stops all this self examination and beating oneself up which only leads to a life of disappointment and suffering.

Very wise advice. I sometimes feel like I should be doing more or achieving more, but in the end, does it really matter? I have a nice job, a nice home, a good wife, and I have enough disposable income to buy just about anything I really want, including good vacations.

The goal for everyone should be one thing, and one thing only -- find a way to live a life that makes you happy.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

i would like to avoid mediocrity like the plague.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I often think I would be happier with a "normal-er" life but I know I wouldn't be satisfied.

I'm stressed with my workload (80-100 hrs/week at peak times, probably 1/3 of the year) and not living where I want, but whenever I dial it back and realize how much longer it'll take me to achieve my goals, or what goals it puts out of reach, I get edgy and antsy until I'm back pouring my all into working towards my goals.

I gave up on the rat race. I used to work long, hard hours and at the end, the only thing it got me was even more work and stress. Sure, I got top reviews and decent to good raises, but at the end of the day, it didn't get me promoted -- just more excuses from management. I moved to another job where I also get top reviews, fair raises, and don't work nearly the hours I did before. I may not have much upward mobility here either, but I knew that going in and I think I might even have the coolest job around.

 

[AreaCode707]

I gave up on the rat race. I used to work long, hard hours and at the end, the only thing it got me was even more work and stress. Sure, I got top reviews and decent to good raises, but at the end of the day, it didn't get me promoted -- just more excuses from management. I moved to another job where I also get top reviews, fair raises, and don't work nearly the hours I did before. I may not have much upward mobility here either, but I knew that going in and I think I might even have the coolest job around.

I've got a concrete escape plan though, and I'm kicking off the beginnings of execution there right now.

Check -- and then you realize that for the most part, corporate America sucks and would discard you in an instant if they thought it would help the bottom line. Hard work typically gets you more hard work while the slackers keep coasting.

"anti-ambitious"

That's the ideal. I've had so many friends over the years whose work chant boiled down to "money, money, money" and when it finally came down to it, they realized it didn't matter. You want to make a decent living, yes, but what is the point of making a huge amount of money if you're absolutely miserable?

I don't consider that the ideal still though. I know too many people that lived that life and are now over 50, broke, and very anxious. I wouldn't want to be in that position and it's worth putting in the hard work early to have that security (and freedom) later.

 

[KeithTalent]

I thought you were younger too KT and I know what you look like. You don't look 34.

Huh, yeah, I get that all the time. In fact in can be kind of annoying at work, being a manager and looking young, sometimes I have to act a bit tougher so people will take me seriously.

KT

 

[ajtyeh]

I used to be super-ambitious, wouldn't settle for anything less than being a millionaire by 30, fuelled by the stupid platitudes and ridiculous notions of self help books. Now I'm 25, in a stable relationship and with a good job and a salary which will steadily increase through my 30's. I'm no longer ambitious - I just want to buy a decent first house, work my 40 hours and live a decent life.

this but still beinga millionair by 35

 

[blackdogdeek]

i don't have to try to keep my life interesting. i'm living the life i wanted.

it sounds like yours is not the life you wanted but the life you thought you were supposed to lead.