In Another Class and Temptations vs Aspirations

I am not really sure if I really see many differences between the stories from In Another Class and Temptations vs Aspirations. Really I see more likeness than difference. All of these people have been at some time or another unhappy with their work. They continue that work for finanical compensation. After a while all of their stories just blend into each other to be just one big story.

 I have untill this point in my life rejected all thoughts of switching careers because I really enjoyed what I did. Plenty of people made more money than me but that was ok because I was happy and enjoyed going to work each day. If you have never truly enjoyed your job then you will not understand this but let me tell you that there isnt any amount of money that is worth the feeling of freedom you have when you dont dread going to work.

My life does not fit into either of these sections because I had the job I loved and did well with it for several years. I enjoyed it but I cared to much about it. I am doing the opposite of the people in the book. I have to step away from my old career because it is making me crazy. I never thought I would say this but I just want to get paid reasonably well and know what my paycheck is going to be every week . I want to leave work at work and not think about it untill I go back.

I think most of the people of this book have made no real chane for good or bad in their lifes. To me they stayed about the same, however the person who has made the most change for the better has to be Po. He gets paid to write about people who have midlife crisis. Clearly this is not a real job but here I am reading it and blogging about it.

An Inner Ring

I do not recall I have ever used status as a surrogate for individual expression. I have no status to speak of. The people I choose to surround myself with would never be impressed by anything I had or had achieved.
If anything I care to little what others think of me and I have a saying "it does not matter if you know I am right. I know it and thats all that matters."

I know several people that have more wealth that I most likley ever will, they are unhappy. I know people that live beyond their means. They are unhappy and stressed out because they will never get out from under the debt. I have one friend that works a retail job, lives in a tiny rented shotgun house with her husband and two kids, and drives a 10 year old minvan. She is the happiest person I know. Her children are recpectful of adults, good students, and even as teens pleasant to be around. These are the kind of people that should be role models. They dont care about status and this is why they are happy. If you are lucky to have family and friends that love you well thats the highest status I can think of and the rest is just distraction.

In the story The Umbrella of Freedom, Ana Miyares was a much different character thanTim Bratcher. She moved to a smaller less expensive apartment to take the job she felt strongly about. This is not always easy or even possible to do. Not many people would take a job with less to offer you financially. That is the opposite of what is normal to do. Her decision to do what she felt was best seems crazy to many people but who am I to say it was not the right choice? Maybe her choice to do a job that she felt helped others is all the status she needs.

That Sense of “Rightness...blog 3

Po  says we’re as likely to simply stumble into a place that feels right as arrive there by reasoned planning. This is one of the only things that I have read so far that makes sense. I am a planner, always have been. If I had a dollar for every plan I have made that changed course, well lets just say I would not be sitting here writing this blog. I do not know anyone that has arrived exactly where they planned on, with out at least a little detour along the way, that is if they even had a plan. However, even though my life has not had the turn of events that I expected, and a few disapointments I think that I am where I am ment to be and I believe that I am happier because my plans did not work out.

As a whole I do not really identify with the people from the book but I did like Warren Brown's story about his cakes. I do not believe that we all have to do amazing things to make a difference.I like that he chose to make cakes and keep his successful business in his neighborhood rather than move to a fancy part of town. He gets that it isnt all about money and I like that..

I have no intrest in telling my own story simply because I do not find it that interesting to talk about myself but after reading this book I realize that maybe it is more interesting than I thought. Maybe Po should interview me?

Lacking an off switch

After reading this weeks assignment, it was hard for me to choose which person's story was most like my own.  There was some similarity in most of them.  I think the one that was most similar was Jessica's story, "Lacking an off switch."

The reason this story is most relevant to my own life is that, like Jessica, I had always known what I wanted to do and I have been doing it for many years.  When I graduated high school, I went straight into beauty school.  I knew I wanted to be a hairdresser.  It had always been a hobby and an intrest of mine, so it seemed only natural.  For a long time I loved my job.

However, as time has passed, I have become disenchanted with it.  I am still very passionate about it, but the practicality in that line of work has burned out for me.  It is time for a change.  It took me a very long time to figure out what that change would be, but I think nursing will be a good fit for me.