The broker that made a big wad of money when we bought our house sent us a mini-calendar filled with "inspirational" quotes by famous americans. Read one-at-a-time they are words of encouragement. But if you read them all and gather the theme they seem to suggest that it's the reader's fault that the reader has not achieved greatness. It works best if you think of yourself as some kind of couch-fungus rather than someone who actually has hobbies and interests but little time to devote to those activities due to daily responsibilities. The vague quotations seem to throw caution to the wind and shirk the idea that perhaps you do things for other people who won't mind if you suddenly cast off the life you've built to chase whatever dreams you haven't realized yet.
I don't doubt in the human ability to laze about but if we all had the resources of say, Paris Hilton, then I'm sure we would see some amazing things from people on a daily basis. The structure of our society seems to discourage allowing people any free time, starting with elementary school. Life becomes an endless 9 to 5 day of crap you wish you didn't have to deal with and often those hours don't meet your needs. I know if I were provided a place to live and food to eat I could come up with some kick-ass things beyond writing and music. I think my big fault is that I do things because I enjoy them. If I COULD drive myself to do things for fame and fortune I would probably have more accomplished and more money but I would ultimately dislike myself.
People always think I look young and are surprised to learn that I am married and have kids. They ask how I like it. It is a struggle but it is rewarding in that I always feel like I have something important to do. I feel like my main purpose is to make a better generation to replace my generation. Next to that, writing a song as popular as "I'm too sexy" doesn't seem important anymore. I will still sneak in my own accomplishments but I see my kids as the hope of the future; burdened with cleaning up our messes in a sea of people who don't care and often are offended at the notion. I feel guilty at the terrible odds against them. I hope I have better advice for them than drivel like: "It's not who you are that holds you back, it's who you think you're not."
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4 comments:
I have no virtue to blame. Who shall I attribute my lack of accomplishment to?
I get even more worried about the future of the United States when I see the families around this county...high school drop-outs, unemployed, addicted to drugs, involved in crime, no resources to advance, etc. These are multi-generational welfare families that see little hope for their futures and have no motivation/or chances to succeed in life. It is hard to imagine these people instilling the values of hard work, industry, productivity, persistence, etc. in their children. I just hope I am able to instill them in my own.
Isn't that what it should all be about anyway? The kids I mean. I'd like to think that my kids are going to have it better than I did, but that can't happen until I have a 'real' job. At least as far as material things go.
"We have not inherited the earth from our fathers, we are borrowing it from our children."
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