The "Me" Generation
I had a friend refer to our generation as the "Me" generation one day. I think that's a psychology term. Nonetheless, it's true, though probably not universally. She defined it as: people our age think that in order for life to be good and happy, everything has to be perfect-all-the-time-forever. However, we should know better. In fact, I think we do know better, yet subconsciously we still have these habits of getting frustrated when even just one thing is not going how we think it should.
life sucksOr does it? What would you do if everything was actually perfect? No conflict, no need for strategy or creative solutions to problem. No problems to solve. That would be DAMN boring.Peter Gibbons: What would you do if you had a million dollars?Lawrence: I'll tell you what I'd do, man: two chicks at the same time, man.
Peter Gibbons: That's it? If you had a million dollars, you'd do two chicks at the same time?
Lawrence: Damn straight. I always wanted to do that, man. And I think if I were a millionaire I could hook that up, too; 'cause chicks dig dudes with money.
Peter Gibbons: Well, not all chicks.
Lawrence: Well, the type of chicks that'd double up on a dude like me do.
Peter Gibbons: Good point.
Lawrence: Well, what about you now? what would you do?
Peter Gibbons: Besides two chicks at the same time?
Lawrence: Well, yeah.
Peter Gibbons: Nothing.
Lawrence: Nothing, huh?
Peter Gibbons: I would relax... I would sit on my ass all day... I would do nothing.
Lawrence: Well, you don't need a million dollars to do nothing, man. Take a look at my cousin: he's broke, don't do shit.
via IMDBWhen I thought about this question before I had the job I have now, I used to tell myself, "having nothing to do would be boring," but what I *actually* thought and was too afraid to say was, "that's totally what I would do. I WOULD do nothing." But now that I've been in training for three weeks literally getting PAID to do nothing? I know that isn't true. I spend my time thinking about all the things I'd rather be doing. I don't WANT to get paid to do nothing. Job satisfaction has everything to do with having SOMETHING TO DO. Something worth while. Something that doesn't make you want to shoot yourself just so you can say you accomplished something today.We're natural problem-solvers. Or at least I am. Sometimes the bad is what compliments the good. It gets you motivated.
acceptance"Accepting the things you cannot change" is sort of essential to life. Recognition of the things you can change is equally essential, however there are a lot of things that are simply beyond your grasp. Or maybe they weren't at one point, but they are now. Whether or not you did all you could is neither here nor there at this point. We can learn from our mistakes without regretting them.what excites you?Of course, constantly combating what life throws at you is stressful. So what we need to compliment the inevitable problems in life is to balance the negative with positive. If your job is boring, find something to do after work that excites you. If your life is falling apart and in shambles, focus on your work, and get a lot accomplished while you're there. It's all about balance. At this point, I'm just repeating what zenhabits.net had to say in his last blog post. So you should go read it. Very good advice. your grandfatherEssentially? We need to stop thinking we have it so bad. Remember when kids used to have to walk 10 miles to school up hill both ways?When you see a problem, don't just complain about it. Solve it. :)
