Should be a day devoted to gratitude, which necessarily involves contentment. Please try to remember today the many things that we have and enjoy and often take for granted rather than focusing on what you "want." Want stems from discontentment, which is antithetical to gratitude. People who don't have want they want are usually unhappy people, and unhappy people are usually thankful.
So, focus on what you have and be thankful!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Keeping focus
Life will throw curves at all of us. It is inevitable; we can and should bank on it. Whether it is the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, a decline in health, the Giants winning the World Series, losing money, making money, or whatever else.
These things should not be a surprise - well, perhaps with the exception of the Giants winning the world series in 2010. We are mortal: we live, we die, and in the middle we do all sorts of silly and unnecessary things that subtract from the quality of life, in my humble opinion. Or maybe it is just I. [side note, yes, I insist on proper grammar at times, even when it sounds odd] For instance, we - by which I mean I - fret about family, career, money, friends, homes, clothes, how to write a witty Facebook posting, popularity, being a good employee/spouse/parent/friend/fill in the blank. With the exception of relationships and duty, I am of the opinion that the rest is really insignificant in the big scheme of things.
Recently, after some curves, I have come once again to a very simple truth. That is that work serves certain limited purposes but should never define who I am. While I happen to work as an attorney, being an attorney does not necessarily define me. I could just as easily, well after more schooling, be a pharmacist, an engineer, an executive, etc. I hope to never allow my occupation to trump my role as a husband and father and will not sacrifice my family for career advancement. Now, I am exploring other lines of work outside of the law (and still keeping open the possibility of practice law), but my hope is twofold: (1) to provide for my family, and (2) to do something that I enjoy. These are pretty basic, of course, but it seems like the hustle and bustle of life keeps us from the simple things: do something you enjoy; if you don't enjoy it, try to find something you enjoy about it; do it to the best of your ability; keep a positive attitude; provide for family; savor every moment you have with those whom you love.
I've spent 5+ years so far as an attorney and counting. Much of that time has been spent unfortunately increasing the misery of others - I work for various banks, and people are increasingly behind the economic eight ball. I sue these people for the banks, try to work with them where I can, sympathize with them, foreclose, evict, repossess, etc. It's depressing work, which has unfortunately jaded me despite my best efforts to resist. I always try to remind these people that this too shall pass and would much rather encourage and assist them, rather than the banks. But then again, banks are people too - or at least they employ people. Nonetheless, I think that I am now ready to do something other than work for banks. Hopefully something will turn up that will allow me to (1) provide for my family, and (2) do something that I enjoy. Beyond that, I am keeping all options open and reminding myself that I lead a very blessed life.
These things should not be a surprise - well, perhaps with the exception of the Giants winning the world series in 2010. We are mortal: we live, we die, and in the middle we do all sorts of silly and unnecessary things that subtract from the quality of life, in my humble opinion. Or maybe it is just I. [side note, yes, I insist on proper grammar at times, even when it sounds odd] For instance, we - by which I mean I - fret about family, career, money, friends, homes, clothes, how to write a witty Facebook posting, popularity, being a good employee/spouse/parent/friend/fill in the blank. With the exception of relationships and duty, I am of the opinion that the rest is really insignificant in the big scheme of things.
Recently, after some curves, I have come once again to a very simple truth. That is that work serves certain limited purposes but should never define who I am. While I happen to work as an attorney, being an attorney does not necessarily define me. I could just as easily, well after more schooling, be a pharmacist, an engineer, an executive, etc. I hope to never allow my occupation to trump my role as a husband and father and will not sacrifice my family for career advancement. Now, I am exploring other lines of work outside of the law (and still keeping open the possibility of practice law), but my hope is twofold: (1) to provide for my family, and (2) to do something that I enjoy. These are pretty basic, of course, but it seems like the hustle and bustle of life keeps us from the simple things: do something you enjoy; if you don't enjoy it, try to find something you enjoy about it; do it to the best of your ability; keep a positive attitude; provide for family; savor every moment you have with those whom you love.
I've spent 5+ years so far as an attorney and counting. Much of that time has been spent unfortunately increasing the misery of others - I work for various banks, and people are increasingly behind the economic eight ball. I sue these people for the banks, try to work with them where I can, sympathize with them, foreclose, evict, repossess, etc. It's depressing work, which has unfortunately jaded me despite my best efforts to resist. I always try to remind these people that this too shall pass and would much rather encourage and assist them, rather than the banks. But then again, banks are people too - or at least they employ people. Nonetheless, I think that I am now ready to do something other than work for banks. Hopefully something will turn up that will allow me to (1) provide for my family, and (2) do something that I enjoy. Beyond that, I am keeping all options open and reminding myself that I lead a very blessed life.
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