Thank you
Forget the floating post. At least for now.
I'm on a tear. Work (at both jobs) is going really well. My employees like and respect me. My marriage is fantastic. Friends are coming out of the woodwork to spend time with me. Every member of my family seems to want a piece, too. And I am bursting with love for all these great people. Life is grand, I tell ya. And I am the happiest I have ever been.
Was everything like this before and I simply didn't notice? Maybe I shouldn't question -- just happily accept this fabulous existence and keep on movin'. But, of course, I feel the need to analyze at least a little bit.
I know it's uncouth to talk about money, but the biggest change in my life over the last several years has definitely been financial. Whoever said that money can't buy happiness probably didn't wear the same shitty second-hand clothes for over a decade. Decent income has brought so much relief to my life -- from debt, poor credit, living in crappy apartments in shady neighborhoods, cars that break down every day, and wondering if I'll even have enough to eat tomorrow. I'm sure anyone in a relationship understands how much strain financial hardship can put on a marriage, as well.
It's strange. I didn't grow up rich by any stretch of the imagination, but my dad has always worked extremely hard to provide well for his family, and, looking back, I realize that I was better provided for than any of my cousins. That said, my mom would never allow my dad to make an investment in my future. I struggled mightily from the moment I left their house, and things got worse and worse over the years as I labored -- working full-time while in school full-time for ten years. I managed to get two degrees out of it in the end, but I had to quit my Ph.D. program before the strress killed me. I might have called it Death by Doctorate.
I gotta say, though -- I handled going from a comfortable childhood to a fairly miserable early adulthood pretty well. I remember looking around my tiny apartment in grad school and thinking, "Well, I may not have anything in my bank account, but at least I have everything I need." I didn't, of course, but I also had good friends who helped in my most desperate moments.
That was six years ago, and a lot has happened since then. Dropping out of my doctoral program was a huge risk -- especially after investing so much in an education within a very specific field (which, thankfully, I do still make use of). There have been the usual ups and downs that come with such changes. Lots of soul-searching and such. Importantly, along the way I picked up a new and amazing friend and a new and amazing husband (two different people). Both have given me opportunities to prove myself while providing me with the means and support to achieve my goals.
So is that the difference? The people with me and behind me? The ones I picked up along the way? Of course it is. I can only wonder with amazement why these fine folks love me and believe in me so strongly. I just hope I can continue to improve and to be and become the person they insist that I am and can be.
Thank you.
I'm on a tear. Work (at both jobs) is going really well. My employees like and respect me. My marriage is fantastic. Friends are coming out of the woodwork to spend time with me. Every member of my family seems to want a piece, too. And I am bursting with love for all these great people. Life is grand, I tell ya. And I am the happiest I have ever been.
Was everything like this before and I simply didn't notice? Maybe I shouldn't question -- just happily accept this fabulous existence and keep on movin'. But, of course, I feel the need to analyze at least a little bit.
I know it's uncouth to talk about money, but the biggest change in my life over the last several years has definitely been financial. Whoever said that money can't buy happiness probably didn't wear the same shitty second-hand clothes for over a decade. Decent income has brought so much relief to my life -- from debt, poor credit, living in crappy apartments in shady neighborhoods, cars that break down every day, and wondering if I'll even have enough to eat tomorrow. I'm sure anyone in a relationship understands how much strain financial hardship can put on a marriage, as well.
It's strange. I didn't grow up rich by any stretch of the imagination, but my dad has always worked extremely hard to provide well for his family, and, looking back, I realize that I was better provided for than any of my cousins. That said, my mom would never allow my dad to make an investment in my future. I struggled mightily from the moment I left their house, and things got worse and worse over the years as I labored -- working full-time while in school full-time for ten years. I managed to get two degrees out of it in the end, but I had to quit my Ph.D. program before the strress killed me. I might have called it Death by Doctorate.
I gotta say, though -- I handled going from a comfortable childhood to a fairly miserable early adulthood pretty well. I remember looking around my tiny apartment in grad school and thinking, "Well, I may not have anything in my bank account, but at least I have everything I need." I didn't, of course, but I also had good friends who helped in my most desperate moments.
That was six years ago, and a lot has happened since then. Dropping out of my doctoral program was a huge risk -- especially after investing so much in an education within a very specific field (which, thankfully, I do still make use of). There have been the usual ups and downs that come with such changes. Lots of soul-searching and such. Importantly, along the way I picked up a new and amazing friend and a new and amazing husband (two different people). Both have given me opportunities to prove myself while providing me with the means and support to achieve my goals.
So is that the difference? The people with me and behind me? The ones I picked up along the way? Of course it is. I can only wonder with amazement why these fine folks love me and believe in me so strongly. I just hope I can continue to improve and to be and become the person they insist that I am and can be.
Thank you.