The American Nightmare
So, it's been awhile since I've written a really serious blog... a LONG while. Guess that means I'm either a really happy person, or I just never have much time or desire to sit down and share my innermost feelings with the world. The latter is probably closer to the truth. But at any rate, something's been on my mind lately, and this evening I'm in a sharing mood.
Seems I've become somewhat discontented in recent weeks over this thing we call the American Dream. You know, that dream where you get yourself a college education, a good job, a spouse, a nice house, some rugrats, and then you work... well I shouldn't say that, it was a lot of fucking work just to get THIS far!! So, you CONTINUE to work...
and work, and work, and work, and work... day in and day out, week in and week out, year in and year out, the same old routine over and over, with minor alterations here and there...
Of course there will be some differences, after all times change and people change... but still there is some degree of monotony, repetition, routine.... and it's even worse for the blue collar workforce. On top of everything else, many of them are going in and literally doing the same thing over and over again for 8 or 10 hours a day.
So, time wears on; maybe you'll have some more kids and work harder? Or maybe your marriage will fall apart, as so many do these days...
at any rate, you'll get stressed, you might go into debt, and continue work some more... work, work, work, work yourself into the the ground at work; work yourself into the ground at home,
And it will typically continue until you reach that magical age of 65, at which point you're supposed to be able to stop working and start having fun. There's only one problem with that... all those years of work have taken a toll on you... you're no spring chicken anymore... probably have some health issues. My dad put it this way "they call them the 'Golden Years' but I call them the RUSTY years!!"
So, what am I trying to get at here? Well, I'm not just talking about work, and I'm not just talking about family. I'm talking about the AMERICAN DREAM. And quite frankly, I think it sucks.
I think it sucks that so many of us live our lives by this little fucked up structure we call the American Dream, just because it's the thing to do. Is this really what life is all about?? It just seems like there is so much MORE we could accomplish if we broke free of our structured little lives. Certainly the good Lord put us here to do more that merely chase after this inane thing we call the American Dream.
And I'm seeing SOOOO many people my age getting married and having kids... it's like they're just so eager to get this American Dream started... let's see how early we can go into debt and spend the rest of our lives working ourselves to death trying to get out of it! w00t!
And me, I'm just not ready at all... sure I'd maybe like to get married and maybe have kids some day, but at the moment I still feel like a kid myself! And I'm just really not interested in the American Dream right now. I used to dream of having a great career and a nice little house in the suburbs with a wife and kids, and some pets and all that stuff. But the more and more I see of the "real" world, the more and more I just want to retreat from it all. I'm finding that a little abode all of my own, in the middle of nowhere, sounds far more appealing than the whole suburban thing.
Actually, I think I would much rather spend my life volunteering, traveling/exploring the world and enjoying all of the miraculous things the Lord has put in it. I'd like to spend more time on my hobbies... heck, I'd like to pick up new hobbies. I'd like to get in shape and be healthy, and get out on my bike more. I've always wanted to have my own radio station... just so many things out there that I WANT to do, and then that stupid American Dream gets in the way and screws everything over.
So whatever... fuck it. Just what is this life REALLY for?
Seems I've become somewhat discontented in recent weeks over this thing we call the American Dream. You know, that dream where you get yourself a college education, a good job, a spouse, a nice house, some rugrats, and then you work... well I shouldn't say that, it was a lot of fucking work just to get THIS far!! So, you CONTINUE to work...
and work, and work, and work, and work... day in and day out, week in and week out, year in and year out, the same old routine over and over, with minor alterations here and there...
Of course there will be some differences, after all times change and people change... but still there is some degree of monotony, repetition, routine.... and it's even worse for the blue collar workforce. On top of everything else, many of them are going in and literally doing the same thing over and over again for 8 or 10 hours a day.
So, time wears on; maybe you'll have some more kids and work harder? Or maybe your marriage will fall apart, as so many do these days...
at any rate, you'll get stressed, you might go into debt, and continue work some more... work, work, work, work yourself into the the ground at work; work yourself into the ground at home,
And it will typically continue until you reach that magical age of 65, at which point you're supposed to be able to stop working and start having fun. There's only one problem with that... all those years of work have taken a toll on you... you're no spring chicken anymore... probably have some health issues. My dad put it this way "they call them the 'Golden Years' but I call them the RUSTY years!!"
So, what am I trying to get at here? Well, I'm not just talking about work, and I'm not just talking about family. I'm talking about the AMERICAN DREAM. And quite frankly, I think it sucks.
I think it sucks that so many of us live our lives by this little fucked up structure we call the American Dream, just because it's the thing to do. Is this really what life is all about?? It just seems like there is so much MORE we could accomplish if we broke free of our structured little lives. Certainly the good Lord put us here to do more that merely chase after this inane thing we call the American Dream.
And I'm seeing SOOOO many people my age getting married and having kids... it's like they're just so eager to get this American Dream started... let's see how early we can go into debt and spend the rest of our lives working ourselves to death trying to get out of it! w00t!
And me, I'm just not ready at all... sure I'd maybe like to get married and maybe have kids some day, but at the moment I still feel like a kid myself! And I'm just really not interested in the American Dream right now. I used to dream of having a great career and a nice little house in the suburbs with a wife and kids, and some pets and all that stuff. But the more and more I see of the "real" world, the more and more I just want to retreat from it all. I'm finding that a little abode all of my own, in the middle of nowhere, sounds far more appealing than the whole suburban thing.
Actually, I think I would much rather spend my life volunteering, traveling/exploring the world and enjoying all of the miraculous things the Lord has put in it. I'd like to spend more time on my hobbies... heck, I'd like to pick up new hobbies. I'd like to get in shape and be healthy, and get out on my bike more. I've always wanted to have my own radio station... just so many things out there that I WANT to do, and then that stupid American Dream gets in the way and screws everything over.
So whatever... fuck it. Just what is this life REALLY for?