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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2009 14:29:50 GMT
Life is a bowl of cherries... or not. We start out with big plans, but obviously not everybody succeeds. And some people don't even have big plans -- they prefer to watch the others and live a calm life.
What about you?
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Post by BigIain on Jul 9, 2009 15:00:20 GMT
good quiz K!!
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Post by spindrift on Jul 9, 2009 18:19:05 GMT
My life's been great apart from a few hiccups. Still is OK.
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Post by rikita on Jul 9, 2009 21:59:56 GMT
for me it varies. some days i am sure i will be great some day, other days i realize how the years pass by and i still sit here lazily and never get anything done...
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Post by traveler63 on Jul 10, 2009 2:10:54 GMT
Great life. Married 40 years to the same person, relatively healthy, worked hard, and now enjoying more . I think life happens while you are making other plans. For me, biggest thing I have learned is you have no control over most things and you should never go back and say "if I had made a different decision", you make the best decision you can at the time and playing woulda , coulda, shoulda, just makes you feel unhappy.
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Post by cigalechanta on Jul 10, 2009 3:11:56 GMT
The sadest words of tongue or pen,
are those, It might have been
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Post by lola on Jul 10, 2009 13:23:28 GMT
I can't summon up the drive to think of a clever response. Sorry. File me with the under-endowed, ambitionwise.
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Post by Kimby on Jul 10, 2009 18:11:19 GMT
"How we spend our days is how we spend our lives." Annie Dillard
I'm not ambitious at all, and just trying to make sure I don't waste too much time, as I can't get it back. (So what am I doing on here, you may ask!)
When I was in college, I thought I'd become a park ranger/naturalist. When I met my doctor-in-training husband, all that changed, as National Parks generally don't hire doctors. With no kids - and no need to save for college educations - one income is more than sufficient for us, so I have been "retired" since my early 30's, but keep busy with volunteer work at two museums and a nature center. So I AM using my college education, just not for pay. And I can go on vacation whenever i want to. Hubby is phasing down toward retirement, so we will have lots more free time for the next two years, then nothing but free time for the rest of our lives. (Scary thought!)
Regarding retirement: An octogenarian told a new retiree to "really make the most of your 70's, because in your 80's it gets much harder." Watching my 86 year old parents slow down, and the horizons of their life narrow, this really rings true. "Do it now!" has been their motto until recently. Now it's "Simplify!" as their former lifestyle becomes too complicated and difficult for them to keep up with.
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Post by nic on Jul 13, 2009 7:41:14 GMT
...uh, there's no option for "too lazy to follow through with ambition initially, then took any ol' job just to pay bills."
I am, however, seriously working on finishing my degree. I'll be re-starting school in the Fall, and will hopefully be done in the next couple of years. In the meantime, I take the Foreign Service Officer exam in October.
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Post by hwinpp on Jul 13, 2009 9:26:35 GMT
Does that qualify you to become a spy?
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Post by nic on Jul 13, 2009 11:33:07 GMT
Does that qualify you to become a spy? Nah, diplomat.  |
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Post by spindrift on Jul 13, 2009 17:21:35 GMT
A diplomat's life sounds like an interesting and fun one with lots of foreign postings.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2009 0:11:20 GMT
I've always been ambitious. When I was younger I'd do almost anything to get what I wanted, and almost always got it. Life has been interesting for me, I've achieved much of what I wanted in life, but not everything. Over the years I've softened up and am not as reckless as I used to be, I guess having kids changes many things.
One of my main ambitious now, apart from doing some more traveling, is to do something to help poor, unprivileged children/people in India. I'm still trying to find some kind of action plan to be able to do this...
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Post by nic on Jul 14, 2009 5:49:50 GMT
A diplomat's life sounds like an interesting and fun one with lots of foreign postings. It could be! Just need to be 'accepted' first. Browsing through the study guide, it doesn't seem that hard; pay attention to enough news, and one should do fine. Well, that and passing the background check. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2009 7:23:57 GMT
One thing to know is that you don't get posted in London or Paris right from the start. You are more likely to be in Brazzaville or Ulan Bator.
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Post by Jazz on Jul 14, 2009 7:30:57 GMT
Oh my god. This made me think. Since the day I left home, my life has been in constant flux. I had a very rough plan, but every few years this plan has shifted. Rarely was I ever at peace with where I had arrived. My life has been unexpectedly good, even joyous, and some has been very bad. But the shocking paralysis of the bad teaches you so much. Most of my life I had a powerful drive, which when unchecked led to great achievement, but also into chaos. Today, my 'ambition' is to experience calm for a little while. It won't last, but I think that I would like to rest there and be calm and revitalize my energies. A life of moderation and balance is beyond my emotional comprehension.
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Post by nic on Jul 14, 2009 7:37:07 GMT
One thing to know is that you don't get posted in London or Paris right from the start. You are more likely to be in Brazzaville or Ulan Bator. I was hoping for some blighted African nation, or the ever popular Middle East. If I can buildup my imperfect French, I was figuring on somewhere in West Africa. And I have a very basic command of Arabic. Since the day I left home, my life has been in constant flux. I had a very rough plan, but every few years this plan has shifted. Rarely was I ever at peace with where I had arrived. Oh, I definitely understand that sentiment. |
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Post by spindrift on Jul 14, 2009 10:38:59 GMT
Jazz - like you I am slowly building up my reserves of energy. I don't know where this will lead but I hope it'll be somewhere interesting.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2009 11:29:35 GMT
Jazz - like you I am slowly building up my reserves of energy. I don't know where this will lead but I hope it'll be somewhere interesting. Spindrift, taking into account all that you have shared with us regarding your adventures and aspirations thus far,I have no doubt in my mind that you will go beyond the bounds of "interesting" and will take the time in doing so to inspire others along the way. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2009 12:14:12 GMT
Life and what to do with it? Good question.
I've lived in over 40 different places, but for the last few years have stayed put, more for the kids' sake then mine. I do get itchy feet real fast though. In a couple more years I will start my wandering ways again..
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2009 7:27:00 GMT
Just for holidays, I've been learning all about itchy feet for the past 5 years, but my duties as a son come first -- so just remember that, Deyana. The better a mother you are, the more you can count on your children later in life.  |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 17, 2009 15:17:12 GMT
I know Kerouac. My kids always come first. I don't know about counting on them though. At the moment it looks like all they want to do is fly off to distant places! That's boys for you.
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