There comes a time, ♪there comes a time when we heed a certain call, when the world must come together as one♪
Okay, sorry, got that out. There comes a time for everyone when we are just not happy with the way things are going. It may be in our personal lives, or our careers, but it happens to everyone. The question is always: Is it bad enough to make a change? or is it just something that will change on its own, if you ride it out?
Many people continue with things going the way they are for various reasons. They may be afraid of change, they may just be comfortable with the way things are, or they may not feel they have any other options, but whatever the reason, there is no doubt that making significant changes in our lives is difficult.
To complicate things more, some changes still seem to come with a certain stigma attached to them, because our society says "it is not the norm," and people are embarrassed that they will be judged and looked down upon. Some examples: Filing Bankruptcy, allowing your home/car to be foreclosed/repossessed, quitting your job without another one lined up, getting a divorce, etc...
It is a shame that we, as people, can't support one another more and encourage each other to make these tough decisions. Despite the state of our economy, we continue to define success on what we own, what kind of car we drive, and how big our house is.
How many times have you met someone and one of the first questions you ask is "What do you do for work?" or even more directly "Where do you work?" Does a person's career define who they are? Do you ask because you want to do business with them, or do you use it as a measure of there success?
How many parents still ask their daughter what her boyfriend/significant other does in hope of hearing "he's a doctor?" While at the same time we encourage them to do whatever makes them "happy."
But how do we define happiness? Is it financial success, or is it truly doing whatever makes them happy? Is marriage always part of the happiness formula? Would you be okay if your child decided to just "live in a van down by the river?" (Can you see my Chris Farley moves?) Or do you really have a more established "normal" more responsible idea for what they can do? If you truly are okay with them doing whatever makes them happy, why is it that we have such a hard time with others taking the leap towards happiness? And an even harder time with making the leap ourselves?
I don't have the answers, but, clearly it is time for us all to think differently. To reevaluate what happiness and success really mean to us, and take small steps towards change. And, even more important; we need to support one another, and share our experiences, so others may know that it's okay.
I have had numerous friends quit jobs recently to pursue their own happiness, not for more money, but simply because they wanted something different. Though some may say they're crazy, I admire their strength and courage in doing so. Facing the unknown is scary, but if we all join together, and support one another, no matter how big or small the change, no one will have to do it alone.
♪Don't want to be a richer man...just gonna have to be a different man...time may change me, but I can't trace time♪ (David Bowie)
I love this post, it really hits home. I'm dealing with several of the things you mentioned and every day I think we need a CHANGE. But what? I don't know! We've even tossed around the idea of selling everything and moving out of state. If I could get hubby to commit I would be all over that idea. But I need a change, a big one, ASAP.
ReplyDelete~If you always do the same things, you will always get the same results.~
Great post. I think I get too comfy to make a much needed change and wait for it to be forced upon me. I wouldn't mind a change, but not just yet :-)
ReplyDeleteWow you living inside my head? Great post and a lot to think about.
ReplyDeleteChange is scary for sure and I hope I can make the right decisions.
As for being crazy to quit a job, not necessarily but the bills still have to be paid and the kids fed....so there is a lot riding on that unhappy job too..
Thanks for the post.
You pulled me in too - must be the law of attraction at work. I want to quit my job so badly but want to keep my house too. I know that I have a different path to follow - just trying to get the logistics to work with the leap of faith and hoping it's not an oxymoron!!!
ReplyDeleteAfter awhile of the same thing I start to crave change. Change keeps me feeling like I'm progressing along in this life of mine just fine.
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to have someone to share those changes with!
Sounds like you might be contemplating a big change for yourself? Keep us posted about that?
ReplyDeleteHuman nature is just that - human by nature. Sometimes trying to change we think is itself a change, a challenge, a task, a problem.
ReplyDeleteWe always judge people by the way they look, where they work or what they do, and this is how we measure happiness for ourselves, based on what we look for in someone and in reaching a conclusion about someone.
We have, like you've mentioned, to be supportive of each other....this is easy if we can just focus on the positive things in life and see that there is good in people.
I am now at a significant decision - move to North Carolina for a more exciting life or stay in Cayman and be bored inside out. The thing is - I don't want my life to be wasted here and miss out.