Please note: Cover image has nothing to do with actual post.
Recently, I got to talking with a guy. He's a nice guy that has some similar thoughts to those which I have, so it brought a few things to mind. Since it was good for me to hear, I'll share some of it with you in case it might bless or help you as well.
WHICH PATH WILL YOU CHOOSE?
Life is full of choices, but there are a few things that can help. One is that you can sometimes look down a certain path and see the end destination of that path. When this happens, if the destination is not one you desire to head to, then do not walk down that path. Likewise, if you are contemplating following someone, you may want to look at where they are. If they end destination of where their life ended up is not desirable, then you may not want to follow their lead.
When I was speaking with the man, he mentioned how he had previously been employed at a certain job that was rather good paying. He made a lot of money, but he had to work long hours. This took him away from his family more than he would have liked to be, but the money was good enough that he justified it.
But then something happened.
He noticed many others who had walked the path that he was currently walking. They were into their sixties and even seventies, and were still working very hard every day, putting in long hours. He realized that if he continued on the path that he was on, not only would he miss out on a lot more of his children's lives than he would wish, but one day the same would probably happen with his grandchildren... not to mention the time it would continue to take him away from his wife.
Ultimately, realizing this was life-changing. It lead him to quit his job and empty his 401K. The high wage he had worked up to, the large amount of vacation he had worked up to, his seniority, all of it was now gone. But, he was exactly where he wanted to be; at home with his family.
He now sells firewood and livestock to bring in an income, plus a few other things. For him, it was a very decision. For us, a potentially sobering reminder. Life is what you make it. Be careful who you follow, and choose your path wisely. Personally, I'm working on it!
Until next time…
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If you don't like your surroundings, change them
If you don't like your situation, change it.
If you don't like your decisions, make different ones.
All of this leads to the life that YOU want to lead, not the one others want you to lead.
Life is like chess, always try and think at least 5 moves ahead, and if you can see the dead ends you can avoid them.
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From the perspective of the man in @papa-pepper's story, this is absolutely an option. Wealth helps people make changes. I'll point out, too, though, that from the bottom of the social heap, it's a lot harder to make positive changes. Our unhappy neighbors can't seem to catch a break, and the big change in their life recently led them from having a run-down apartment to having no apartment and sleeping on the sidewalk.
If you can, absolutely you should. Sometimes people need a hand, though, to help them lead happier lives that they can't even imagine for themselves.
Love and Strength,
@improv.
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Wow! Such a solid reply! Excellent advice and true words! Think about where you want to end up in the future and then take the steps that actually lead there! Nice man!
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I just wish I could take my own advice more often...
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I hear you!
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Well said @papa-pepper. Thank for the (unintended) reassurance. I periodically reflect on if it was worth it to walk away.
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Glad that this post was some confirmation for you! Thanks for checking it out!
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I trying very hard to get to the point where we can get my husband retired in the next 10 years or at least get to a place where we can afford for him to stay at home and work. He works really hard, he works long 12 hours shifts the only blessing in that is they are rotating shifts so he works 2 days on 2 days off three days on 2 days off 2 days off 3 days off. Then it repeats. But he does get 7 days off every 14 days, his job before this one, he worked even longer hours 6 days a week for less money. So at least that part has improved. And if things go the way I expect they will the dream of getting him to be able to take an early retirement from his place of employment looks like it will be in or future.
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Yeah, I dealt with shifts like that too in the past. Gotta take advantage of what we can. Keep working towards the goal, it's the only way to get there!
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We are getting closer and closer to that dream. And since the nest is nearly empty it will make it all that much easier. In theory anyways.
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I had to make a similar choice. I stayed in the same trade just had to move to another company, a lot smaller one. My gross income was cut in half. Due to the $14 wage decrease and the decrease in overtime. It was hard to adjust to but just like the man you talked to. Money isn’t what life is about. It’s about...
Family.
I missed out on the early years of my children, something I can’t take back, but I can change the circumstances and start spending more time with them.
God Bless
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That's right, you can't get it back, but you can change the future! Keep at it man!
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We all have all the freedom to choose what path are we going to take. We are not taking the unbeaten path but there are already so many people crossing that path and we see them succeeded and some were failed. We should follow those who are successful and learn from those who failed.
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Just refreshed the feed and this came up. You make a great point. If you can see where the path goes and if you don't want to end up there, find another path! It can be difficult to do so, especially when the money is good, but you have to know your priorities and go after them. If you don't know your priorities, take the time to figure out what they are so you can follow a dream that matters to you.
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That's right! Priorities and having some clue about what you want out of life. Most seem to not think that far ahead. Thanks man!
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It is important that we are careful in choosing those we follow or paths we choose to take. It ultimately determines the outcome of our lives.
Remember, the decisions we make today determine what our lives look like tomorrow
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Very sober point! Thanks @korexe!
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Life is all about what makes you happy
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Hi @papa-pepper, sometimes when I imagine your story, I become mystical myself, I remember how many people in this world forget family and they are more preoccupied with work to earn money, I agree with you that the purpose of life is to get happiness, with family and our generation to the fore, income / money is indeed a real need, but in looking for our income do not forget samapia with our family, thanks regards me @rijal123
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I could see your friend's story in my mother's in low life. She once said she will have more time to enjoy her grandkids, so she continued the hard work after having her child. Years passed and she is still hard working, having the same little amount of time for the nephew.
The only sad part is that she is not completely happy with her choices, because if your biggest satisfaction is work, than go for it and enjoy life your way!
I do not judge, I have no idea how her life would be if she had made other choices. But I understood I wanted my path to be different.
I really enjoyed this article!
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We just need to think a thousand before deciding because it may lead to many dangers in the future
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You have to think about how deep it is,And take the best path for you.
I always support you.
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Hello @papa-pepper
.
I really don't fancy the man's state of living. Selling firewood and few others things is rather a very arduous ways to make money. And how is he gonna pay for his children's education? This is a typical case of good living gone bad. What a very bad decision.
.
@eurogee
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Sometime the well worn path seems easier to travel; but it can be much more rewarding to make your own.
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Everyone has to make that decision that could either change things positively or otherwise. The guy made the best choice, Being with family and getting a job that allows you to spend time with your family is the best. Rather starting something on your own is a good one.
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Great thought. It is so true that we need to be very conscious of who we r following. The so called American dream of a big house fancy cars and high profile job is not my dream.
Your conversation with your friend was very encouraging. 5 years ago I quit my high paying job to start farming. It has been a lot of hard work but the benefits of being with my family more make it all worth it. It is very encouraging to hear similar stories. Thanks for sharing!
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Wait, so said person ISN'T the giant bat in the image ? Awww...
It is pretty good advice, though.
There's been tons of studies in psychology too where they ask people in their 80s and 90s what they regret most, and nearly no one ever says " I regret not working more"/"I regret not making more money" (there are, of course, a few who even in their old age think everything would be better if they just had more money).
They mostly focus on how they would have loved to spend more time with their families, explore the world, take the time to just enjoy their lives...
As a species, we seem to be hardwired to seek meaning, and our society and culture has taken the easy path of saying "you are what you do", and telling people that their careers are what defines them.
I myself constantly have doubts about what I'm doing with my life, but I've taken to just going along with the flow, doing my best to change the flow here and there if the destination doesn't look pleasing, and otherwise pursuing interesting opportunities and hobbies when I see them.
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You are the master of your life. You are in the driver's seat. No one can tell you how to live your life. What is good for one person will not necessarily make you happy. Different strokes for different folks. Advice to those that complain: Stop whining and get on with your life! No one is going to hand it to you on a golden platter!
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It’s so true, one of the only things you can’t get more of is time. All the money in the world won’t make you happy if you have no time to spend it.
There are lots of studies that show making a certain amount of money (roughly 70-90k USD) raises a persons level of happiness to a certain level, but once their salary increases after this level, the happiness correlation declines, showing that after a certain level extra money doesn’t do anything for your satisfaction/fulfilment.
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Interesting...
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