Wanting Less

Last night, a friend of mine poured his heart out about how much he hates his life and karma seems to not work and all of this. I asked him why and he went into a long list of these plans that he has for his life. I started to talk to him about all of the things I'd experienced in an attempt to help him.

Namely, I had these expectations about how my life was supposed to go right around the time I got out of school. I was going to be super programmer working his way up through the ranks and be in the 6-figure bracket by 23. That was my plan.

It didn't quite go that way, though. I had to take a job at a grocery store for a while. After that I got hired and fired within three months of having the job I dreamed of. Then I worked at a pizza shop. Then I had to collect unemployment. Then I worked for the Geek Squad. Now I'm working at the job of my dreams, but there is madness in the midst and I will need to make another transition.

He envies my happiness with my job; he commented on that a lot. As a matter of fact, the same friend called me today and mentioned that very thing. The thing is, he only sees where he wants to be and what he wants to do and he doesn't hear me when I tell him that I had to learn to be happy with working at a grocery store before I ever got this job.

I learned to be content and thankful with the jobs I have and to put my expectations out of my head. By not chasing what I want, I've gotten more than I could ever want or need and I use that to make happiness for others. I think that's how the system is meant to work; we get more for ourselves when we forget ourselves.

I explained to him how seeds work in a way. You plant them and you try to water them, but they sprout when it is time for them to sprout and we have no control over that process. His comment was, "I suck at plants; I always overwater them and drown them." Ouch. What an indictment and he is completely unaware of the wisdom that could save him in the very words he said.

This is one of those moments that I want to tell you all that, while I can understand that we all have things that we want and desire, we have to forget ourselves at the same time. Pursue your passions, but expect nothing other than the joy of that chase and doing good along the way. Be disciplined without being consumed by your discipline to the point you can't see the beauty all around you. The fact is, I have good jobs because everyone can see how thankful I am to work for them. I have good word of mouth on me for the same reason.

You will never escape your situations until you learn to be more thankful for just being alive to start with. The fact of the matter is, if not for the grace of God, we would all be fucked, so if we can do anything at all, the first thing should be living our gratitude with enthusiasm.

In all of your getting, get understanding. In all of your busyness, be thankful.