Engage Rant Mode!

Radar The Idealists

My thoughts on this article: Blahdi-blahdi-blah-wankorama-blah!

*cough, cough*

Okay, I'm not going to say that there AREN'T people in my generation who constantly chase after the idea of some "perfection" thing where they can't bear to accept second best, like to travel, change jobs like they change underwear and all of that, but I'm just curious as to what on earth the majority of people in my generation who can't afford to do that sort of thing are classed as? (seeing how everything gets a label slapped on it)

Seriously, doing the must-have-perfection-travel-change-job-flit-flit-travel-backpack thing requires money. Serious money, usually. Sure, it's a couple of week's wages for an airfare or something, but then you need the extra spending money for accommodation, travel in the country, food, etc. And it also needs time. Not many workplaces I know would go, "Ohhh good, we'd love to give you a holiday! Paid leave, I take it? Delightful! Here, take six months off and really have a good time - you know you deserve it!" Not many people could afford it on a childcare worker or Big W or mechanic's wages, especially if they need to save up and use the money on other things to provide them with that dreaded thing called security later in life.

Most people my age are in jobs that are mundane. Heck, even the most exciting-sounding job turns out to be mundane once you've done it for a while, but you push thru the pain because of the rewards (aka, money). I know for a fact that working for the government to prevent terrorism and whatnot is utterly dull (got a friend who does it). THERE IS NOT A "PERFECT" JOB OUT THERE! Everything has moments of joy and boredom. Grow up, accept that fact, move on.

You know, most of the time you're going to have to take what you're given. There's a really high likelihood that you're not going to end up with a mansion, three Porches, regular trips to Europe and a job where every day's a pleasure. Really, it's more like you're going to end up with a house that's pretty much just like everyone else's, a Holden in the garage that you get to pay off for ages and a holiday up the coast driving the car with the family packed into it where the kids whinge and you wonder where the hell they came from and why and sometimes work will be boring.

However, that shouldn't stop you from enjoying life.

Enjoyment of life isn't all about traveling somewhere and boasting about how you helped the natives in South America scratch corn from cobs and swim through the upper marshes of the thingywhatsit to wrestle anacondas (think of the behaviour of the travel writer guy in the Series 3 episode of Black Books, 'k, and you'll know what I mean).

Enjoyment is about making the most of what you get, keeping smiling, seeing the positive sides of things, having a laugh, spending time with friends, keeping in contact with those you love, having fun with family and friends, appreciating the beauty of nature, doing creative things or whatever you're good at whenever you can, realising that life is what you make it and that you can make it the best ever no matter where you are just by keeping it all in perspective.

Sure, travel if you can - it broadens your views on life and things in it. But don't get so obsessed with having to find perfection - usually perfection in human form won't last more than a moment... (and it's all about enjoying the moments :).

The It-Sucks-To-Be-Me Generation by Daniel Gross is a more interesting article.