I think that's what separates "Us" from "Them" because you know that they don't sit around and think about what it would be like to be poor. (Original thought on that was from Louis CK) But, honestly. In any aspect of life why would you think about how life would be if you were poorer.
This all lead me to think about what I would do with my wishes if I found a genie, and genies actually existed.
Here's me rapid firing whatever wish first pops into my head, if I had unlimited wishes for 2 minutes:
-That my wife never had to work again and that our house had a pool that the water temp was always 95 degrees.
-That the Dodgers make it to the first round of the playoffs every year and lose, from now until the end of forever.
-That I would find $500 cash on the ground every day for the rest of my life.
-That Donald Trump would die in a grease fire at the Trump Tower in Las Vegas.
-That I had a house without any neighbors and that my current neighbors got banished to the northern-most part of Canada forever.
-That I had my own meal service at my house every day and never had to cook again cause they can cook every delicacy.
-That I reestablished the Montreal Expos and owned them, and that I would have endless poutine in the owners box. Also that we had the Dodgers sized payroll to buy players.
-That eating pizza, fries and red meat made me lose weight.
-That being a dickhead to cashiers or waiters is punishable by a life sentence in federal prison.
-That driving while impaired, distracted or otherwise idiotically would result in a permanent rebuke of your license and driving privileges.
-That I owned an airline.
-That I owned Walmart.
-That all my relatives were stupidly successful in anything they pursued.
That should be two minutes worth. I could even rapid fire more when put on the spot. But, I feel like that gives a fair assessment of my priorities when it comes to wishes.
When I think about stumbling on a genie, I don't have very big plans to save the world. The last thing on my mind would be that Jews and Islamic people would get on a little better. I also wouldn't say: I don't need any wishes, I'm grateful for what I have and I have all that I need. Would anybody say that, really? I guess I fight with what I want and need, and the feeling that I should be grateful for what I have.
All these thoughts led me to this thought: What if it doesn't get any better than today? Honestly. What if for the rest of your life you looked back on today and thought: that was the best day of my life.
I think honestly for a good 99% of those who read this blog, that day wouldn't be that bad. I imagine you ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner today. Or at least you will. You probably have or will sleep in your own, comfortable bed. You probably have a place to call home, and if you don't there's a good chance your parents would put you up.
I mean honestly, if you never got to move to Hawaii, and you never got to build a time machine and go back in time and see shit, if you never got to stake your place in Mount Everest, You never opened your bank account and didn't cringe a little, if you never got a wardrobe the size of a house, and never got that record player that is made of gold, how sad would you really be? I log online and all I can see is "Like if you want to travel." Or "All I want in life is a Dog and 900000000000000G per year, is that too much to ask?" To which I say: "Kinda." If you're spending all that time thinking about what you don't have and what you want, are you even happy? Are you enjoying your life? Seriously, I mean that. If all you're doing is driving around and looking at cars and clothes and houses and diamonds and all you can think and say is: "I want that." how can you even stand to be alive? Honestly. How do you function? I don't mean that to say, don't have goals. What I mean is; can you not be grateful for what the hell you have? Cause I'm fairly sure that it's more than most have.
I try to write that tediously, because I think it's a double edged sword. I think too often people say "You're an American, you shouldn't want anything!" but at the same time we shout back "I can if I want to!" I don't mean it to come across that you should never want anything. I mean it to come across as maybe you should have a little more tact and grace. You should look around and be thankful for what you have once in a while.
I guess what I'm truly getting at is that things really aren't that bad. Sure, you think of things that you want, things you need, and things you would get if you stumbled on a fair amount of money. I have those too. I really break them up into a couple groups; Needs, achievable wants, and pipe dreams. And to be totally honest my pipe dream list is the longest one. The house I have drawn up in my head in the event I strike oil makes very little sense, it's essentially Smart House from the Disney Channel Original Movie 'Smart House' (Before she goes nuts and takes human form) mashed up with the kids house on Blank Check. If you don't understand these references I encourage you to look into them, you will be enlightened and your goals will expand greatly.
I guess if things never got better from here (And judging by our Presidential candidates, there is a good chance that they will not.) I really wouldn't be all that sad. I mean, absolutely there are ways I am going to make things better in my life. But when I take a step back and really evaluate my life and where I am at; there is a ton more to be grateful than to be longing for. That's something I, and seemingly everyone, needs to do is realize that life is alright where you're at. Go get whatever you want. But don't let your goals turn into greed and consume you. You can make a lot of things happen and do a lot of good where you are.
Be ambitious, but don't be an asshole.
Oh, and if you stumble on a genie, will you do me a favor? Ask that he grant me three wishes as one of your wishes (I'll return the favor)
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