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You ever get that feeling.... (pg. 2)
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| Blake |
There's always something to do and business to take care of. It seems there will always be work, school, soccer practice, meetings to attend, piano lessons, doctors appointments, kids to pick up after school, bills to pay on time, papers to write, food to prepare et cetera. It seems we're always running from place to place to take care of things and trying to get things done as fast as possible so that perhaps if we're lucky, we can have 5 minutes to grab some coffee or a bite to eat.
Well since there will always be business to take care of, we make fun time no? If we never make fun time and we're always running around busy what happens? You wake up one day and you're like "holy i'm 30! ... HOLY I'M 50! ... ope, dead." The more busy you keep yourself, it seems, the faster life goes by. If you're feeling overwhelmed I'd probably suggest doing something to lighten your load so you can stop and smell the roses so to speak. Time doesn't change. Space evolves. The more rapidly you evolve the space around you, the less of a chance you'll get to really enjoy the things in that space and next thing you know ... old :p . Try to imagine lying in bed awake for a year straight. The year would seem to pass incredibly slowly because you're not really doing much with the space around you. On the same note if you're constantly busy without any kind of pauses or breaks, years will speed by. I'm actually dealing with the problem of finding some kind of middleground myself, but I'm sure it can be done. If not then ===> :eyespop: |
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| Taub |
| quote: | Originally posted by Trance Addix
Capitalism has given us many options and oppurtunities--it has its benefits; but it is a double-edged sword. With capitalism comes competion, which ultimately makes everyone enemeis and raises the stress level dramatically. And I also noticed that there are a lot of corporate robots...America is great country statistically....living in it is a whole other story. With that said, I wouldn't want to go to anywhere else, I feel this country has done wonders for my family and I am thankful. |
Capitalism is good for the west and bad for the east and other developing countires(bad for people who rely on the land to make thier living...which is a lot). Globalization is a killer, you dont even know how these companies run themselves overseas. You dont know about countless numbers of farmers who have commited suicide becuase they couldnt feed their childern due to capitalization. Capitlaism takes your life from being simple to being more complex. You dont live of the land anymore, you end up working for a company. You cant make a living by farming becuase the costs are high and dont even turn in a profit. The rich get richer while the poor waste their life making the rich get richer
Also a note about recycling plastic bottles. Where do you all think the plastic bottle we recycle end up? They end up in 3rd world/developing countires. Who brings them there? pepsico, coca-cola etc. On the bottles they sell in those countires there is no mention of recycling they just say "afer use crush the bottle". So where do these crushed bottles end up? out in the streets, rivers, streams, in the ocean and it adds to pollution. |
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| matt167698 |
| quote: | Originally posted by Taub
i have to agree with you 101.09%
When you travel you see how bad the american way of life is, but i am not saying the quality of life here is bad at all compared to others. But its that the stress level here is soo much higher than other places. I noticed this when i was in india, people are dirt poor but they are happy with what they have. They dont need the biggest house on the block, the fastest and most luxurious cars. They dont even have homes or own a car yet they are so much more happier than us and they are always smiling. I havent see any strangers on the street smile they all look pissed off.
Another thing is that when the electricity goes out for a couple of hours people here would bitch whine and complain about it, but when it happens in india all the time and they just light up a candle and go on with their business and they might not even get it back for couple of days. When the internet connection or the tv or their cell phone doesnt work people freak out as if it was the end of their life. We depend up on too many things to make our life easier and i think thats very bad. The more we rely on technology the more stupid we become. Who here even memorizes telephone #s? i doubt many
We have freedom in some ways but we really dont...we are like machines. We go to school for 18+ years and then we work for another 30+ years and look forward to retirment. I mean who wants to live like that??...most of us dont even take some time each day to just sit and relax to do nothing and then we wonder where all the time has gone or why they years are just pasing by.
I meet many europeans in Goa who work for 6 months then go to india and have a vaction for another 6 months. Who wouldnt want to do that? I woudlnt mind doing it
I understand we all have to work to make a living etc. But i rather make some money retire, go buy some land in brasil and live on the beach while working at a resturant. So simple
Capitalism sucks! |
I read this story a few years back and i figured i would share...
An American businessman stood at the pier of a small coastal village in Mexico, when a small boat carrying a lone Mexican fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The fisherman replied, “Only a little while.”
The American then asked, “If it took only a little while to catch these fine fish, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more fish?” The fisherman explained that this catch was enough to support his family's immediate needs.
The American then asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The fisherman replied, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, and stroll into the village each evening, where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, señor.”
The American scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats. Eventually, you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then L.A., and eventually New York City, where you would run your expanding enterprise.”
The fisherman asked, “But señor, how long will this all take?”
The American replied, “Fifteen to twenty years.”
“But what then, señor?” inquired the Mexican. The American laughed and said, “That's the best part. When the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions.”
“Millions, señor? Then what?” asked the Mexican.
The American said, “Why, then you would retire, of course—move to a small coastal fishing village where you could sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, and stroll into the village in the evenings, where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”
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I was actually re-reading this now and its funny because here we dont consider time alone or with friends as time-well spent. The only time we feel productive is when we're at work, which is good for our financial goals. but what about out emotional, spiritual, physical?? those all take a back seat to how much we have in the bank account or how flat our tv's are. |
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| Trance Addix |
| quote: | Originally posted by matt167698
I read this story a few years back and i figured i would share...
An American businessman stood at the pier of a small coastal village in Mexico, when a small boat carrying a lone Mexican fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The fisherman replied, “Only a little while.”
The American then asked, “If it took only a little while to catch these fine fish, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more fish?” The fisherman explained that this catch was enough to support his family's immediate needs.
The American then asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The fisherman replied, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, and stroll into the village each evening, where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, señor.”
The American scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats. Eventually, you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then L.A., and eventually New York City, where you would run your expanding enterprise.”
The fisherman asked, “But señor, how long will this all take?”
The American replied, “Fifteen to twenty years.”
“But what then, señor?” inquired the Mexican. The American laughed and said, “That's the best part. When the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions.”
“Millions, señor? Then what?” asked the Mexican.
The American said, “Why, then you would retire, of course—move to a small coastal fishing village where you could sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, and stroll into the village in the evenings, where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”
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I was actually re-reading this now and its funny because here we dont consider time alone or with friends as time-well spent. The only time we feel productive is when we're at work, which is good for our financial goals. but what about out emotional, spiritual, physical?? those all take a back seat to how much we have in the bank account or how flat our tv's are. |
I really like that story, makes me think. |
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| Blake |
| Nice story, though I wouldn't be so quick to bash capitalism. Sounds like this Mexican guy is, in a sense, living paycheck to paycheck... which is of course, no way to live. I definately do agree though that it's important to enjoy life and to not become completely consumed by any one thing. |
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| eltomas |
| I find it kind of hard to keep up with all the fricking music being constantly released...but is worth it |
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| Trance Addix |
| quote: | Originally posted by Blake
Nice story, though I wouldn't be so quick to bash capitalism. Sounds like this Mexican guy is, in a sense, living paycheck to paycheck... which is of course, no way to live. I definately do agree though that it's important to enjoy life and to not become completely consumed by any one thing. |
That is how he likes it...so that is HIS way to live. :toocool: |
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| wizniz |
| dude make time in your life to do absolutely nothing |
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| Miss Bliss |
| I would say life is pretty confusing right now, just like yours, Brian. :) |
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| Choobak |
| quote: | Originally posted by matt167698
I read this story a few years back and i figured i would share...
An American businessman stood at the pier of a small coastal village in Mexico, when a small boat carrying a lone Mexican fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The fisherman replied, “Only a little while.”
The American then asked, “If it took only a little while to catch these fine fish, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more fish?” The fisherman explained that this catch was enough to support his family's immediate needs.
The American then asked, “But what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The fisherman replied, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, and stroll into the village each evening, where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, señor.”
The American scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats. Eventually, you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then L.A., and eventually New York City, where you would run your expanding enterprise.”
The fisherman asked, “But señor, how long will this all take?”
The American replied, “Fifteen to twenty years.”
“But what then, señor?” inquired the Mexican. The American laughed and said, “That's the best part. When the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions.”
“Millions, señor? Then what?” asked the Mexican.
The American said, “Why, then you would retire, of course—move to a small coastal fishing village where you could sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, and stroll into the village in the evenings, where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”
..............................................................
I was actually re-reading this now and its funny because here we dont consider time alone or with friends as time-well spent. The only time we feel productive is when we're at work, which is good for our financial goals. but what about out emotional, spiritual, physical?? those all take a back seat to how much we have in the bank account or how flat our tv's are. |
Such a good story! I really wonder what it would be like to just worry about providing for your family and nothing else. Do we really need all these complications in our lives?
And +++1 to you Matt. Let's go to Goa and leave this behind! :toothless
... and this thread rocks by the way. I love talking/thinking about his stuff. |
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| Trancer-X |
| quote: | Originally posted by Trance Addix
I really like that story, makes me think. |
I thought about that several years ago, hence the reason I decided to become an entrepreneurial slacker.
I had a grandfather who had an international business with offices in Europe, South America and America. He started work in the mail room of that company and in the span of only about five years he somehow managed to buy the owners out. He was incredibly charasmatic and exceptionally intelligent, but he was really only driven by money and the power and prestige that it gave him. He had yachts, nice cars, a nice house with a pool in a beautiful section of Ft. Lauderdale, etc. When I was a kid I spent a lot of time on the water with my grandparents (my parents actually met at Lauderdale Yacht Club) and I know that I enjoyed it immensely. Deep sea fishing, frequent trips to Isla Morada and many of the keys, dozens of trips to Disney World, etc. - that was all so wonderful and yes I was very priviledged to be able to do so many things as a child.
But I never really got to know my grandfather. I was his first grandchild and I never even really got to develop a relationship with him. While I do have to admit that I was a little bastard, always looking for attention in all of the wrong places... I smeared vaseline all over the teak on the inside of his boat causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage, I shook up a can of coke, put it in his pocket and pulled the tab, I did a variety of things that made my mom think that I was going to get my little ass whooped by him. He would have killed anybody else. Amazingly, though, he usually just laughed it off. My mom could never understand it. She now thinks that's because he was just as mischievious when he was young and saw part of himself in me. He probably did. When he was 16 he tried to join the Marines at the beginning of WWII. He lied about his age by putting a $20 bill in his shoe - he then swore to God that he was over 20. He was about to get on the train to leave but as he was boarding it his mother, (a little German woman who obviously wasn't one to be messed with) who had tracked him down, grabbed him by the ear and forcefully made him come home. (He joined the Marines about a year later, anyway.) He was one hell of a man, but I look back and it kills me that I never really got to know him as a person. He was tough as nails, but he obviously had a heart because he cried for over a week when his third wife died of cancer. He was always good to me, and I know that he put up with a lot of (probably more) from my mother.
Well, my mom was practically the only one at his bedside when he finally died of cancer. He was too proud to let anyone see him in that state as he was originally a handsome, athletically built, 180lb man - who was finally reduced to an 85lb skeleton when he was on his deathbed. In a way I'm glad that I didn't have to see him like that - but on the other hand a part of me feels empty because I never even got to say goodbye to him. I did love him after all - I mean, I never really even understood what kind of a man he was until later on in my teens when I got to hear all of the stories from my mom and uncle and was able to put it all in perspective.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that here was a man that had just about everything that you could materially want outside of say your own jet or your own island - and he never even made the effort to actually develop a real relationship with his first born grandson. Even my mom was closer to her stepfather than she was to him, but we still spent a considerable amount of time at his place, doing nice things and having a good time - because he did invite us, after all. I look back on it now and I know that I had such a great time, but it hurts me inside because I know that he was really more worried about himself and his material success than he was about his family. Maybe he invited us there because he felt guilty? I will never know. I just know that he wasn't a very happy man probably because he was always looking for happiness in all of the wrong places - new houses, new boats, new cars, diamond studded Rolexes, new overseas offices for his company, etc. Having money pays the bills, buys new toys, etc., but it definitely doesn't buy a person happiness. I could go on and make an example of my other grandfather who I actually was extremely close to, but I'll be nice and spare you guys. My other grandfather's story was just about as sad, except that I'm lucky in that I did have a good relationship with him - but I was really one of the only people in his life who did.
Anyway, I'm sorry if I bored anyone with that, I guess I just kind of had to get that off my chest as I really never talk about those things with anyone.
matt167698 - I really enjoyed your post. It reminded me more or less of what my goals are in this life... (and no, it's not fishing.) I really have been trying to make some positive changes for a long time but have had difficulty determining exactly how to go about it. Sometimes it just takes a moment of clarity and then everything makes that much more sense.
I really hope people wake up because by looking at the way things are going now in our world, our children and our children's children aren't going to have much of a place in which to be able to live. I don't want to get too emotional, but it really does break my heart.
Sorry for the long post. |
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| Trancer-X |
Has anyone ever watched The Gods Must Be Crazy?
Those people were pretty damn happy until that freakin' Coke bottle landed in their village!
Some people are happy simply with what they have and don't need a lot of extraneous bullsh*t. |
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