You can't be jealous or envious.

[Speedgoat]

Is your friend Docmay?

Lol, no

[TimH]

But what if I want to blame someone else for what I don't have?

[Jayt22]

I have a friend that went to school and became a doctor. He makes huge money. He also hunts and kills every animal I ever dreamed about. He is living his dream. I used to wish I had that. The fact is, I could have. For one reason or another I never took that chance and instead, I settled into mediocrity and comfort. I have no right to covet what he has. When I struggle it sure makes it hard. When I see guys on here showing their success it really makes it hard. We make our own happiness and our own dreams. If you ain't living yours you can only be mad at you.

Right on!

[BrandonA]

Matt, I am envious of you and those that served. I have been blessed in so many ways through out my career and life. I have hunted places and killed bucks that many dream about and thankful for each and everyone of them . I was fortunate for the opportunity to go to college and graduate with a BBA in finance. At 40 yrs old I look back and wish I could have served, like you, like my brother and father and my grandfathers. Asthma kept me from it but I do regret I wasn't able according to Uncle Sam. That's my regret and one thing I wish I could have done.

[Sleepy]

Amen. I've had some major changes over the last year. A little over a year and a half ago, I was single for the last 7 years, traveling the country with work, making good money that I was able to put back, but also get pretty much whatever I wanted when I wanted. I think I had people that envied me, but I was never one to boast, or talk about it. Hell, I never told anyone what I made, and if asked, I just told them it was good and it was enough.

In the last year and a half I met my wife, got married, but not only did I marry my wife, I married her 7 year old daughter. I also have my own daughter on the way. In March, I got a promotion so to speak to work out of our office instead of being out in the field anymore. Im home every night. What happened though, was I lost all of my overtime by taking the position. Its crazy to see how big of a difference that overtime makes. While yes, we struggle at times, and things can be real tight, I don't get to buy things for myself much anymore, BUT, Im happier now than I ever was when I THOUGH I was ruling the roost. I look at it now, I had material things, but now, I have a loving family that I don't ever want to live without. You can't put a price on that. Money can make things easier, but it don't make y happy.

If I wanted to, I could go back out and make bigger money again, but I choose not to, because its not everything anymore. Ive been blessed throughout the years, and I always try to look at things as in, "it could be worse". It keeps ya going.

[docmay]

Speedgoat, I am one of those guys that spent a little extra time studying and worked a little harder to get through med school. I come from middle class roots. My parents payed for my college but I worked during that time to have some extra cash. That is all I was "given." I live a life and do things I never dreamed I would be able to do. I make a great living but not sure I would call it huge money. I know many people who make my income look pretty small. Sometimes I get jealous of those guys but then I realize I do almost everything I want and have a job I enjoy every day. I get to deliver babies, help people and become an important part of their lives. What could be better than that? I do try to give back to the community and my patients in any way I can. Don't feel bad about jealousy, it happens. Use that as fuel to work harder and embrace the blessings you have. I am truly happy but it took a long time to get here. At times I become envious of the guys on here with beautiful wives and kids. I very well may never have that. No money will ever be able to give me a child or wife. I am ok with that if it never happens, tried marriage once and failed miserably. All I can say is be happy for your friend and make yourself the best man you can be. I hope my ramblings make sense. Merry Christmas!

[expressfish]

The less you need the happier you will be.

this has crossed my mind, I'm pretty sure we could live with less than we have now

[Tx_Wader]

Richard Cory

Whenever Richard Cory went down town,
We people on the pavement looked at him:
He was a gentleman from sole to crown,
Clean favored, and imperially slim.

And he was always quietly arrayed,
And he was always human when he talked;
But still he fluttered pulses when he said,
'Good-morning,' and he glittered when he walked.

And he was rich - yes, richer than a king -
And admirably schooled in every grace:
In fine, we thought that he was everything
To make us wish that we were in his place.

So on we worked, and waited for the light,
And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;
And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,
Went home and put a bullet through his head.

[scubasteven25]

Good words of advice for everyone. Thanks.

[bowtechbandit]

once heard an old farmer tell me "money cant buy happiness.... but it sure can cause a lot of misery" To me its all about living within your means, lots of people don't understand that anymore! life gets a lot better if you can ever grasp the fact that everything we have is not ours anyway.. its simply what the Lord has blessed us with. everything we have is because of him and he has trusted us to be good stewards of it.

Philippians 4:11-13

[Artos]

I am in between gigs right now and turned down some really good offers because it simply was either not worth it to me (working in Mexico again) or in a sales type position where you work 6-7 days a week. I've done both of those already. NOT!!

No way could I have been a Dr...everything sick & hospitals just gives me the heebie-jeebies. My son however thinks he wants to be one & simply for the money. He is young & I'm encouraging him to strive to do what makes him happy, be it a dr or plumber...IMO you need to wake up every day & be happy with your work 90%+ of the time, or stress becomes part of your life.

I cannot tell you how upset I was at first when they eliminated the entire outside sales force when I had worked 2 years to land a $5 Million+ opportunity & was just starting to smell the rewards in my wallet. My boss tried to save my job, but the bean counters said no. After about two weeks, I realized even without employment how much more I was enjoying my days. The stress of dealing with Mexico & my out of touch / mad at the world manager was eating at me. Looks like I finally may have the perfect gig in sights & already got a preliminary offer...if it all works out, I'll start in Jan. Won't make as much as the other offers but I'll basically be working from home, company vehicle & not micro managed.

Life is good...Merry Christmas!! And many many Thanks for your service!!

[txdukklr]

the great thing is you defended the ability for all of us to want and get what we're willing to work for. I appreciate your sentiment . . . . the point is not to have less and thats better . . . .it's to be thankful for what you have and not be jealous of those who do.

End of the day I appreciate you man . . . .thank you for what you've sacrificed for all of us to live the American dream.

[elgato]

To me, the greatest gift we have is we get to choose the meanings to our perceptions.

May we all choose love, joy happiness, giving and forgiveness in our lives.

Merry Christmas everyone

[Speedgoat]

To me, the greatest gift we have is we get to choose the meanings to our perceptions.

May we all choose love, joy happiness, giving and forgiveness in our lives.

Merry Christmas everyone

Amen. Merry Christmas.

[docmay]

I am in between gigs right now and turned down some really good offers because it simply was either not worth it to me (working in Mexico again) or in a sales type position where you work 6-7 days a week. I've done both of those already. NOT!!

No way could I have been a Dr...everything sick & hospitals just gives me the heebie-jeebies. My son however thinks he wants to be one & simply for the money. He is young & I'm encouraging him to strive to do what makes him happy, be it a dr or plumber...IMO you need to wake up every day & be happy with your work 90%+ of the time, or stress becomes part of your life.

I cannot tell you how upset I was at first when they eliminated the entire outside sales force when I had worked 2 years to land a $5 Million+ opportunity & was just starting to smell the rewards in my wallet. My boss tried to save my job, but the bean counters said no. After about two weeks, I realized even without employment how much more I was enjoying my days. The stress of dealing with Mexico & my out of touch / mad at the world manager was eating at me. Looks like I finally may have the perfect gig in sights & already got a preliminary offer...if it all works out, I'll start in Jan. Won't make as much as the other offers but I'll basically be working from home, company vehicle & not micro managed.

Life is good...Merry Christmas!! And many many Thanks for your service!!

If you become a doctor for the title and money then you will more than likely be miserable. To me, medicine is a calling. If it is what you were meant to do them nothing else will satisfy or fulfill you. My sister has a four year accounting degree and is very successful. She makes more than I do and it took a lot less time and effort to get there. You have to find the life that makes you happy and then live it to the fullest.