You can't be jealous or envious.

[Artos]

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.

Bingo...only regret I have is not finishing college. Not sure I would be doing anything different, but looking back I missed out on an opportunity of memories / friends that are unknown now. I got a scholarship to play football at small college in Missouri, but got injured & my Dad was going through a divorce...he needed help & I wanted out.

My sister too got an accounting degree from Baylor that the entire family helped pay for...she is a stay at home Mom married to the best BIL one could ask for. Life is funny sometimes.

[Kdog]

There is always someone with more and someone with less! Rarely is anyone's life as great as it appears from the outside looking in. Well, maybe except for me! Merry Christmas Speedgoat!

Kevin

[A&M 90]

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!

I'd venture a guess that very few are jealous/envious of your success. Quite the opposite - we applaud it. You're grounded and genuine and there is no arrogance or brag about it. Likely, one of the reasons your hunting threads are so popular...there's a feeling of getting to experience something we otherwise probably never would without any pretentiousness.

[Limbwalker]

Great post and a great reminder to all of us.

We all have the option to "work harder" or work more, or whatever. Some work 2, 3 or even more jobs to afford the things they want or need.

But learning to be happy with what we have and live within our means is something EVERYONE in this country should strive to do. We would be in far better shape economically, emotionally and spiritually if we did.

I worked very hard to put myself through college. Not only did mom and dad not pay for it, but there was a time while I was going to school that I was actually helping my mom pay some of her bills. When I got married at 20, while still in school, I was actually working 4 jobs at one time. I got up at 3:00 a.m. to throw a paper route in Nac. for over 250 straight days one year - no days off. Yea, it was tough, but I knew it would lead to good things and those hours wouldn't last forever.

Early in my career, I had great success and had a lot of opportunities to move up. And I did. But at 35 years old, they were wanting me to move into the Washington office, and that's when it hit me. I realized that I was happiest living a modest life and having plenty of time to spend with my wife and kids and friends. To me, it was far more important to have the time to go fishing with my daughter, or go to one of our kid's games with my wife, or just be around the house on the weekends, than anything that happened at work.

Many folks in my business don't understand why I took a step back when I did. But most of those folks also are single (married to their careers), divorced, or don't know their kids very well.

I often see the "toys" guys here are buying and selling, and while I'm not jealous, I do often wonder just how much some people must make to be able to afford those things. I don't have any plans to ever have that kind of expendable income. Not how was raised, and I wouldn't be comfortable with it. To each their own.

I wish all of you a Blessed and Merry Christmas and may we all be innocent like the child we are awaiting.

John

[Artos]

I'd venture a guess that very few are jealous/envious of your success.

I guess I should say that I personally feel there is nothing wrong with being Jealous...I am happy for everyone who has success, owns their own ranches, planes, etc & am friends with many be it through working hard or inheritance. Am I little jealous?? Yeah, it would be great to be born into the lucky sperm club & think it's cool to have all the dirt & gadgets, but I would not trade places with any of them. I'm happy with my own & don't want to trade problems with any person!! I am also a bit jealous of those who have served & sometimes wish I had that experience in my memories...so not necessarily a bad thing.



Envy on the other hand, is where you wish / dislike those same people & hope they would fail because you don't have the same success / valuables. Envy is a sin.



~~~~~~~~~~~~

Edit...great post John!!

[TigerBob]

Great advice here. Money is only a small part of a very complex equation that gives us balance and happiness in life. There are some very happy and satisfied people that work hard their entire lives and don't make much at all, and there are some very miserable people that are rich as all get out. The key is perspective and being thankful for what you do have.

[boh347]

This is a great thread. I don't get jealous really, I just get real greedy. Like I can't get enough money to buy useless junk that doesn't mean anything. I need to be more appreciate of what I have and stop wanting more.

[Speedgoat]

This is a great thread. I don't get jealous really, I just get real greedy. Like I can't get enough money to buy useless junk that doesn't mean anything. I need to be more appreciate of what I have and stop wanting more.

If you figure out how to do that please let me know. I have wanted property my whole life and something always kills the opportunity.

[Limbwalker]

If you figure out how to do that please let me know. I have wanted property my whole life and something always kills the opportunity.

^^^ This. I sometimes feel like I will never own an acre of ground my entire life.

Dad lost our family land to the bank, Grandmother had to sell the land she promised us grandsons to pay for medical bills... and so on.

If there is one thing I'm guilty of being jealous of, it's of people who were given land by their parents or relatives. Those who worked and bought their own - I'm happy for them. But the "lucky sperm" crowd (as someone put it) who gets land handed to them... that one is tough for me and keeps me praying hard.

[TxAg]

This is an interesting thread....just goes to show that we're all different. I just don't ever find myself being jealous. I am genuinely happy for people when they succeed.

@Docmay...love your hunting threads. Keep sharing!

[nursejenn]

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.

I will respectfully disagree. Your chosen career is anything but mediocre. It takes special people to be able to do what you do. I, along with my family, thank you and your family for your sacrifices. Have a Merry Christmas and God bless!

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!

Doc definitely puts things in perspective. Merry Christmas Doc!

You're grounded and genuine and there is no arrogance or brag about it. Likely, one of the reasons your hunting threads are so popular...there's a feeling of getting to experience something we otherwise probably never would without any pretentiousness.

^^^ What he said (I wish there was a nodding smiley because that's what I was doing the entire time I was reading this)

[woodsman]

Agreed. This IS a great thread. Money is not evil, but loving it is. But it is a great tool that can better our own lives as well as those around us.

Everyday I have to reconcile my heart to focus on Kingdom work, and let the chips fall where they may in 'my own kingdom'. It's a daily challenge. Note to self: this life is fleeting and terminal; eternity is not.

Thanks Speedgoat. Merry Christmas guys and gals!

[Atfulldraw]

This is an interesting thread....just goes to show that we're all different. I just don't ever find myself being jealous. I am genuinely happy for people when they succeed.

@Docmay...love your hunting threads. Keep sharing!

agreed.

I love seeing the threads where someone finally gets that land they have been wanting, or new job threads, or even big deer threads.

I think that is because most of the time, it works like it should around here -- people work hard, save and get to spend their earnings on the things they enjoy and spending time doing what they love.

Personally, I wouldn't trade my problems for anyone else's.

[Eric Pence]

My Two Boys and my Wife have made me a rich man...I have all the money I want to Hunt and the Best Home-life I could have ever dreamed of....I am a rich man

[AtTheWall]

Give it time Matt, you will realize wearing that Uniform, serving your country, engaging missions on the world's stage, those who never did, can never use all the money in the world, to gain those memories and or experiences!

You work with the best PROFESSIONAL TEAM ON THE PLANET! A team, that has no worry about money, status and or titles......it's a TEAM, A BAND OF BROTHERS, EARNED only by those who can CUT THE MUSTARD to get there.

I have an outlook, that has carried me forward through some pretty rough...CIVILIAN mode times......that outlook is simple and put's it all into perspective for me:

"At least I'm not pulling dead bodies out of the water for a living anymore."

When you least expect it, you will get rewarded. A point in life, where you least expect the sudden outcome, it comes to you as a gift.

You paid some dues Amigo, and will continue to pay these dues but, it's folks like you and your kind, that do it over and over and over again for nothing. The driver, you stand shoulder to shoulder with those like you, pulling your weight for the rest of us, that have no comprehension what that world within, really is.

Hold your head high, you have nothing to be ashamed of!

Thanks for your service Amigo!

Doors will open and good things come, to those who give it from the heart!