Do you constantly look forward

[Calgary Flames]

My childhood up until 15 or 16 was the shinguards... It gets to me sometimes. But i've learned to always be in the moment, you can't change the past and the future is unknown so why think about it? I just have a general plan for life and that's it.

As of now it's: Being a die hard Flames fan, waiting for school, do my best once i'm at school. I have very tentative plans to move to Oahu in a year, even if it's temporary it'd be worth a year out of my life.

Aside from that, I let the chips fall where they may.

[Resolute 14]

I'm somewhat the same way. I've learned many times over that life generally is a battle of attrition, and if you let things get to you, you are going to lose that battle pretty quickly.

I've learned to live moment to moment, and to enjoy the simple things in life. Quite simply, if I hadn't done that, I would have had nothing to enjoy, and probably would not have made it out of high school.

[Tron_fdc]

Jesus fotze you're pregnant?!?!?!

Every morning I look forward to eating my kimchi soup at 10:30. Then I look forward to 4:30. Then I look forward to Friday and pint night. Then on Saturday I look forward to funday Sunday. Then on Monday I look forward to Friday.

When I'm not living my life on a week by week basis , I look forward to my vacation I've been planning, or to payday. That happens every 2 weeks and makes Tron happy.

I'm a simple, simple man......

[JiriHrdina]

I've had the same conversation with people in the past. The younger you are the more excited you get about stuff. Its tougher as an adult to get that feeling of anticipation. I miss it.

That being said, my decision to switch careers has given me an entire new pile of stuff to look forward too. Prior to that decision I was feeling rather down about not having something like that.

[Tron_fdc]

Now you have me thinking. I'm 30 and will probably die in 60 yrs. I've lived 1/3 of my life.

Now I want to get drunk and forget the things I don't look forward to.

Thanks a**hole

[Tron_fdc]

We're not that old you know.....I only just started using "Just for Men"; have you seen the commercials? I get ALL the ladies now! fata, I grew a beard last week and noticed all the grey hair on my chin. What the fata is that? Thanks mom, for those RAD genetics.

Yep, I'm pretty happy with my job. It sucked ASS about 10 yrs ago, but has been pretty good the last few. Pays alright as well. It's not as exotic as you think though; I was in VEGREVILLE last week. I get to go to REGINA tomorrow, and maybe PRINCE GEORGE next week.

woo.

[Cowperson]

Any of you oldtimers have some sage advice on this neverending quest to nowhere. And don't say 'stop to smell the roses'.

I was talking to a 79 year-old guy today . . . . "I have to be realistic, I probably have 10 years, tops, to live . . . . . " he said.

My elderly aunt died yesterday after a long and fruitful life of family, farm and God.

Time will pass whether you're wringing your hands or not, whether you're getting those "must do" things done or not, whether you're enjoying your family or not, whether you're seeing the world or not . . . . . the clock keeps ticking, the years go by faster.

Relax dude . . . . . stop and smell the roses.



Cowperson

[Cube Inmate]

Man, you seem like the most balanced person in the world, Cow... would you agree?

[Shawnski]

Work, so you don't have to anymore....
Love, so you can live....
Live, so you can enjoy life....
Enjoy life, so you don't get cranky and p*ss the rest of us off.

[Vulcan]

When my girlfriend at the time told me she was pregnant, it was also a time to take stock of the situation. I found that children kind of brought me back to my own childhood and it was a good time of my life.

[Tron_fdc]

I agree with Cowperson.

About 6 years ago my grandpa proclaimed he had 2 years to live (he was 80). Ever since then he's convinced himself he's senile (he absolutely is NOT) and sits inside all day watching soaps and watching the clock wind down. He's a multi millionaire, and why he isn't out throwing money around and getting shinguardfaced in Vegas is beyond me.....because that is what I would do.

Then I came across an oldtimer that was 92, and had just sunk a pile of money into a new shop to fix his farm equipment. "Where the hell else am I supposed to fix my machinery?" was his response when asked why, at his age he would do something like that.

[Cube Inmate]

I was under the impression you already had a kid Fotze....

A buddy of mine accidentally had one with his now-wife, and apparently it gives you a whole new meaning to living in the "now" instead of the future.

[Eddie Bronze]

I try to live "in the moment" so as to whatever is going on right now, that's what I'm focused on. I do have goals for the future, ie - buy a place instead of renting; and plans like going to 40 or so Flames games this year, and going home for Christmas, but no, I'm not waiting for any of that to happen. It will happen when the time comes.

[Calgary Flames]

Originally posted by Eddie Bronze@Jul 21 2005, 10:18 PM
I try to live "in the moment" so as to whatever is going on right now, that's what I'm focused on. I do have goals for the future, ie - buy a place instead of renting; and plans like going to 40 or so Flames games this year, and going home for Christmas, but no, I'm not waiting for any of that to happen. It will happen when the time comes.

Yep yep. I'm the same. Although when you've spent a big chunk of your life worrying, or ruminating in the past or overly anticipating the future it can be a hard thing to figure out. But once you get there, everything is all good.

Like Cowperson says, stop and smell the roses.

Good thread.

[Crazy Flamer]

I think a lot of life comes down to balance, walking that thin line. Its good to have ambitions and goals. They give you motivation to go further in life. But at the same time, I think you have to stop once in a while and enjoy the things you have already accomplished. Enjoy what you have, but don't let it stop you from getting more.

[Flames_Gimp]

Originally posted by Tron_fdc@Jul 21 2005, 08:04 PM
We're not that old you know.....I only just started using "Just for Men"; have you seen the commercials? I get ALL the ladies now!

cuz "No play for Mr. Grey!"

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally posted by fotze@Jul 21 2005, 07:09 PM
University is over, you get your job then you look forward to marriage and promotions and travelling and such.

IMO this is where most people go wrong.

Too many people settle for shinguard jobs that they will be doing for way too long. Then they get married, and raise a family so the crap job isn't on their mind as much and things are ok. They're happy about their families so work feels like it's worthwhile.
Eventually the wifey will fail to consistantly satisfy, your kids will give you shinguard and home will no longer be the safe haven it once was. At this point you remember how crap job is and have what is commonly referred to as a mid life crises.
Once you have a family, it is too difficult to focus on yourself. Because of this, many people do not fulfill their personal goals and it comes back to bite them after years and years of the same crap.

Personally, I am determined to get myself into a position in life and a job that I will enjoy doing for the next 30-40 years before I even think about raising a family and getting trapped.
Do not let your family be the only thing you really have to live for.

[V]

Man, I disagree with what you wrote on soooo many levels.

I'm married. Have been for 5 years. I have one daughter, just over a year old.

Dude, before I got married I didn't really have much inspiration or motivation. I went through the motions, got good grades, got an engineering diploma from the U, but none of it really meant anything to me.

Once I got married I finally had a reason to reach these goals. Do I ever feel trapped? Sometimes. There's bills to pay, mouths to feed, people to satisfy, and sometimes it becomes overwhelming, but the good times far outweigh the bad if you've got something good going on at home. Man, watching that kid get excited every day that I come home from work will beat anything I ever experienced before she was born. There are times she's a little monster, and I'm sure those times will continue for another 50 years, but the good times always, always outweigh the bad if you've got the right focus. Marry the woman you love, build a good home and that home will always be your safe haven. Maybe my marriage is still too green to speak with authority on the subject, but I learned all the important lessons from my own family, and there it was always a safe haven for everyone involved.

Some people don't need to have dependants to feel worthwhile, I'm sure. But I sure know it helped me become a far better person.

As a reply to the original post, if it's late at night and I'm going over the books, I'm always thinking about the next goal. I've bought a house, so now the next goal is to buy a second house. I'm sure after that it'll be to buy another one, or something bigger than what I've already got. I'm never completely satisfied. But when I'm sitting at home, playing with the kid, there's nothing on my mind but the here and now.

[Clarkey]

This is depressing. I'm caught in the same thing, but I'm at the finishing university stage.

I'll probably get a job in the oil patch. It will probably pay not too bad. I might even not mind it. But it won't end up being what I really want to do. But then I'll realize this too late and I'll be afraid to give up a good salary for change. I'll get married and feel the need to support my family/keep up with the Jones'.

I'm afraid things won't be too bad but they won't be great either. Just good. That's probably more than most can expect but it doesn't really seem to cut it.

I need to find that dream job. I guess that's the looking to the future crap again.

[shoestring]

Do what you love. The money will follow.

A quote from somewhere,I have seen it in practise.

Grab ahold of your situation and transform it.
On a side note have you read the book where the writer
exposes the self-help bunch?