“What do you want to be when you grow up?” A doctor? A lawyer? A graphic designer? A business owner? Remember we usually said the answers those around us insisted on, “.... a lawyer, yeah a lawyer.” No one says a janitor. A maid. A waiter/waitress. A construction worker. Why? Is it just about the money? Oh no wait, prestige and social status, that’s right. Now I’m 30 years old, and you ask me the popular question, “Andrea, where do you see yourself in five years?” I don’t know but I sure know I don’t want to treat people like a means to an end, like a mechanical machine only useful for their function, like a puppet, a robot that just nods and does what is asked of them. I love writing and the arts but once it is done for money, pressure and demand kick in, where eventually people write what people want to read, and I don’t want to fall into that temptation. The temptation of adjusting everything to what majority prefers. I’d rather write from my heart and never be recognized, than be a famous writer masquerading what I truly feel for the sake of approval. So to make my money I want to do any job where I don’t tell people what to do. In other words, I don’t want to hold a position of authority. If you’re too nice, or don’t have expectations, people relax and then eventually you have to go back to reward and punishment to get people to do what you want. I don’t want to sell things because then I feel fake in only speaking to someone to get them to buy, but not giving them any of my time later because, “time is money” and I’ll be looking for more promising prospects. I don’t want to flip houses or buy low, sell high because I feel fake seeing construction workers doing the job no one wants to do, yet making the least amount, while the ones making the deal and the negotiations make the greater profit. “What do you want to be in the future Andrea?” Anything where in my job I don’t treat people as a means to an end. Where for five minutes I have a genuine conversation with someone expecting nothing, and asking for nothing, just pure genuine interest in their person and experiences. Not a conversation as a means to promotion and marketing. This world does function with money. We are born into this world we have to adjust to and didn’t pick for ourselves. And we do need money to survive. I hope I don’t hypocritically change in the future for the sake of money and the fear the race for survival can bring about. Sometimes I wonder what it would be to be a truly genuine person. I wish I could be one, but then there are my desires, my selfishness, my desire to survive, and my willingness to mold myself as my authorities prefer for... money... for... survival... for... the avoidance of painful consequences I don’t want to bear. I always fantasize of that illusion... of being genuine, completely genuine. The way I write is a small attempt towards that illusion, that fantasy that I wish I could say I was. Genuine. Fearless. I’ll nod my head instead. I hate arguments.
I believe it's also called [i]integrity.[/i] At least that's what I strive for in my life, and much of what you expressed here resonates within me.
That's why I failed when I tried a telemarketing job. I was fired for being "too nice". At the end of the day I can rest my head knowing that I have treated someone else the way I want to be treated, not pressuring and/or conning someone into buying something they don't really want or need just so that I can earn a buck or two.
Living life with those values does indeed make you special, [c=#359E00]Specialyouare[/c]. Sounds like you had an encounter with Yoda, who commented on your character. 😊
