Dreams + Goals Achieved = Contentment
My friend Ed asked me on one of his comments in my latest blog, “Have you found what you’re looking for in life?”
To me, there’s not a simple yes or no answer to this question. This is a subjective thing. Someone might say, “I’ll be happy when I have a million dollars in the bank!” There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.
People who know me will attest to the fact that I’m basically a simple person; some may even think I’m a slacker. You see, I don’t need much to make me happy.
When I graduated from college, I was not a lost soul but I didn’t really know what I was going to do with my life. Then I had the chance to join the U.S. Navy and I figured, hey, this is something that a lot of people in the Philippines dream about. There was all kinds of poverty in the country and here I was being paid in dollars. So I was happy.
I got married, we’re in love and I have to admit she’s a great catch. I was 23, married with a pretty decent job having the opportunity to travel the world! What more could I ask for? She gave me three wonderful boys, that’s what! I was indeed blessed! Got out of the service after a stint each in Yokosuka, Japan and New Orleans, Louisiana and then we moved westward.
We lived in an apartment in Montebello for four years. We’ve gotten pay raises through the years; Donna got her LVN so we were barely able to afford to move in to a small house in Norwalk. She made RN, shifted work into dialysis, a lot less stress, more pay and less time away from the house. Life was great! Then we came up with a little inheritance money and we got an Eldorado. We were feeling no pain at that point.
You see all of the above are accomplishments and/or dreams which came true for me if you will, that I’ve considered as highlights in which I thought I’ve found what I’m looking for each time an event is achieved.
Eph is pretty much settled looking forward to his wedding in October. I just talked with Reg from Japan and he’s happy where he is. Dan, well he’s a work in progress but I’m sure he’ll be ok.
There were a couple of scary months after we’ve decided to go and retire early. But to go back to Ed’s question, I thought I was happy when I graduated from college, etc. but this retirement thing is just unimaginable for me! This was not even in my plans. Yet Donna and I are here pretty much retired at age 53, so Ed I give you a resounding, “Yes I’ve found what I’m looking for and then some!” I'm pretty confident, the rest will be icing on the cake!
To me, there’s not a simple yes or no answer to this question. This is a subjective thing. Someone might say, “I’ll be happy when I have a million dollars in the bank!” There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.
People who know me will attest to the fact that I’m basically a simple person; some may even think I’m a slacker. You see, I don’t need much to make me happy.
When I graduated from college, I was not a lost soul but I didn’t really know what I was going to do with my life. Then I had the chance to join the U.S. Navy and I figured, hey, this is something that a lot of people in the Philippines dream about. There was all kinds of poverty in the country and here I was being paid in dollars. So I was happy.
I got married, we’re in love and I have to admit she’s a great catch. I was 23, married with a pretty decent job having the opportunity to travel the world! What more could I ask for? She gave me three wonderful boys, that’s what! I was indeed blessed! Got out of the service after a stint each in Yokosuka, Japan and New Orleans, Louisiana and then we moved westward.
We lived in an apartment in Montebello for four years. We’ve gotten pay raises through the years; Donna got her LVN so we were barely able to afford to move in to a small house in Norwalk. She made RN, shifted work into dialysis, a lot less stress, more pay and less time away from the house. Life was great! Then we came up with a little inheritance money and we got an Eldorado. We were feeling no pain at that point.
You see all of the above are accomplishments and/or dreams which came true for me if you will, that I’ve considered as highlights in which I thought I’ve found what I’m looking for each time an event is achieved.
Eph is pretty much settled looking forward to his wedding in October. I just talked with Reg from Japan and he’s happy where he is. Dan, well he’s a work in progress but I’m sure he’ll be ok.
There were a couple of scary months after we’ve decided to go and retire early. But to go back to Ed’s question, I thought I was happy when I graduated from college, etc. but this retirement thing is just unimaginable for me! This was not even in my plans. Yet Donna and I are here pretty much retired at age 53, so Ed I give you a resounding, “Yes I’ve found what I’m looking for and then some!” I'm pretty confident, the rest will be icing on the cake!
posted by reyjay @ 8:12 PM
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