Virtures and Modern Entitlement

I thought I would revisit this an dedicate a certain amount of time each day or week to post something on here.  I haven't since February of 2014 so we will see how far this goes.  What has me on here today is a culmination of things, all of which I am sure will come out or be referred to in some way in the upcoming entries.

Recently I have been overwhelmed with the feeling of having my proverbial wheels spinning leaving me impatient and frustrated. 

I seem to be anxious for everything; running races has ended for this year so I have time off to hike and do other activities, but I am anxious for snow so I can ski.  I put a budget together and see the end goal of being debt free is not that far off but when I realize that's not going to happen by the end of the month, I feel like spending all the money I have right now as I don't want to make sacrifices now. 

AH!  When they added patience as a virtue they were obviously not aware as to how selfish and needy humans could become.

I say that because I am complaining of things I shouldn't be.  I am healthy, fit, have a great group of family and friends.  I have an excellent job and live in an amazing neighborhood.  The issue is the sense of entitlement.  I feel the right to have everything NOW!  Not in a few weeks, not in a month and hell no not in a couple years.  The generation that preceded mine,  my generation and those that follow have a sense of entitlement and having the lack or not a speck of patience.

I'll speak for myself; objects mean little to me.  Go into my apartment and there are more books than electronics or items on display.  I have no need for things to fill "space".  I have a truck that is slightly beyond my needs but I justify it each and every time I put gear in it and head to the mountains.  The only thing I truly want in this world is to play outside, travel and have the gear to do so...I spend more on gear and hiking clothing than I do on anything else in my life. 

So my point?  I am not impatient to get things that are beyond my means like replacing things that I can do with out or to go out and wine and dine each weekend.  I focus on the things that make me happy.  When I start to lose focus on what makes me happy each day, going for a run, hitting the climbing gym, talking with friends....I start to get overwhelmed and feel that things are not coming quick enough for me.  It takes me a few days or even a weak or two at times to realize I am in control of making each day fun and finding moments of happiness where I can. 

We can't be happy every single moment of the day as that is not possible....but if we shove our head in the sand because we'd rather feel sorry for ourselves, it will make for very depressing and sad days...and in the end you'll never meet the bigger goals you are striving for. 

I am 38, my parent's just went to a friend of the families funeral after he passed unexpectedly...he was 41.  Makes me realize that enjoying each moment and what we have and those we have around us, is worth being patient and present for.

Forts


(picture from steamgifts.com)