For my life grade.... I'd say B. If I had a healthy knee and elbow then I'd bump it up to an A. It sucks dealing with pain everyday that said I can't complain about too much in my life.
I'd say a B- Never been as happy as I am right now with family, career, and life in general. But it's taken a LOT to get here. My one regret is not taking college seriously. I really should have studied more and partied less. I should have aimed higher than just getting by and graduating. Probably shouldn't have chosen music as my major either, looking back. Should have gone with something more practical like accounting, business, etc. It would have made the last 20 years a LOT easier for me. But all's well that ends well I suppose.
Great thread topic. And I can relate to everything you wrote...I've got a friend who is also obsessed with money...smart guy, but he feels he's competing with everyone else around him (which, to certain extents, is true) and wants a high salary ($5 mil+) because he feels he is capable (which is commendable). I asked why he felt he needed to have so much money when one could live a very comfortable life for less than half that amount (he's not even into flashy cars or material stuff)...his response: "I don't want someone else to have it." Anyway, I think we agree in the idea that there should be some type of contribution to better society during one's lifetime -- not everyone will agree...there's many that just "live life" (which I think is fine in moderation, but I've encountered many who, in my opinion, abuse this "philosophy", are quite selfish, and don't [care to] do much for people around them). I'm kind of an all or nothing kind of person. I'd give myself a B, maybe B-...I've experienced some cool things, completed a Master's degree and have lived in Europe for a couple of years, but I've got high standards for myself in what I want to accomplish personally and professionally. I've had my share of medical issues in the past which held me back more mentally than physically...I could use a little push to get things done, but I'm more positive than I had been. Next few months should either be real exciting...or really disappointing. Just need to keep moving to get things done.
my parents made me go to public school in W. Africa. The only oyibo @ Emotan Secondary School...there, as a 2nd grader i realised how fortunate i was. I've witnessed enough misery firsthand to fully appreciate my existence. Forget financial success, forget cool experiences & interesting friends...I LIVE! A+ gave myself the (+) for maintaining an incredibly close & loving bond w/the only person who has witnessed my life, my older brother. He knows & was a part of all the events that shaped my life. We look at each other everyday at work & fully appreciate the fact that nobody else (not his wife, our parents...nobody) will ever really know us as intimately as we do - i guard this relationship with my life.
How you grade your life depends almost entirely on your own expectations. A great life for some maybe ****ty for others. It's all about perspectives.
Some people dont know how good we have it here. You may live in a ****ty house or drive a ****ty car, but hey, you have water, and electricity and a ****ing door.
I remember one of my classmate's older brother dying from a fall. He'd been studying late nights for a test that, if he scored well on, would provide him w/funds to continue his education (meaning continue to high school) - since they had no electricity, Etel (Etelbert) would climb up one of the street lamps on the main road & do his reading/studying...one night he slipped, fractured his skull & died. I invited them once to our house & i remember him, a middle schooler, jumping into the pool (not knowing how to swim) & telling his little brother "de (the) displacement of de wata is equal to de weight of de object" - I didn't understand it at the time (2nd grader) but i knew enough to realise how much sharper this kid was than the expatriates his age. Plus, he wanted to earn it! What a shame...bless you Etel.
Jd88 Isnt that like telling a one legged man he's lucky he has arms. Its relative. Off the subject but sorta related
I guess you're trying to be funny. Similar to Daedalus, I've seen what it's like in other poor countries. Nobody in the US ought to be complaining, that's for damn sure. ...and of course relative to almost all Americans I'm doing very well (more than just financially of course)
I would give myself a B or a B+. I have a wonderful wife and a wonderful son. I make good money and so does my wife. I wish we would have had another kid but that time has passed. And I wish we travel more but now that school is over for my wife we're beginning to do that. But overall I'm very content. And as others have said, it's all relative. As long as you're happy.
A+++. Believing in God, wife is amazing, kid is tolerable, crazy good parents, being an entrepreneur who's trying to build cool stuff... I can't ask for more.
