Formerly SK
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 27, 2011 14:23:13 GMT -5
Posts: 3,255
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Post by Formerly SK on Sept 5, 2012 15:46:00 GMT -5
My world is limited by my sense of work ethic. If we get some free time, I immediately think of a house project that should get done. DH immediately thinks of hauling the kids to the river (or somewhere else that is fun). In many many cases I can see where organizing the bathroom closet or weeding the backyard is not as important as spending an afternoon exploring our city. Yet I can't seem to help myself. Finances also limit us. I would LOVE to travel more or do more things locally, but we have to watch every penny. Sure it would be great to go to an Ethiopian or Peruvian restaurant, but since we're watching our money we basically don't eat out unless circumstances somewhat force it to happen - and that ends up being Chipotle or something. I have some friends who are pretty much the opposite of us - they do fun stuff every day and their house/cars are always a disaster. They eat at restaurants 5x/wk and every weekend they are off doing something. They buy their DD everything she wants. They travel internationally 1-2x/yr. I admit I wonder if their way is better than mine. Certainly their DD is much more worldly than my kids. Think of yourself on your deathbed, looking back at your life. Would you rather be pleased that you explored the world, tasted everything from the buffet of life, had fun, or would you prefer to revel in the fact that your closets were organized? I know I know I know...logically I totally agree with you. Emotionally, though, I get stressed by all the Things That Need To Be Done and if I don't tackle the list the day feels like a big waste. But I get the sense that I'm too extreme and I need to lighten up. I just don't know how to find that middle ground.
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Sum Dum Gai
Senior Associate
Joined: Aug 15, 2011 15:39:24 GMT -5
Posts: 19,892
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Post by Sum Dum Gai on Sept 5, 2012 15:49:57 GMT -5
Oh, I just thought of another one. I've never had a close friend, family member or whatever that was mentally or physically challenged. My mom was an elementary special ed teacher for several years, and I tutored a couple of her kids while I was also in elementary school, but that's my only real exposure to those realities, and obviously it wasn't much. I have no idea what they, and their families, really go through.
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susanb
Well-Known Member
Joined: Jun 21, 2012 14:16:56 GMT -5
Posts: 1,430
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Post by susanb on Sept 5, 2012 17:22:33 GMT -5
Traveling is great, but my experiences living abroad limited me in many ways for quite some time.
I spent most of my twenties living abroad. I didn't have television the entire time and only had internet the last 6 months. When I cam back I had no idea what people were talking about during any pop culture references. Seriously. I didn't know who Jessica Alba was. I wasn't familiar with any television show that had aired for nearly a decade. Many expats talk about reverse culture shock being a more difficult adjustment than culture shock, in part because you don't expect it.
My work with ESL students gives me a wider view of a broad group, both ethnically and financially in my city.
However, I am unaware of the experiences of urban black people in this country, particularly poor urban black people.
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Deleted
Joined: May 18, 2024 20:16:48 GMT -5
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2012 17:23:27 GMT -5
My world is limited by my sense of work ethic. If we get some free time, I immediately think of a house project that should get done. DH immediately thinks of hauling the kids to the river (or somewhere else that is fun). In many many cases I can see where organizing the bathroom closet or weeding the backyard is not as important as spending an afternoon exploring our city. Yet I can't seem to help myself. Finances also limit us. I would LOVE to travel more or do more things locally, but we have to watch every penny. Sure it would be great to go to an Ethiopian or Peruvian restaurant, but since we're watching our money we basically don't eat out unless circumstances somewhat force it to happen - and that ends up being Chipotle or something. I have some friends who are pretty much the opposite of us - they do fun stuff every day and their house/cars are always a disaster. They eat at restaurants 5x/wk and every weekend they are off doing something. They buy their DD everything she wants. They travel internationally 1-2x/yr. I admit I wonder if their way is better than mine. Certainly their DD is much more worldly than my kids. Think of yourself on your deathbed, looking back at your life. Would you rather be pleased that you explored the world, tasted everything from the buffet of life, had fun, or would you prefer to revel in the fact that your closets were organized? I do know some people that would be pleased to die with organized closets!
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Deleted
Joined: May 18, 2024 20:16:48 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2012 20:49:10 GMT -5
I guess I don't have a lot of experience with very wealthy people, well, i mean with people who are used to living an afluent, maybe more material lifestyle... multi generational wealth. I know a few people who belong to this group, but ultimately I don't feel terribly comfortable in that circle. I'd much rather be barefoot in sweets at home or on the mountain in my keens than go to an awards banquet in LA, or go to a smancy party... I don't know 'brands' either, and don't really care... but i do feel a bit lost on the shoe and luggage threads for instnace. I grew up with an ecolet/outhouse... worked special ed in rural districts, have relatives in West Virginia and Romania ... I have rural poor experience. And I've worked group homes, institutions, special ed for a decade, so i've known people who struggle with disabilities. While we aren't a very diverse area, we travel quite a bit... in addition, while i'm not a huge Rotary fan in general, we've had several foreign exchange students, foreign visitors, we have diverse friends and aquaintances. I live in Amish country... lol... But i don't have much experience with urban areas at all. We visit, but maybe don't experience the everyday culture. I don't have any real experience with urban poor.
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Gardening Grandma
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 13:39:46 GMT -5
Posts: 17,962
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Post by Gardening Grandma on Sept 5, 2012 23:45:25 GMT -5
Both of you. Thanks for the tips. I will check them out. Always looking to broaden my horizons.... ;D
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