tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096776708897685863.post8055895374336284624..comments2024-02-23T04:39:49.329-05:00Comments on Conversations in Klal: Sameach B'ChelkohProfKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17954446826821665314noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096776708897685863.post-49583140208973971282008-04-11T10:23:00.000-04:002008-04-11T10:23:00.000-04:00Bas Melech, I know all about that face rubbing. B...Bas Melech, I know all about that face rubbing. But I have my own solution. When my friends start up with the look at what I have and you don't have type of conversations I tell them about the vacation trip I am planning to Europe. I mention all the places I'll be going, and all the things I'm going to see and all the shopping I'll be doing. I tell them about sleeping in late and eating in restaurants for every meal. I tell them about all the personal pampering I'm going to do. Trust me, they shut up really fast, and then they turn green with envy. It doesn't matter if you are actually going to take that trip. It's the idea that you can and they can't that gets to them. I know it's a nasty thing to do but so is their waving their marriages at me like they did something no one else has ever done or will do again. And a friend and I are really planning that trip together. Why not, we are single and have the time. Sure won't be able to do it later.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096776708897685863.post-35334070743239485022008-04-10T21:46:00.000-04:002008-04-10T21:46:00.000-04:00I might also add that despite all my preachiness i...I might also add that despite all my preachiness in blogland, it's really, really hard to escape the influence of society. Although I live an extremely full and productive life, I still can't shake the feeling that my married-with-kids peers are living a more meaningful existence. I mean, I don't walk around gloomy about it, but there's this pang whenever it gets rubbed in my face...Bas~Melechhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01511197551248863790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2096776708897685863.post-11542350001662426912008-04-10T21:41:00.000-04:002008-04-10T21:41:00.000-04:00OK, I guess I don't need to worry about being too ...OK, I guess I don't need to worry about being too tired to blog -- you're doing it for me. :-P I was SO going to follow up your "real life" posts with one of my own. There goes another one...<BR/><BR/>The prevalent attitude seems to be that there is supposed to be a "prime of life." When exactly this happens is somewhat ambiguous. But it's damaging to at least three people:<BR/>1. Kids (because it seems like forever until they will be old enough for "real life");<BR/>2. The elderly, especially frail ones (what's left if "real life" is over?);<BR/>3. People who think that they should be in the prime of life but aren't (Too busy taking care of aging parents to enjoy your nachas? Unmarried at 40? Problems at home?)<BR/><BR/>If you go by the above description, most people at any given time are not doing "real life." Perhaps this is a sign we need to redefine "real life" or even retire the phrase.<BR/><BR/>It is time to realize that life on this Earth is designed to be a constant series of growth opportunities, and the "prime" will come after 120 years. When one realizes and accepts this, one can live each moment fully instead of waiting for some vague sign that they have reached "real life."Bas~Melechhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01511197551248863790noreply@blogger.com