Comments on: What Are We? http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2010/02/03/what-are-we/ Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:14:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Canadian Dream http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2010/02/03/what-are-we/comment-page-1/#comment-39614 Canadian Dream Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:06:42 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=1357#comment-39614 @ Adam, I'll have to check, but I might have read Happiness or something like it. Too many books from the library these days. *sigh* @ Mr Cheap, Well I suppose if thought has mass and therefore can directly effect reality and you got several billion people to 'believe' you were taller it could happen...at the very least your driver license would say it. *grin* Tim @ Adam,

I’ll have to check, but I might have read Happiness or something like it. Too many books from the library these days. *sigh*

@ Mr Cheap,

Well I suppose if thought has mass and therefore can directly effect reality and you got several billion people to ‘believe’ you were taller it could happen…at the very least your driver license would say it. *grin*

Tim

]]> By: Mr. Cheap http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2010/02/03/what-are-we/comment-page-1/#comment-39561 Mr. Cheap Thu, 04 Feb 2010 04:28:09 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=1357#comment-39561 Very existential post. I'm going to define myself as 6 inches taller... Very existential post. I’m going to define myself as 6 inches taller…

]]> By: Adam http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2010/02/03/what-are-we/comment-page-1/#comment-39550 Adam Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:30:19 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=1357#comment-39550 Great Post CD. The first thing that came to mind for me was the phrase: "I think, therefore I am" Really that's the only way to define who, or what you are. You are only a thinking being. You may function as a father and an accountant, but that's the icing on the cake that is you. You are a thinking, conscious human being. You can put different icing on that cake if you like etc... Have you read the book Happiness? Not sure of the author off the top of my head, but it really hits on what you're talking about. Cheers Great Post CD.

The first thing that came to mind for me was the phrase: “I think, therefore I am” Really that’s the only way to define who, or what you are. You are only a thinking being. You may function as a father and an accountant, but that’s the icing on the cake that is you. You are a thinking, conscious human being. You can put different icing on that cake if you like etc…

Have you read the book Happiness? Not sure of the author off the top of my head, but it really hits on what you’re talking about.

Cheers

]]> By: Robert http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2010/02/03/what-are-we/comment-page-1/#comment-39548 Robert Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:42:09 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=1357#comment-39548 Very insightful. I think most people ignore the many choices they have for two reasons: it increases the complexity and it forces you to take responsibility. Once you have taken responsibility, you can make your life whatever you want. I just wish schools gave kids an opportunity to figure who they are and what they want out of life, instead of continually force-feeding them what they *should* want. Very insightful. I think most people ignore the many choices they have for two reasons: it increases the complexity and it forces you to take responsibility. Once you have taken responsibility, you can make your life whatever you want. I just wish schools gave kids an opportunity to figure who they are and what they want out of life, instead of continually force-feeding them what they *should* want.

]]> By: Mama Zen http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2010/02/03/what-are-we/comment-page-1/#comment-39547 Mama Zen Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:22:25 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=1357#comment-39547 Very good post. I really like the way you wrote it. I am currently asking myself lots of questions about «Do I really want this? Or am I wanting this because this person has it, or I saw it in an add, etc.» The hardest part is asking this question about my carreer, my family life, all theses things that money can't afford. And realizing that the one you thought you were/are/becoming, you aren't anymore. It's hard not being influenced by others expectations, but it's always possible to find a way to be yourself, be happy... even if someone get pissed off on the way ;-). Again, great post, I really like it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us! Very good post. I really like the way you wrote it. I am currently asking myself lots of questions about «Do I really want this? Or am I wanting this because this person has it, or I saw it in an add, etc.»

The hardest part is asking this question about my carreer, my family life, all theses things that money can’t afford. And realizing that the one you thought you were/are/becoming, you aren’t anymore.

It’s hard not being influenced by others expectations, but it’s always possible to find a way to be yourself, be happy… even if someone get pissed off on the way ;-) .

Again, great post, I really like it. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!

]]> By: Financial Student http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2010/02/03/what-are-we/comment-page-1/#comment-39544 Financial Student Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:41:00 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=1357#comment-39544 I came to this conclusion late last year too. I was quite depressed and hated what I was doing (still doing for just a few more months). I finally realized I had choices and if I didn't like my current situation, I could make different choices. In May I'll start looking for a job as a junior accountant with a hefty pay cut. I'm actually really looking forward to it. A few years later and I'll be a CGA. Life seems good again. I came to this conclusion late last year too. I was quite depressed and hated what I was doing (still doing for just a few more months). I finally realized I had choices and if I didn’t like my current situation, I could make different choices.

In May I’ll start looking for a job as a junior accountant with a hefty pay cut. I’m actually really looking forward to it.

A few years later and I’ll be a CGA. Life seems good again.

]]> By: deegee http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2010/02/03/what-are-we/comment-page-1/#comment-39540 deegee Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:50:52 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=1357#comment-39540 For the last few years I was working (from 2006-2008), several times a day I was at the office or, especially during my terrible and sickening commute or in the morning getting ready to go to work, I would ask myself, "Why am I still working and when will this end?" For me, it was simply getting rid of the big negative or working and the commute which drove me out of working. I simply waited until my company's ESOP reached a certain value so I could leave and take it with me (along with finding an affordable health insurance plan). Being able to come and go as I please every day, not only the 4 or 5 days I was not working, is very empowering. For the last few years I was working (from 2006-2008), several times a day I was at the office or, especially during my terrible and sickening commute or in the morning getting ready to go to work, I would ask myself, “Why am I still working and when will this end?”

For me, it was simply getting rid of the big negative or working and the commute which drove me out of working. I simply waited until my company’s ESOP reached a certain value so I could leave and take it with me (along with finding an affordable health insurance plan).

Being able to come and go as I please every day, not only the 4 or 5 days I was not working, is very empowering.

]]> By: Dave http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/2010/02/03/what-are-we/comment-page-1/#comment-39538 Dave Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:37:21 +0000 http://blog.canadian-dream-free-at-45.com/?p=1357#comment-39538 I think asking myself what I want is what lead me to strive for an early retirement. I don't mind working, I like my job and what I do, but I don't think it defines me as a person. Early retirement is an available option for me because I don't have anything overly extravagent I want to do later in life - I don't need to travel, own a cottage on a lake, or really anything that is overly expensive, which means I can do what I want to do, rather then having to get up and do something that someone else wants me to do. I was in the middle of conforming to a life defined by others up until 4 years ago, then I made a drastic change that is continuing today (which included the end of one relationship and the start of one with my wife). It was scary, but at the same time, it has worked out very well. If happiness could be measured on a scale of 1 to 10, I probably went from about a 4 or 5 up to about 8 or 9 over that time - scary yes, but totally worth it. I think asking myself what I want is what lead me to strive for an early retirement. I don’t mind working, I like my job and what I do, but I don’t think it defines me as a person. Early retirement is an available option for me because I don’t have anything overly extravagent I want to do later in life – I don’t need to travel, own a cottage on a lake, or really anything that is overly expensive, which means I can do what I want to do, rather then having to get up and do something that someone else wants me to do.

I was in the middle of conforming to a life defined by others up until 4 years ago, then I made a drastic change that is continuing today (which included the end of one relationship and the start of one with my wife). It was scary, but at the same time, it has worked out very well. If happiness could be measured on a scale of 1 to 10, I probably went from about a 4 or 5 up to about 8 or 9 over that time – scary yes, but totally worth it.

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