What makes life worth living?

What makes life worth living?

by SouthernFriedInfidel | Published on April 7th, 2009, 2:01 pm | Life

I get the impression these days that a lot of people are upset over the losses they've suffered in the economic turmoil. Some people are killing in desperation. Others are killing themselves. A lot of people are acting like the end of the world is here.

For those who have lost their jobs in spite of conscientious and hard work, I sure can understand the feelings of loss. And a feeling of desperation. But if you look at your 401k balance and worry about your retirement, just recall that there are worse things to lose than just money.

Sure, having enough income to retire on is an important goal. And being able to keep ahead of your bills is a huge plus. But is cash flow the ONLY thing that matters in life?

I've never been independently wealthy, so I can't really figure out the lifestyle of that tiny segment of the world. But I HAVE been dirt poor. And the big lesson I can recall from those awful years is that I needed friends and family to be able to survive that journey. Even if all you have are family members who are a poor as you, and you can't rely on them to bail you out in an emergency, they give you support of different sorts. Friends -- I mean TRUE friends who are willing to like you in spite of occasional disagreements -- are huge assets in life, even when they can't even loan you a dollar for a week.

Having someone to spend a little time with on occasion -- that's the biggest key to surviving any adversity that life tosses your way. Too bad so many people seem to have never learned that simple lesson about life.

[Liv]

I am by no means rich, but I've prospered in the latest recession... (well not my 401k).... got to travel cheap, getting a lot of repairs done inexpensively... (my free labor).... may even refinance the house.... and possibly go back to school.

I do hope my 401K returns to happy times, but if not, ho hum.... people need to wakey, wakey, and realize retirement isn't the end-all to working these days. It is what it's always been.... an excuse for employers to not properly take care of employees and shift responsibility. It's a lottery of luck, and some of us are going to pay the piper.

[A Person]

people need to wakey, wakey, and realize retirement isn't the end-all to working

Isn't that the definition of retirement?

How sanguine you are about your retirement plan depends very much on how close you are (were) to using it. I feel a bit like the industrious ant

In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.

"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that way?"

"I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same."

"Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; we have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew: It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.

In the alternative story

In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.

"Why not come and chat with me," said the Grasshopper, "instead of toiling and moiling in that way?"

"I am helping to lay up food for the winter," said the Ant, "and recommend you to do the same."

"Why bother about winter?" said the Grasshopper; we have got plenty of food at present." But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil.

When the winter came the Ant found that the Grasshopper had found his food store and eaten all the food. but the Grasshopper was too big to fail and demanded more food and even when it had been given more it still wasn't enough so the Grasshopper flew south leaving the ant to survive the winter with no food.

Then the Ant knew:
It is best to prepare for the days of necessity by taking what the hard working have saved.

[Liv]

people need to wakey, wakey, and realize retirement isn't the end-all to working

Isn't that the definition of retirement?

I guess I should have said America's current fiscal model for being able to retire, rather than physically not laboring.