Monday, September 3, 2007

Selling the Dream.

"At least when you're in your twenties, you can still sell the dream. 'I want to be a doctor. I want to write a book. I want to travel.' Today it's, 'I'm 33 and an accountant I'm overweight and I'm kinda bald.' There's no dream left to sell."
-On getting a girl to commit is easier the younger a man is.

A lot can be said for taking a good, honest look at who you are today. Your expectations, your goals, and reassessing everything that you're doing (or not doing) to work toward that goal. On the flip side, a girlfriend said the following:
"I have this nightmare. I wake up Christmas morning and I'm 45 and alone and still in my parent's house." We laughed, but she followed her confession with, "It's not that far off. It's only 15 years away, and I remember where I was 15 years ago. Vividly. And it doesn't feel that long ago."

So here's what the last 15 years have done for me:
I am way more attractive than I was 15 years ago. I know how to do my hair (or rather, I actually DO my hair now). I wear clothes that actually fit me (for the most part). I shave my legs. I wear makeup. I exercises. I can run several miles without stopping. I'm not afraid of people anymore. I've left the country several times now, and I really really love that. I know how to snowboard. I've been wakeboarding, waterskiing, and deep sea fishing. I am a godmother to my friend's amazing adorable children. I've lived alone. I've lived with roommates. I have a college degree and have taken graduate courses and loved it. I have email. I have a cell phone. I can cook chicken. I own my own car. And I look forward to going home with one man, instead of ditching the one I'm with to hang out with my friends.

If that's what the last 15 years have done for me, I can't wait to find out what happens over the next 15. Forget selling a dream. I want to live it.

9 comments:

Rudie can't fail said...

Funny, I was just writing about the same thing but from a slightly different perspective. What if you are 33, still have all your hair, are in the best shape of your life and did acheive what you set out to. Was it all worth it? I think that ultimately who you have become is much more important than what you have become.

You are right that it is easier to sell the dream of what you may become while in your twenties. Taking your doctor example to its scary conclusion, look at Mark Hacking. It's tougher, though not impossible, to fool someone about who you will become.

f*bomb. said...

O dear...No, trust me- he said that in good fun!

I'm not quite 33 yet, but I'd say that all the things I've done to make myself who I am today have been totally worth it. My point being that if you alter your perspective to recognize that you ARE in control of who you become, and that the choices we make can create a life we want to have, I'd rather be me at this age with experience then wish I were 20 years old again.

paintingyoupretty said...

Livin' the dream! That's what its all about.

cropstar said...

Thank you Farrah. Exactly what I needed to read today.

Breelzebub said...

You are living the dream. Dream you f*bombing dreamer!

f*bomb. said...

Go ahead and gloat.
Tell us what has changed YOUR life since the last 15 years! Let's give those "I'm 22 and not married and I'm bummed about it" people something to turn green with envy over...

Silvs said...

Hi. I'm new to the Farrahspot. I was the cheerleader-ish guy at that party Friday night. I came with Kent. Enough with the intro...

Great post. I've been thinking about this a lot recently too. We place all these limitations and expectations on ourselves without realizing how many other ways we've succeeded. Although they may be the atypical types of accomplishments that are lauded in mormondon, they are still no less praiseworthy.

carolinesbakeshop said...

there is something about getting older that brings more security in who you are and not worrying so much about what other people think of you. i wouldn't trade that for anything. that and i'm a late bloomer, so i'm looking MUCH better these days.

here's to not "peaking" in high school...

chloe said...

Doesn't it feel good? Seriously...I think I'm more excited about the next 15 years of my life because I know so much more now, like life without a husband, is still a great life. It's all what you make of it.

Great post!