Wednesday, September 20, 2006

if I only had the money to

There are several phrases that I get tired of hearing. Several words that people use over and over again that lose all meaning and I am left counting how many times they repeat the word instead of listening to what they are actually saying.
However, the one phrase that I am hearing more and more and that I am finding is taking a toll on me and those around me is.."if I had the money to.." or "well, when I have the money.." or "I can't because I don't have the money to..." or some combination thereof.

It simply leaves me wondering, really? Would your life be all that different? Would you? Would you do X, Y, and Z not to mention E, F, and G and forget all about L, M, and N and P can simply get you into trouble. So, really? Would you? Would we, do whatever it is we aren't doing because we don't have those all mighty Benjamin’s, Jefferson's and perhaps a few Grants and well who couldn't use an extra Washington or two and well, a Hamilton is always a good thing.

So, ultimately, would you? Would you do all those things that you're not doing and your excuse is because you don't have the money to do them, or is that simply a convenient excuse? And if you did have the money wouldn't we just find some other excuse not to do whatever it is we aren't doing because really, don't we just like to have a excuse and a reason to back up whatever it is we aren't doing and whatever stagnant life it is we are living? Even if we don't like where we are, I think we like and enjoy and in all honesty don't we like to wallow and complain about whatever it is we are wallowing and complaining about whatever it is that is getting on our last nerve on any given day of the week?
So, would you? Would you really do whatever it is you aren't doing if you had the money to do it? And if so, what is it that you would do that you're currently not doing because you don't have the money to do it?

14 comments:

Matt said...

I would start a franchise of beef jerky stores, later to be known as the benevolent Jerky King. Seriously. I would soo do it.

puerileuwaite said...

Thanks for the reality check, PG. WTF have I been waiting for? I don't even NEED money to fullfill my lifelong dream of living in the subway.

Well, I'm off. I'll miss you!

Jay Adkins said...

Honestly, yes I would be doing things quite differently if I had the money.

If I had the money, I would be in Europe right now, waiting for it to get cold and then moving on down to South America or Australia for the winter. My dream is to travel the world and unfortunately, money IS and object.

Bethany said...

well I would most probably give all my money away. To children who need to travel overseas for treatment/operations, or maybe I would buy some people in wheelchairs, a special wheelchair designed to go onto a beach and into the water, something that we walking people take for granted. or maybe I would give some to greenpeace, china bear rescue or to third world countries. This is how I would enjoy spending lots of money.

Phollower said...

I plan to hike the Appalachian Trial someday and money is a big reason I can't do that yet. The bank wasn't very understanding when I told them I'd pick up where I left off on the mortgage in 5 months when I get home. I really don't have too many ambitions that I'd need a large amount of cash for, besides not working anymore. And my boardgame addiction.

Scott said...

This is a great post, PG. I think part of your point is maybe that we shouldn't concern ourselves so much with what we would do and instead focus on what we are doing. As a person who lives in one of those places people dream about coming(for you guys, it would be the equivalent of going to Alaska to live-but less people), I know first hand what it takes to achieve your goals. First you make a plan...and then you follow it through. It's really pretty simple so long is your dream isn't to be a rock star or a millionaire. Do it. Just do it. You only live once.

(and phollower, you and your wife should forget the Appalachian trail and come here instead-when there's too much snow to hike we play boardgames and drink)

(and jay-lots of people here go to Thailand for the winter. It's a heck of a lot cheaper than Australia.)

BUMBLE!!! said...

Yes I would.

Have a great day. Really.

Phollower said...

SCOTT & LYNN- The Spousal Unit has NO intentions of hiking the AT. That's another thing that makes it hard to do. Being without her for 5 months, not good. But as for the boardgames and drinking, we'll be there. We'll bring Puerto Rico and T2R:E. Can we bring the dogs too?

Party Girl said...

Matt: the thought of that uch beef jerky makes my ass burn.

P: I hear there's lots of pretty art and music in the subway, why would you leave that?

Jay: Can I come, huh? huh? can I, can I pretty please?

Traveling the world is my ultimate dream. Leaving everything behind and going here, there, and everywhere.

Bethany: That's really awesome to think like that; a way to make others lives better in the small ans simple ways.
I spent last summer in a wheelchair and I'm hear to tell you, it's the small and simple things that I wasn't able to do that I missed.

GG: It's whatever amount that it is that you think you need.

Ph: Can I come? Can I? Can I? Pretty please? Especially this time of year. Bee-U-Tee-ful!

Scott and Lynn: That's excatly my point; shut-up and do it already.
Our lives are getting shorter and shorter everyday, so when are we all going to get that kick in the ass that we all need to just shut-up and go forward?

Yeah, him: Why, thank you.
So what is it that you would do?

Ph: No spousal unit for 5 months = bad times.

Party Girl said...

Matt: the thought of that uch beef jerky makes my ass burn.

P: I hear there's lots of pretty art and music in the subway, why would you leave that?

Jay: Can I come, huh? huh? can I, can I pretty please?

Traveling the world is my ultimate dream. Leaving everything behind and going here, there, and everywhere.

Bethany: That's really awesome to think like that; a way to make others lives better in the small ans simple ways.
I spent last summer in a wheelchair and I'm hear to tell you, it's the small and simple things that I wasn't able to do that I missed.

GG: It's whatever amount that it is that you think you need.

Ph: Can I come? Can I? Can I? Pretty please? Especially this time of year. Bee-U-Tee-ful!

Scott and Lynn: That's excatly my point; shut-up and do it already.
Our lives are getting shorter and shorter everyday, so when are we all going to get that kick in the ass that we all need to just shut-up and go forward?

Yeah, him: Why, thank you.
So what is it that you would do?

Ph: No spousal unit for 5 months = bad times.

Phollower said...

PG- Of course you can come. It'll be a nice walk. A little over 2200 miles. It'll take about 5 months so it doesn't really matter what time of year you like to hike, you'll be in it for part of the trip. Most people start at the Georgia end in early April and finish in Maine in September, give or take a little.

I think the big problem would be that you couldn't resist me for the entire 5 months and when I told you I was going to remain faithful to my loving wife it would break your heart. I just don't want to do that to you. :)

BUMBLE!!! said...

I'd go on another long term traveling deal and write about it, photograph it and force the world to buy it as my serious american novel that would get made into a movie and I would go to sundance and get gift bags and get fondled by the stars and papparazi would follow me everywhere including to my mansion paradise and life would be wonderful.

Yeah. that's what I would do.

HST said...

I think I'm doing *almost* all of the stuff I can without money right now. I really try to do what I can, when I can do it. That being said....If I did have the money to, I would travel all around and visit all of the friends I have made in all the various parts of the world, instead of just emailing them:)

Scott said...

okay, okay. If we had more money we too would be travelling-probably to places that need help. Of course, that's after we build our cabin in the woods which is next on our list.

Phollower: of course you can bring your dogs.