Notes from a semi-average existence

I wanna talk to you today about something that bothers me a lot. I have a lot of wonderful friends who want to change the world. When they talk to me about changing the world I smile and nod, but I don't really have anything else to say because I don't think the world needs saving. And even if I did, I think they're doing it wrong, because what they see as being wrong with the world isn't fixable.

It's because the problems they have with the world involve making other people change what they're doing. Now, some people want this change, and if they can help these people become happier in themselves, then it's a great service they're providing. But some people don't want that, and I wonder how my friends feel about them. One talks a lot about how she hates people who just accept their life the way it is. I'm not sure why because I think that's a kind of contentment that 's necessary.

There are a lot of people in this world who are unhappy with their jobs/lives/families. But just as many people are actually pretty happy with it. And I'm including he people who work at WalMart, or Kinkos, or that hair salon. You might walk through WalMart and glance at the people in blue vests and think to yourself "How can these people possibly be happy with their lives!?" But who are you to determine what they want out of life?

There's a guy working in the pets department who's passion is video games. His friends all live in their parent's houses and don't have jobs and smoke pot. They all play video games together non-stop and his friends make fun of him for having a job and not having the hours to put in on their games. But he just laughs because he knows that his job allows him to live in an apartment with roommates, and gives him the time to do what he really wants to do: play his games. Maybe you're looking down on him for his ideal but that's what he wants and he has it. His job doesn't interfere with his hobby.

Or there's the girl in the hair salon. You go in to get your hair cut at some chain store- you know she's not an owner of her own place, she's just a hairdresser. And you think to yourself "How can she be happy working for someone else? Why doesn't she open her own salon!?" But if you knew her you'd be damn proud of her. She graduated high school and was forced by her parents to go to community college because they were ashamed she wasn't going to "real college." Her parents tried to force her into getting an associates degree in finance. What did she want? She wanted to cut hair. She already did hair cuts and dye jobs for all of her friends, and never was she happier. She got a job working as a receptionist in a hair salon and just knew that's what she wanted to do. She wanted to help make people pretty. So she defied her parents and goes in for cosmetology. They cut her off so she puts herself through whatever classes she needs to take. And now she has her dream job. Owning her own salon would mean business and that's not what she likes. She likes chatting with customers while she changes their look. You might look down on her, but she's happy.

Sure, there are tons of people in the world unhappy with their positions, or working for new ones. But lots of people are satisfied with what they have and what they are. If someone's happy with a simple life, who are we to say that they aren't living their life right? I don't have a problem with helping people who need it. But when you criticize someone for not having enough ambition you're judging their lives when you haven't lived it. Just because working for someone else wouldn't make you happy, doesn't mean there aren't people who are satisfied with that life.

Don't be so afraid of being average that you're afraid of average people.