One Small Step For Man

I’ve done this before. Yep, I’ve been here before. I’ve had these same thoughts, these same ideas, these same urges. The difference now is that I have a whole hell of a lot more understanding.

My first aberration was right after I graduated college. I heard the same things then that I do now: admonishing remarks of losing my place. What exactly is my place? Is it to sit behind that 20 in. monitor? Is it to buy that house? Is it to meticulously word-smith emails or click the mouse like a monkey?

I have friends who have been “living the dream” since we all graduated. They constantly receive specious praises of jealousy and adornments of vicariousness from those who aren’t losing their place. Having a career, I was privy to the candor of these phrases: “The drifters are throwing away their years. They aren’t moving toward anything. They live their lives haphazardly and with no regard for the consequences.”

After years of reflection at my computer screen, I’ve found those statements to be complete bullshit. In fact, I think these dream-chasers are doing it right. We spend our lives working toward the financial well-being to retire and then try to live the life that these people already are. It’s like we are waiting to ripen and our nourishment is the career, the house, the Roth. Coincidentally, these very things that we feel will set us free are what actually hold us back.

Perhaps I’m ripe now. Maybe I’m that resplendent mango with a rainbow of color, not the emerald one waiting to be shipped out. If I wait too long, will I be too soft to eat? I’m not even guaranteed to make it to consumption. What if my keeper drops me? What if I roll out of the bag of groceries into the street, only to be run over by the speeding Porsche trying to get to the 9-5 job? What if my Roth bombs, my house tanks in the market, and my wife leaves me with a stifling alimony?

I think the general populace is too scared to live their dream for fear of not being in line. They are worried that the line gets too long and if you aren’t in front, you aren’t getting in. I can assure you that the line out front isn’t the only way in to the party. My dream-chasing friends have found this out. Now, it’s time I faithfully get out of line. Again…