worldof20something

I may not have realized it when I was a teenager (in fact, I may have even said the opposite) - but one of the most important things in life is your family.  Family is the group of people that have always been there for you, will always be there for you, and will always love you unconditionally.  But if they are so important, why do Americans insist on moving away from their loved ones, often with a few hundred miles in between?

It has something to do with the American values we learn from the time we are very young.  We learn to be independent, have our own goals, and do whatever we need to do to get what we want.  And we learn what we are supposed to want, to - successful careers with high salaries.  For these reasons it has become a trend for kids to grow up, move out, and start their own families on opposite sides of the country.

But are successful jobs with high pay really what people want?  I mean, sure… money can buy some pretty nice things - but that’s not true happiness.  A life without close, personal relationships and enjoyable time spent with family is an empty one.

Maybe it’s time for a change of values.

Who said family is a group of people that you just spend holidays with, or that you only get to see once a year?  Take some time to re-assess the direction you are going with your “busy and important” life.  You could probably find a job and a life a little bit closer to the ones you love.  And just because you live in the adjacent city rather than 3 states away doesn’t mean you have to be attached at the hip; you’ll still have your freedom.  But you’ll also have the freedom to see the ones you love as often as you like without having to worry about travel plans.

Trackback URI | Comments RSS