- Spent money frivolously. You know what I mean. Eating out, playing poker, drinking, smoking, buying crap that I really didn't need.
- Procrastinated on getting my car tuned up. You know, little things like not putting more oil in the car when the little light started blinking at me.
- Avoided getting a job. I don't know what it is, but I'm afraid of joining the workforce, so when I was "looking", it was really only half-assed. Now I don't even look.
- Changed my mind about fighting to help someone who really needs it. I'm just too selfish to put the needs of others before my own desires.
Of course, that's not all I regret, but it's a good start for now. How about we talk about some of the obstacles you've thrown in my path.
- Foreclosed on my house. Now I live in a townhouse without a fence, so my dogs can't run free and I have to share a wall with neighbors.
- Blew my car up. Sure, I know I procrastinated on keeping it in excellent condition, but couldn't I have had a different lesson? I loved that car like it was a member of my family.
- Broke my dog's leg. Honestly now, this one was just uncalled for. He's a puppy, and I have enough monetary issues without having to pay an arm and a leg for his leg.
Again, that's not all but it's a good start. Let's move on to lessons I've learned from these obstacles.
- Don't spend money frivolously. Obvious answer, right? Well, I'm not perfect, but I'm working on it. Please, consider it a lesson learned and give me some fluid income to prove it.
- Take care of your car. Again, pretty obvious, and after losing the best damn car I've ever driven, rest assured that this one has been taken to heart.
- Sometimes you need to focus on your own issues first. Yes, I regret not being willing to help the person who needs it, but my life is pretty hectic right now, and I want to get my own shit straightened out before I take on the added responsibility of another life. I'm working on that, too.
- Get skills. The issue with the whole working thing goes back to the fact that I've never actually had any formal training in, well, anything. Sure, I'm a smart guy (Thanks for that, by the way... I really do appreciate the gift of intelligence that I've been given.), but that doesn't really mean enough on a resume. Job after job, there's been one underlying issue that has made me sabotage the entire deal... I'm not doing work I enjoy. Some people can go to a job they hate, day after day, and continue doing it until their hair falls out. I'm just not one of them. Hence, going back to school. Which ties in with the first bullet, because while I may not have earned the money for it personally, I will have earned the money to pay it back.
I'm not perfect, Gusby, but I'm trying. I'm trying really, really hard. Do you think you could find it in your heart or conscience or astrology or whatever to cut me some slack, give me a break?
I'm not asking for a lottery win, or even a fancy sports car to replace my baby... just an education in a field I enjoy, so that I can wake up each morning without wondering what the hell I'm doing wasting my life in a job I absolutely despise, so I can keep it, get promotions for my hard work, and make a decent enough living to enjoy the quiet, simple life I want to lead.
Personally, I don't think it's too much to ask of you. Please?
