We all seem to have such high expectations these days. I guess they're demands really. Yet, almost all of us want to work as little as possible. We want to maximize benefits and pleasure, but minimize the effort and the costs.
Then... we're bored. Soooo bored.
I say we in this, because I am noticing that I am like this and I think that there are others out there like me. In fact, I've seen others out there that are like me in this respect. I don't really know what I can do about them, but I do know that I need to remind myself that it takes a lot of work to accomplish things and that it takes a lot of effort and maybe some trade-offs to get things that are more important to me. Occasionally, you can have it all, but more often that's just not the case. Every day each person has to get up and do some daily maintainence type things or suffer certain consequences. We've got to brush out teeth, shower, take the time to eat, put clothes on, etc. Those are really just the minimums! Yet, so many of us are too shy about doing work of any kind, and sometimes we even skip out on little self-maintenence things. Dude, I tell you what... I'm glad that I get a stronger and stronger feeling when I have to get rid of my waste, or I'd probably skip on going to the bathroom occassionally... don't laugh, because you know you would too!
I don't want to say the 'L' word, because I think that has been said too much, and it over simplifies the problem.
Well, Wal-Mart is in the title, so I'll talk about that now. I think that Wal-Mart, McDonald's, Disney world, and other "the customer is always right" stores have really helped ease us into this mode of thought that I'm about to talk about. I think that when we know that we can return the things we don't like, and get our money back on things that we break or don't find less than 200% satisfactory... we get this feeling of entitlement. Why!?! What makes us think that so quickly? How are we always spoiled so fast? I just don't get it.
So, I think should cook up some theories here... to satisfy my demand for an answer.
Perhaps, this is all a pride thing. We visit these stores with a few dollars and we are treated too well. Like a drug, it goes straight to our heads... ruining us, because now we're demanding customer satisfaction from our government, our personal relationships, our sex lives, you name it. We demand perfection from other people as flawed and imperfect as ourselves -- not because we are thinking straight. No, because we're trippin' on this pride thing. Then we are disappointed or even angry when are expectations are not met. "How dare he or she not live up to my expectation in this way or that way!" ...we're sometimes even outraged.
While our expectations for others are increasing, often our expectations for ourselves decrease... or never fully develop. (if this is not the case, then we tear our self apart by not living up to some unrealistic expectation for ourselves and become overcritical and maybe even depressed.) These expectations for ourselves have dropped because of the entitlement thing again. Suddenly, we don't feel like we should have to ________. Fill in the blank for yourself. "I mean, why should I have to pick that up? or help that lady? or do that task? I didn't cause it! I don't have any part in it! I'm autonomous and I feel entitled!
{sigh} This is funny to me, and it is sad to me. It's my life, it's your life, it's your next-door neighbor's life.
So, I've made an observation. I've conjured up some theory about the cause. I guess now it is time to dream up a solution and take some course of action for myself.
Well, I guess I need to stop taking the entitlement pill. I need to be less proud. I need to say that 'I should do that!' with the same conviction that I might say that someone should... be serving me better in whatever way I am thinking of at that particular moment. I should feel entitled to a life filled with a whole lot of work; a lot of which will be as mundane as brushing my teeth... especially if I am wanting to have a nice smile.
Well said. I work at a boring go-kart track for five or six days a week right now. You're right, it's one of those mundane things that I just have to do, otherwise, my consequences are huge debts in the future.
Sometimes, you just have to do the mundane, and not let that brain get in the way. Just do it.