The Real World

[Wayne]

[size=3][b][align=center]The Real World[/align][/b] [/size]
[align=center][i]Column Series by Wayne[/i][/align]

Everyone has their own ideas on how to make it in the world, and everyone has their own opinions on political issues, on their social networks, and on their family’s values and relations; but lets face it, not everyone makes it in the real world. I can remember the first time I heard the idea of the real world, and I could remember thinking, “yeah, as opposed to the fake one I’m in now right?” Truth is, great deal of what we know and learn isn’t exactly true; it’s not false, but we just don’t get the whole story in school – anyone who is experiencing college money problems for the first time knows what I mean. There isn’t always a paycheck when you have no money left, and there isn’t that hot meal on the table every night unless you make it. This might sound foolish, but you would be surprised at the amount of people I encounter that didn’t really think about food, and money, and where the toilet paper came from in the house they were living in before.
So what’s my point about rambling on about the real world? Simple, everyday you go on thinking it sucks. Everyone has been there before when they look for the extra pennies in their car in hopes of getting a little more gas that will last you just enough to get to work the next day to get the paycheck that’s already spent. Everyone has been in the position of thinking “what’s for dinner?” Then you look in the pantry and take inventory: one slice of bread, a can of some cheap veggie (chances are it’s the 33 cent Great Value brand), and some random box dinner that you don’t have the meat it needs. Out of depression of nothing in the pantry you turn to the fridge and freezer and once again take inventory: 3 sips of milk left that expires tomorrow, no meat of any kind to place on the one slice of bread you have, one can of coke, and that half gone bottle of Rum. Suddenly you realize you have no food, and no money until tomorrow, so you settle for the box dinner without the meat, and grab the can of coke and thank God for the bottle of Rum that still has something in it as you pour yourself a drink, all while thinking, “I wonder if I should eat that last slice of bread tomorrow for breakfast or wait until sometime around brunch to eat it.” Then tomorrow comes and you get that paycheck, tank up your car, go to the store, and treat yourself to something small (like a candy bar, because you know you really can’t afford the supper cool electronic toy you want, so why even bother going to that section and looking at it). All is good again right? Wrong. Of course there are the bills to pay like electricity, rent, cable (if you’re lucky), water, and that credit card bill that you only pay the minimum on. Then it all sinks in again – oh yeah, I’m poor.
There’s a lot to be negative about when it comes to the real world, like that girl or guy you want to talk to, but just can’t find the words, or that really annoying co-worker that answers their cell phone in the middle of talking to them (which is of course the same one that sucks up to the boss like a dying leach). But every now and then, we get this one thing that makes you so incredibly happy that makes it all worth it, and carries you on until two weeks from now when you get that next candy bar. Then for a little while you think, “wow, the real world isn’t so bad after all.” Then suddenly you step into that puddle of water that everyone was avoiding, but you were too busy thinking about the goodness of the real world – once again the real world sucks.
Yes, I’m being negative, and yes I’ll admit it’s easy to be negative when there are so many bad things going on, but I’m really here to show you that just because there are negative things all around, there are the positive things that get you to where you want to be. Tomorrow, and in the rest of this week’s series, I’ll point out the things that make life go from poor, and life sucks to the president and CEO of a fortune 500 company – ok maybe not president, but I can at least show you what makes me successful.


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[Tami]

Very well written, Wayne - with many relevant points that don't apply only to college kids, but to many of us who are long past the college days as well. I'm looking forward to your next installment. <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... /smile.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':)\' />

[Wayne]

Yup tomorrow.... soprry for the delay - my apt Air Conditioning was broken and was just fixed. I was away from the computer for a couple days. Tomorrow it will be posted <img src=\'http://www.killanet.net/forum3/public/s ... /smile.gif\' class=\'bbc_emoticon\' alt=\':)\' />