Also, growing up, my fiance has been through a lot of shitty times, financially. I can also say, for certain, that my circumstances were pretty terrible. I mean, let's see, my mother was murdered when I was 1, lost hearing, having to depend on SSI in order to keep insurance so I can upgrade my cochlear implant (can anyone say thousands of dollars a year?) so I can keep what hearing I have left, etc. I can certainly say that my circumstances never hindered me from enjoying what life has to offer, but it is with a cautious eye I look upon our financial issues and I really needed this article!

Fantastic. Thank you.

Colonel Sandurz: Try here. Stop.
Dark Helmet: What the hell am I looking at? When does this happen in the movie?
Colonel Sandurz: Now. You're looking at now, sir. Everything that happens now, is happening now.
Dark Helmet: What happened to then?
Colonel Sandurz: We passed then.
Dark Helmet: When?
Colonel Sandurz: Just now. We're at now now.
Dark Helmet: Go back to then.
Colonel Sandurz: When?
Dark Helmet: Now.
Colonel Sandurz: Now?
Dark Helmet: Now.
Colonel Sandurz: I can't.
Dark Helmet: Why?
Colonel Sandurz: We missed it.
Dark Helmet: When?
Colonel Sandurz: Just now.
Dark Helmet: When will then be now?
Colonel Sandurz: Soon.
Dark Helmet: How soon?

So, when we leaving?

Sent from a Blackberry

How many people who have had every advantage are utter failures?

Way too many.

1. Do whatever you want – or as you might say “pursue your passion.” Let’s be honest here, no one is truly passionate about collecting garbage, answering a phone, burying other people’s loved ones, sweeping floors, etc. But, these are jobs that NEED to be done; they are a necessary part of the “food chain” of the working world. True, some of these jobs are attained by rookie professionals, but sadly they are often times life long professions for some individuals. And, without people accepting that this is their place in the workforce, the “higher-ups” would be unable to live life according to your “lifestyle design” ideals. It is no wonder that our country is in the economic crisis it faces today with youth such as yourself blogging daily about pursuing their passion of constant travel rather than going out and working hard at a job that may or may not be entirely fulfilling. I can completely sympathize with the hardships you have faced throughout your life… but I think it is important to point out that those very food stamps you were embarrassed to hand to your classmate’s father were made available to you by HARD WORKING individuals that support the many government programs that provided for your family in a time of need. I find it sad that you do not wish to pay it forward amidst all of your “success” and help provide for other families that are in the same situation you once found yourself. Rather, you continue to take advantage of these government programs by milking them so that you can further pursue your passion of world travel. And what’s even worse than that is that you gloat in the fact that you have made it to where you are today by taking advantage of such programs. And what’s most disturbing of all is that other people are reading your blogs and praising your way of life and considering taking on the ideals of lifestyle design themselves.

2. Spend money as you wish – after all it’s just paper. Again, I refer back to my first point and stress the importance of employees fulfilling all rungs of the workforce ladder in order for our country to run successfully. I find it incredibly immoral that government grants are wrongly being used to send people on joyrides around the world. There are countless numbers of students throughout our country who would feel privileged to receive an assistantship to earn an education, and likely give back to show appreciation for the opportunity. The very fact that you gladly take advantage of these programs to pursue your passion of mere travel clearly shows you don’t understand the value of a dollar, or appreciate the means necessary to earn “a little piece of paper.” Sadly, this entitlement is felt by many youth in America, which is exactly why we find ourselves in the economic position we do today. If you are truly the successful adult you claim to be, why is it that you are not supporting yourself, and rely on government funds to pay your way? After all, where do you think these government funds come from? The very same hard working Americans that you criticize… the janitor, the stuffy CEO, the garbage man pursuing his passion of waste disposal, and all other employees from the bottom all the way to the top. Without these non-passion pursuing workers, you would not have government grants to freely pursue your passion without lifting a finger. So, again, if everyone were to take on your lifestyle design way of life our economy would disappear into smithereens and there would be no government funds to pursue your passions… so, you better get to work so that you can support yourself from here on out.

3. Fear nothing – Despite the hardships you have faced as a child, I think you should consider yourself lucky that your greatest fears you have to speak of are paying for groceries with food stamps, borrowing money from a neighbor, and being ashamed of the appearance of your home. Maybe you should promote your lifestyle design ideals in a country such as Iran, Iraq, or Afghanistan where women have absolutely no rights and people forfeit their freedom of speech. You have thousands of soldiers fighting for your right to broadcast your beliefs online and enable you to travel to where your heart leads you. Do you think it’s their passion to risk their lives so that you can stay at home taking advantage of our government and living freely? Just imagine if each of those soldiers was as self consumed as all of the lifestyle designers out there… then you might not be so lucky to do as you wish, spend money as if it were nothing, and fear nothing.

I end this “blog” (my first blog ever) giving “the bird” to your middle finger project and all that it stands for. I doubt that I have the ability to change your views on this wonderful way of life you have promoted, but I hope to at least open the eyes of fellow bloggers and discourage further support of this lifestyle.