What makes you envious of someone else’s life?

morganedge

Gingernutty wrote: »

I envy anyone who has a clear career focus in life and has worked hard all their lives to get there.

I'm casting about looking for another job yet again and I'll just simply land where the wind blows me again.

I can't afford to study full time and even if I could, I still don't know what to be when I grow up. I'm 45!!

There are people, my age and younger, who've had a clear idea about what they've wanted, applied themselves and are now in established, well respected careers, multi-lingual, accomplished and settled.

I feel like an indecisive failure.

In addition to my previous post, I completely agree with this!

Needless to say that I am basically you! (albeit a little younger)
I have no idea what to do with my life.
Never have, never will.
As a result I float from minumum wage to job to minimum wage job and will likely die in such a job when i'm old!

Scorpio33

morganedge wrote: »

In addition to my previous post, I completely agree with this!

Needless to say that I am basically you! (albeit a little younger)
I have no idea what to do with my life.
Never have, never will.
As a result I float from minumum wage to job to minimum wage job and will likely die in such a job when i'm old!

I am the same in the sense that I don't know what I want to do with my life, but I have a very good job and a good career, and that is due to doing what I am good at, rather than what I want to do.

I think very few people actually find jobs they want to do, most do jobs out of necessity.

momofmonster

For me I envy my friend who is a solicitor - has a gorgeous car, lovely clothes and she is stunning too - great figure, gorgeous hair etc. However she still lives at home with her parents and can never stay in a relationship.
Funny thing is though when i tell her this she always says that she envys me for my independance, my height (she's 5ft3 i'm 5ft9) and the way i always make people laugh (not sure she is right on the last point - i must be pretty drunk when it happens)

So i guess it works both ways and the people you envy for certain things, can envy you for things you take for granted!!

meer53

lika_86 wrote: »

So you don't want anything more than what you have right now? You don't want a new kitchen/bathroom/car/holiday/more sleep/to lose some weight/to be 3 inches taller/to be 5 years younger/to have a special talent/to be able to sing/to be a fantastic cook/to be able to run a marathon? Nothing?

Whats the point in wanting to be someone you're not ? I'm happy being me. I have my own special qualities, people might envy me, i don't know.

Lifes too short to sweat the small stuff, i don't worry about what i don't have, i concentrate on what i do have, and am thankful for that.

I have 2 wonderful, healthy children, a house, a car (new this week !) and a job i love. I don't need anything else.

clairemosa

I envy those who have much in their life. Money, people who are wealthy. but I turn this feeling into something positive as I motivate myself to strive more.

snowleopard61

What an interesting question.

I think I'd have to say boundless energy and stamina. I came to the conclusion a long time ago that if I had these qualities I could achieve just about anything. I have just about what I need to keep afloat, fortunately, but that's my limit!

VestanPance

It's interesting what we view as being envious about.

Personally material goods mean nothing to me. I guess that may stem from the fact I'm reasonably comfortable in that regard, but I don't desire or get any feelings about better houses, cars, clothes etc. I guess I view those things as unimportant filler. Sure they can be nice, but I honestly don't think they bring any happiness what so ever.

I tend to look at what makes people really happy. That tends to be friends, companionship, love and family. In that area I'm certainly far less wealthy.

snowleopard61

Gingernutty wrote: »

I envy anyone who has a clear career focus in life and has worked hard all their lives to get there.

I can't afford to study full time and even if I could, I still don't know what to be when I grow up. I'm 45!!

I can certainly identify with this, although I did at least accept some years ago that I was unlikely to find an enthusiasm for paid work at this stage of life when I've never found it before, so I just accepted that all I wanted out of work was to pay the bills, and have been pretty happy just doing that.

ETA: I should make it clear that I have always done paid work (except when I was a SAHM), I've just never had a job I felt enthusiastic about.

I did enjoy full-time study (back in the day when higher education was free) but have never been able to find the link between academic ability and interest in a career.

greatgimpo

I could live very comfortably on what people I work for throw away - not just food, but building projects, furniture etc that go wrong. I envy the fact that they can waste so much and not miss it.

Tish_P

It's possible to envy certain qualities in others without being eaten up with bitterness over what you're not! I love my life and wouldn't swap with anyone, but there are skills and aptitudes I sometimes wish I had.

I envy people who can play musical instruments, speak more than one language, or sing really well (I can sing well enough to have fun). And people with fashion sense, and the naturally well-organised. And I envy cats sometimes because they can sleep all day.