31.1.11

Speak Your Mind... or Don't...

*Post Edit* Thanks guys! I totally agree with the not saying anything, or maybe, I dunno acting genuinely happy for the other people, no matter what. I had a great conversation with a lady that knows our situation- and is related to someone else in the company- and she just thought it was so great that we got to have the experience- it was SO refreshing to have that conversation instead of the aforementioned awkward one :)

I don't know if this ever bugs anyone else, but it sometimes gets to me, so let's discuss the following...
We discussed instant gratification in Sunday School and how things are so available all the time, the effects that that can have on your kids, etc... So later, as we're leaving, somebody asks Steve and I where we've been since we're so nice and tanned? I reply that we had been in Mexico and the person responds back "Talk about instant gratification, I had to wait until I had been married 25yrs before I got to go there!" But this isn't the first time someone of that generation has made comments to me about how they didn't get the things we have or go the places we have until they were married for x amount of years, etc... At first it was funny, but now it's getting old. It sometimes makes me feel like people just assume that because we're young we don't work hard or don't deserve to enjoy some luxuries along the way. That being said I also feel like people say it to point out how lucky we are or how grateful we should be. And we are extremely grateful for everything we have been blessed with, I just didn't think that we would have to broadcast that gratitude to the whole ward in order to avoid the weird comments, ya know?
Any thoughts, bloggers?

6 comments:

The Wolff Den said...

I've heard the comments too--when we were buying furniture when we were getting married my dad made the commment that they never had a bedroom suite until they had been married for x amount of years. I was like, "I'm sorry?" Should I be sorry? I don't know. I think if you were able to go to Mexico, that's great! You guys deserve it. :)

.the palsky's. said...

i'm back and forth. i feel that way sometimes when i see people brand new married, both in school and 19 buying a brand new house. and then i get a little green with envy. ..but i keep it to myself. which is the other side. i think if i had that person comment to me like they did to you, i would've thrown it back in their face about how hard steve worked for you guys so you could go to mexico.

that's why i never comment because you never know who worked for what they had and who just had it handed to them on a silver platter without having to work for it.

Sheri said...

Such a tough issue because you never know what angle people are commenting from. I think part of the travel thing for that generation (my parents included) is that it is so much more affordable now than it was for them so they really only went on one trip in 20 years. But we for sure live in a time where instant gratification is a bit over board. I think if you have a good balance in your life you for sure deserve a nice "instant gratification" now and then whether is a trip or furniture or whatever. Most people rarely know the whole picture of our life so they really can't judge because they don't know the sacrifices you make along the way to enjoy a luxury now and then!

Kim said...

I'm liking the comments people have made. It's true that no one should ever comment because you don't know what sacrifices people have made to get what they have or do for what they have. People will always make comments though...there's just no avoiding it. And the other thing...people make different things a priority. Maybe one person would rather go on a trip than buy a new washing machine...or vice versa...ya know? It's not for anyone else to decide. Life is different now though than it was for our parents just like Sheri said. :)

The Staheli's said...

People are funny...
I could say a lot on the subject, but maybe I'll save it for the reunion. :)
I'm glad you guys were able to go, that's for sure!

Carmen said...

I am in total agreeance (haha, not a word) about the fact that people just don't know. They make comments and don't understand the situation, don't know what you have sacrificed, don't know how rude they sound...etc etc etc. As Jess said, I also have a LOT to say about this subject, maybe not about the same things being said but about the ignorant and rude comments people make. I am learning, slowly but surely, to just suck it up and keep my mouth shut and to try to think harder about what I say to other people. STILL VERY HARD cause I am sure I say rude things all the time! I deal with this daily (maybe I am overly sensetive, haha). I am GLAD you guys went on your trip and I don't think it's "instant gratification" to go on vacation. It's called taking a break. Maybe if those people had taken more vacations they would be less snarky, haha! (see, there's me being rude again)