I didn’t know this man but my father worked with him for many years. Something got to me after I read his obituary. In it they mentioned this man’s family he was leaving behind and his job. That’s it. This man was 66 years old. I don’t know how he passed away. Whoever wrote this obituary either did not know enough about him or his entire life outside of family was his job. His legacy written in the newspaper was his almost 40 years of blue collar service for a company. No hobbies, no notes about his personality or anything.
My dad left this company years ago but still put in a solid decade there. He continued to work blue collar gigs until he was injured on the job leading to disability. He gets on me about getting a job with a pension or whatever and I understand that he wants me to have a successful life and to do better than him. I assume many parents feel that way about their children but all he thinks about is a career for me.
I’ve been unwell since I was 12 (now 33) and every year my risk for colon cancer goes up because of a medical condition, along with a handful of other issues. My clock will likely stop ticking earlier than others because of it. My father wants me to have a good life. I want to have a good life. We do not share the same idea of what that means.
I don’t want to work for some bullshit company only to die before I retire or shortly after I retire. I want to live now while my body still somewhat agrees with me. I’d rather live my life how I am now, carefree and happy for the most part. I don’t want to be a “weekend warrior”. That term bothers me so much. I like having hobbies and learning new things. I like going for walks at night and staring at the stars thinking about how nothing really matters down here on Earth.
I don’t want to stress about “climbing the corporate ladder or what kind of car I can buy to make others envious of my success. I don’t want a mcmansion or to live in some neighborhood with an HOA with boring neighbors that all keep to themselves.
This mentality has been with me a long time. I’ve had enough surgeries, trips to the ER, long stays in the hospital and more to know that I want to live, not just… be alive.
I don’t want to die with my job as my legacy.
This is not me poo pooing on a person that just passed away. Maybe he loved his job, and that’s great if he did. He left a big family and I’m sure his memory will live on for a long time. The important people in his life will remember who he really was. It just really struck a cord when I read his obituary.
Sorry for the long post and if you read though it, thanks. Hope it wasn’t too stupid.