I had some sort of revelation the other day.
For those of you do not know, in the United States there is a government run school system commonly called "public education," although it is not really public and the exact amount of education that occurs there is debatable. Often, it is indoctrination that takes place, not education. Critical thinking is not even on the menu and it is the Department of Labor that provides a lot of the guidance to the Department of Education. This is because part of the purpose of the "public education" system is to train the youth grow up and become a workhorse for the system that the government has already put in place.
From a very early age children are asked "What do you want to be when you grow up?" The unfortunate reply expected to this question is some sort of job title. A doctor, a lawyer, a farmer, a pilot... the options are almost without limit. However, it is not our "profession" that identifies us, in my opinion, nor what everyone's goal needs to be "when they grow up."
Many children have no idea what they want "to be" when they grow up. Sometimes this question remains unanswered into adulthood. I am not bashing anyone who aspires to a certain profession. We are all free to choose if we would like to work a certain job or not. However, I personally am opting out of answering this question in the traditional manner.
Whatever job I may or may not work will eventually pass. It is not my goal in life to build bridges, mow lawns, be a politician, or lay hardwood flooring. It is not my goal to become a cashier, drive a forklift, sell used cars, or be a TV host. Even if I wanted to do such things, they would eventually pass and then I would too.
For @papa-pepper, what I want to be when I grow up is simple.
A husband and a father.
Yes, it is simple, but it is also extreme. To live out my days loving my wife and raising my children is more important to me than any job. If I could accomplish my goals of being a husband and father without working a job then I would opt for that.
Too often it seems that too many people are too busy earning a living to actually enjoy living a life. It is not that kind of living that I desire. Sure, I work my butt off and have worked at a lot of jobs in my time, but they are to help me fulfill my goals as a husband and father, not just to have the job title or work in that field.
Once I retire, hopefully I will still have @mama-pepper by my side. It looks like only death can separate us, so that goal should be achievable. No matter how good I could be at most jobs, eventually I would have to give them up and retire I don't want to have to "retire" from what is most important to me, therefore, it can't be a profession. Also, I think that too many people look back at the end of their lives and wish that they had spent more time with their spouses and children (if they have any) rather than wishing that they would have spent more time at the office.
At some point last week I actually answered the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" with "A husband and a father." I had been doing some thinking on that subject previously, but actually answering the question that way got me thinking about the whole deal a little more.
It is this goal that caused @papa-pepper to move to Arkansas with @mama-pepper and the @little-peppers. It is this goal that is fueling our current lifestyle change and progression towards the homesteading, self-sufficient lifestyle. The less bills we have to pay and the more of our own needs we take care of ourselves, the less money we will need. The less money that we need, the better the probability that we can earn however much we need from home.
If breeding animals, propagating plants, selling produce, and blogging on steemit can provide for whatever financial needs that we have, then I will have more time to focus on being a husband and a father. Obviously, I am exercising my freedom to evaluate my own life, goals, and purpose here, and I am only sharing my opinion. Yours may be different, and you are free to conclude otherwise. I just wanted to share some of my recent thoughts with all of you. Enjoy them for what they are worth.
As always, I'm @papa-pepper and here's the proof:
proof-of-husband-and-father
Until next time…
Don’t waste your time online, invest it with steemit.com
