THAT was a damn amazing essay! I'm going to confess, I got a little choked up at the end of it. I realized I do have the American dream. I can pay the mortgage . I have my church and my friends. I think the "good life" is still the heart of America. But, even if I did not have this, I would still yearn for the American dream. But, this is a big but, immigrants have to do it the right way and want the dream.
Thank you -- and yes, sometimes all of us get so focused on what we don't have or still need to do that it's easy to lose sight of all the things we do have and have done right.
Most people don’t realize just how good their life is. I think part of this is they don’t live/work or know people in different positions. Having always been in Ag I see and interact with people (often Hispanic) that lack as much economic and educational advantages that I have. They are good people just don’t have the advantages that I had. I also work with other PhD and DVM. There are good and bad people at all levels. Don’t be one of the people that would bitch if you were hung with a new rope.
In Mexico, the minimum wage is basically $12 per hour and a 1/3 country makes it. I still remember being on a tour that was a little pricey, tipping the driver basically the equivalent of about $12 -- which wasn't required -- and noticing that his face just lit up. A lot of people are doing better here than they realize.
It's really the work / life balance, flexibility, and the purpose in and outside of it that makes or breaks it.
THAT was a damn amazing essay! I'm going to confess, I got a little choked up at the end of it. I realized I do have the American dream. I can pay the mortgage . I have my church and my friends. I think the "good life" is still the heart of America. But, even if I did not have this, I would still yearn for the American dream. But, this is a big but, immigrants have to do it the right way and want the dream.
Thank you -- and yes, sometimes all of us get so focused on what we don't have or still need to do that it's easy to lose sight of all the things we do have and have done right.
Most people don’t realize just how good their life is. I think part of this is they don’t live/work or know people in different positions. Having always been in Ag I see and interact with people (often Hispanic) that lack as much economic and educational advantages that I have. They are good people just don’t have the advantages that I had. I also work with other PhD and DVM. There are good and bad people at all levels. Don’t be one of the people that would bitch if you were hung with a new rope.
In Mexico, the minimum wage is basically $12 per hour and a 1/3 country makes it. I still remember being on a tour that was a little pricey, tipping the driver basically the equivalent of about $12 -- which wasn't required -- and noticing that his face just lit up. A lot of people are doing better here than they realize.