I love what you wrote here because it typifies the struggle of younger American adults to understand the country around them. I didn't say "world around them" because the majority of them haven't been out in the world. They've been living in the "American Dream" the entire time, not realizing just how fragile it really is, let alone what it really is. It's as fragile as a soap bubble and so many people are trying to burst it thinking they can just make a new one. It's not that simple.

The American Dream isn't about "owning a bunch of shit" and working until you die, and your relatives fight over your shit or sell it in a yard sale, giving the rest to charity. It's about the ability to own the shit, the ability to buy, sell and trade the shit, and the ability to dream about having a job where you aren't shoveling shit or mining shit for a living, saving up the money to be able to leave that same shit to your relatives so that maybe they don't have as difficult of a time making shit comfortable/livable like you had to do. If you're conscientious and work hard, you might have enough shit set aside so that you can donate it to help other people (who might need shit) can have some too. It's a carefully maintained illusion, but sometimes to have a chance at peace and happiness, you go along with it for the sake of everyone else around you. Because if this soap bubble pops, America will be a very ugly place. We're talking Pol Pot's Cambodia type of ugly. People never learn.

The American Dream is all about the people and the dream of being able to stand on our own two feet, be grateful for what we have, the ability to say/think what we want without asking anyone else's permission to be our own person. I've been to a couple of third-world countries and believe me, America's young people have NO idea what it means to not even have a pot to piss in. In those countries, they would kill to have what most take for granted in this nation. So if people want to go ahead and pop the soap bubble of America, fine, but remember that as soon as you do, that someone else will come to take your shit. That's why we owe everything we have to the grace of almighty God, not Mammon. Life isn't about passion, it's about survival, and in America we have it pretty good right now. Enjoy it while it lasts.

[We’ve] been conditioned all our lives to believe that if we do everything according to plan, go to school, get a job, make money, get a house, fill it with shit, then we are supposed to be happy.com//
Bingo!! So ... you wrote a great post on what ones passion should not be. Can you tell us in a second post, what your passion actually is?

I'm reminded of a comment made by psychologist and family counsellor John Bradshaw about the difference between a person as "a human doing" rather than "a human being"...

Good post.

I know what you mean . I never start on opportunities to shock the world . I suspect the world doesn't care enough to be shocked.

By the way, i think using passions can be a good thing and a bad thing. If younare a productive member to yourself and your family..... that is if you work full time and provide for yourself and your family, then you can passion all you want. If you can not and do not provide for yourself and your family then figure that out before being concerned about any passion. Its a survive or die kind of thing. If your passion can not immediately provide for your needs, then do something to provide for your needs first and now.. Work on the passion later.

Very good post. Good read as well. I think that in general people in the U.S. watch too much television and utilize social media too much also. Thats not to say that some of each is bad. I do not have television at home, i do have internet and i do use social media. I use it for about 30 or so minutes after i am awake and possibly one short time separate od that in a day. I restrict myself and my time on social media because it tends to be a negative. When i am not at work i spend time in my wood shop, or with the dog or horses. I choose to do those things instead od watching tv or other screen type activities. Those things are a positive in my life. I had to put away the negative things and choose the positive things. My outlook on my life, my attitude, my energy has all been impacted for the better because of my choice of positive. I guess all i am really trying to say is this. WHAT WE THINK ABOUT THE MOST WILL MANIFEST IN OUR LIVES. choose to think about what you want in your life. Make changes to limit or reastrict the things you want to diminish in your life. Then feel the changes from within.

Very good post. Good read as well. I think that in general people in the U.S. watch too much television and utilize social media too much also. Thats not to say that some of each is bad. I do not have television at home, i do have internet and i do use social media. I use it for about 30 or so minutes after i am awake and possibly one short time separate od that in a day. I restrict myself and my time on social media because it tends to be a negative. When i am not at work i spend time in my wood shop, or with the dog or horses. I choose to do those things instead od watching tv or other screen type activities. Those things are a positive in my life. I had to put away the negative things and choose the positive things. My outlook on my life, my attitude, my energy has all been impacted for the better because of my choice of positive. I guess all i am really trying to say is this. WHAT WE THINK ABOUT THE MOST WILL MANIFEST IN OUR LIVES. choose to think about what you want in your life. Make changes to limit or reastrict the things you want to diminish in your life. Then feel the changes feom

Very good post. Good read as well. I think that in general people in the U.S. watch too much television and utilize social media too much also. Thats not to say that some of each is bad. I do not have television at home, i do have internet and i do use social media. I use it for about 30 or so minutes after i am awake and possibly one short time separate od that in a day. I restrict myself and my time on social media because it tends to be a negative. When i am not at work i spend time in my wood shop, or with the dog or horses. I choose to do those things instead od watching tv or other screen type activities. Those things are a positive in my life. I had to put away the negative things and choose the positive things. My outlook on my life my attitude,

Well, was able to like your post from my phone. I'm new here, like what you said and agree.