This Terrible Tuesday I thought I would tackle the sin of ENVY.Envy is a nasty, nasty thing. To not only be unsatisfied with what you have, to be ungrateful, but to also covet what is not yours...well, it just seems to bring out the worst in people.
Envy is the sin that leads people to commit dumb crimes. You know the ones I'm talking about. When a bully beats up another kid to steal his sneakers. When a group of guys assaults a lone kid on the subway simply to snatch his iPod. So. Effing. Stupid.
I am guilty of envy to a certain degree. I think we all are. Some of us have extreme envy, others just a touch.
My particular envy is pretty mild. I don't tend to be envious of others' beauty. I'm satisfied with myself. I don't tend to be envious of others' possessions. I think when you own too much, your things tend to own you. I don't tend to envy money. I'm a realist who knows that there is a level of wealth that is simply out of my reach. I will never own a home here, have a summer house in Miami, and a condo in the city. I'm ok with that. [Ok, fine, so I would totally die for a condo in Manhattan, but whatever.]
My envy is geared towards something much more general: Security.
I envy the security of a steady income that others have. [There is nothing steady about the trucking industry.] I envy the security of those who own their own home. I would love to own my own home. Not a big house. I'm not looking for acres of property. Hell, I don't even care if it only has one bathroom, so long as it's mine. Just thinking about my children coming home from school to an actual house makes my heart ache with longing. I envy the security of those who do not have to pick and choose which bills to pay each month. I envy the security of those who do not have to stick to a rigid budget at the grocery store in order to also afford to put gas in the tank. I envy the security of those who can send their children off to school with confidence because they know the school system is a good one. I am envious of those who don't have a constant tension in their chest due to the precarious nature of their finanicial situation. I'm envious of those who sleep in peace instead of having uncomfortable dreams about the bottom falling out from underneath their feet.
I know that someday I'll have the security that I envy so. However, at this time, in this job market, that someday seems so far away. For now, all I have is my envy...and my hope.
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Thanks Jill for giving the seven deadly sins a virtual rebirth.
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20 comments:
Oh, honey...you know I'm completely with you on this one! For all the same reasons, and the same desire.
As am I, and for the same reasons.
that's how I feel about finishing college.
*correction*
That's how I feel about NOT finishing college.
Awwww... honey. You have a plan though. I thought it was super great. Perfect hours for a mommy.
And Dude.
Move to Ohio. The housing prices are cheap. You can buy a starter home in our school district for pennies.
Would you be my neighbor?
This is an awesome post!
The way the econony is-there are alot of people feeling the same lack of security you wrote about. It's a scary time for all of us.
I hope things get better soon!
Wow, this post really hit home to me. We're in a similar situation - living in rental accommodation, can't see any way out of it. And wanting to own your own home is completely about security. Knowing where your kids will go to school. Feeling okay about where your kids will go to school. Knowing where you'll be living in five years. Awesome post, Lunanik.
This post hit close to home on so many levels for me. Let me say that my head actually aches from nodding yes so much. I guess all we really can do is keep pushing forward. Keep trying to rise above the envy and do our damnedest to make it a reality.
Another incredible post! Bravo
so very true. I finally just purchased my own 1 bedroom condo and that was with help from my Dad!!
I am with you on this one. I'm not very materialistic either, but I would like to know that I won't be living in a cardboard box when I retire. We're comfortable now, but that little bit of worry for the future still needles at the back of my brain.
Great post. Envy is my biggest pet peeve - I can 't stand jealousy and those that are obsessed with it - you know!!
Have a good evening - see you - Kellan
Wow great post, will you please skip me this week...:)
What an honest interpretation of an all too common situation, I agree with the other comments there are so many people that can identify with you.
It's interesting though after reading your blog for the last few weeks I can understand your "envy" which is really not envy just a desire for security and on the other side I think that you probably have some things that others would envy.
This world is definitely an interesting place.
Wonderfully written, absolutely beautiful.
You struck the nail right on the head. Envy doesn't have to be a huge green monster, it can be a tiny green tree frog sitting on your should quietly croaking it's whispered message.
I totally get what you're saying.
What a great post..I have really enjoyed this series.. you are rocking the hell out of each of the seven sins.. I seriously wait until I see your post on Tuesday's now because I know it is going to be a great post..
It's sad to me that I have many of the things you're envious of but still I am envious of other things. Envy really is a deadly sin...
Security envy here too - I don't think it is envy as such as being sacred for the future and wanting peace of mind.
Great post.
awh nikki,
i loved your "kindness of strangers" post. just beautiful. glad for you that someone blessed your life so much.
take care, beany
and nikki, thanks for this envy post as well. you make great points. good reminders to read tonight. reminds me to try to be more thankful. thank you for sharing, beany
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