So a journalist named Adam Weinstein has written an essay that I find interesting. It’s written in response to something I read — and obviously so did he — about how people of his generation (Gen Y) are spoiled and have too big of a sense of entitlement and shouldn’t whine so much about not being rich and famous yet.
I don’t want to express an opinion about the original article. I think all of us suffer from our own self-delusions and such, it’s not unique to one generation.
What I do find interesting is the attitude Mr. Weinstein expresses in his essay. He describes himself as broke, underemployed, perpetually renting, burdened by student debt, etc. He seems, from his essay, very very disappointed with his financial position in life.
Now, I don’t know what he makes, and I’m not going to put what I make on a blog. But it’s really hard for me to imagine that he makes less than me. I make more than the average per capita income in Montana, but far far less than President Obama’s definition of “the rich.” Less by a decimal place and then some.
And yet I’m pretty content.
Yeah, I’m always shaking the piggy bank the last day or two before payday. Yeah, my condo is a long way from the home I want. Yes, I could easily find a way to put more money to very good use.
But basically, I’m alright. Could I use more money? Sure. Is the lack of it hurting me? No.
So Mr. Weinstein has had a pretty cool writing career. He’s writing for a lot of national publications (obviously different ones than I would write for), and making a living at it. I once wanted to be a professional writer — maybe someday I still will.
But from my perspective, it looks like he’s a very fortunate man. He seems to have a lot of things I wish I had — not least a family.
(No doubt that family contributes to the greater sense of financial hardship he feels, but still, it seems like a great gift.)
So why do I feel content, and he feels broke and trapped by debt?
I am not a better money manager than he is, I promise you.
I’m sure the authors of the original article that he was responding to would have an idea of the answer to my question. But I don’t like their answer. It’s belittling and not meant to treat him with respect.
He’s a professional writer, has a family, has people all around the country reading his work and having their politics influenced by what he writes…
I’m a small state party ED who doesn’t make very much money, has almost infinitely-less influence than outside observers seem to think, and is still patiently waiting in terms of family.
By everything that I wanted when I was a child, I should envy him. Instead, he feels trapped and broke, and I feel like I’m blessed beyond imagining.
I’m not going to answer the question of why he feels bad and I feel good. All I’m going to do is thank Jesus for the contentment I have.
(Update: I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that LinkedIn says I’m 3 degrees removed from him. Probably one of the Romney campaign guys I worked with knows someone who knows him.)