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A Sense of More

February 20, 2009

Everyday I take the train to work and look around to see the numerous people with faces that seem to have only despairing expression as they drag their kids to school, or unhappily head to work/school, or just commute from one place to another. It looks as if they are trying to just survive or get through to tomorrow. They're eating potato chips and drinking pop, snacking on cakes and every unhealthy quick food possible. The day just exists as time, not an opportunity. People need to want more and I don't mean more money or more stuff, but more happiness.

People who know me always describe me as happy and optimistic. It has nothing to do with my life being better than others; I am not the smartest, I am not the richest, I am not the most anything. I am just happy that I have another opportunity to do more everyday. My parents instilled in me a lot of important things growing up, but one of the greatest lessons was that I was capable of anything. Life is only what you make of it and you can make it anything you want of life.

Both parents are social workers, so its not like they made a ton of money and my father struggled with substance abuse issues until I was 2. However, they always gave me support, love, and encouragement. Through those three things they made sure I ate a breakfast; oatmeal, cereal, waffles, microwaveable pancakes, or fruit, but something to start my day off right. I could never begin my day with candy, chips, pop, or any other similar junk food. Their philosophy was that how I started will ultimately determine how I finish. As I write I do have to distinguish that my parents weren't together, but both had the same philosophy on raising this boy to become a MAN.

My mother wound up getting her Masters of Social Work after 7 years of night school in 1997. My father wound up getting his Bachelors of Arts in 1996 when I was in high school. Neither was an ideal situation, but nothing stopped them from obtaining more. Sure they had to make some sacrifices and sure they had to rearrange their schedule, but ultimately it was the best decision. They could have just accepted their current circumstances, but for them, it wasn't about the "today", rather the future. Even today, my aunt who is 52, is in school working towards her bachelor’s degree.

I have always been taught that there is more to life than today, right now, current circumstances and my real job is to savor, enjoy and get more out of everyday. I have never felt that there wasn't something I couldn't do, mind you there are things I don't want to do, but I have always felt that I am capable of anything. It is my chose how I live life and my choice to either wake up every morning and just wander through the day until the night or wake up every morning and rejoice in the fact that I will get more out of today than I did yesterday.

This has nothing to do with real problems that we all face everyday; from health, to housing, to employment, to security, to the thousand of other issues that will need my attention everyday. However I still have to want more. I can not let my today hold me back from my tomorrow and only I can decide what that tomorrow will bring. I hope more people begin to realize that they have the ability to obtain more. If you are going to start the day already discouraged, then you are going to finish that way. Wake up and know that you have the opportunity for more.

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  • Jason Wiley

    New York,
    United States

  • I am a marketing executive at Jive Records, but life is about more than where I work.I am a dedicated husban…

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Jason's Latest Commentary (6)

  • November 17, 2008

    Voting is suppose to be anonymous, so I question the validity of the poll.  Also, who was responsible for the poll?  Either way, I don''t quite understand how allowing someone to be committed and become a more stable home can be bad for anyone?  Also, how does other people getting married affect others, i.e. even if a heterosexual couple gets married tomorrow, it won''t affect me, so why would a gay couple affect me.  "RIGHTS" is a powerful word and why shouldn''t everyone have the same rights?  I thought that was the point of this country....  If someone can explain why it''s so bad for same sex marriage other than, I think it''s wrong, then I will agree, as of now, I could care less if anyone wants to get married.  Because I have heard a lot of reasons why it is bad if a committed couple can''t be married; i.e., legal, in death decisions, property, etc.

  • November 11, 2008

    It''s interesting because both of our recent posts are about the overwhelming emotions that we are all feeling by the election of Barack Obama.  There are a lot of hard times ahead of our new President.  I hope we all give him time and work to help him accomplish the necessary things to make this country successful.

  • September 26, 2008

    I know I will do my part to make sure it happens next year.  Even though I spent most of my time in the hospital.  I would do it all again to make sure the picnic happens

  • August 4, 2008

    Okay, but lets be honest, there is a general type of person who is urinating in public, in the middle of the day, with no influence of alcohol or drugs.  Is it good to start that path with a child so early? 

  • July 20, 2008

    This is where I have always wondered about the translation of the Bible, because I do not believe that anyone should ever fear, i.e. be scared, nervous or un sure about GOD, but always have faith that his will and his love will carry you through anything.  To me, by having faith in him and believing in his WORD, you will always try to live life as he would want you.  Unfortunately, everyone is human, so no one can ever live life perfectly as we should, but in trying to live a GODly life, you are also assuring and displaying to everyone your Faith in GOD.  If I have Faith in him, why would I Fear him?

  • June 30, 2008

    does it really mean family

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