Life

United States
January 15, 2008 8:22am CST
That's Life. You ever hear those words? That's Life. Yuo know, like when something bad happens in your life and someone says "That's Life". I have a story about lifes difficulties and how it relates to me. My Wife and I were doing pretty well financialy. We had a nice house in a nice addition. 2 new cars in the garage. We were'nt rich by any means, but we were comfortable. We would jump in the car and go on a 3-4 day mini-vacation or if we wanted to gamble, we would hop a flight to Vegas for the weekend. In 2003 it all came crashing down. My wife lost her job in october of that year. She had been at that job for 10 years and was making real good money. Then in december, the back pain that I had been fighting took a greater control of my life. I could no longer do what I loved to do. As I said before, we were not rich but were comfortable. We went from $100,000 a year between us all the way down to $15,000. What a change!! Not a whole lot we could do. You do'nt give up, but sometimes you do'nt know how you go on. We sold 1 of the cars, had to sell the house and move into a lower priced one. but you go on. Things happen that you have no control over and I guess that's the hard thing to take. How do you plan on the unexpected? We were living large and it caught up with us. We needed to plan, but did not think we needed to do it then. We learned. Now we get by and it's ok! I mean, you can't give up, right? THAT"S LIFE!
3 people like this
9 responses
@maxsee212 (799)
• United States
16 Jan 08
in fact, i hear this word almost everyday when i go to work because one of my workmate decided to say this everytime we got nothing to do and whenever he feels like it. most of the time, he talks about life being miserable. i mean, nobody wants to hear this kind of crap almost everyday. i am inclined to let him know that what his saying pisses me off and i dislike it. i never heard him say anything possitive about his life. there's always something wrong. maybe this guy needs to go to a psychologist or something because i think he/she really need some counceling or maybe i'm the one who needs couseling.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Jan 08
holy crap!! is that you max?
• United States
18 Jan 08
HOLY CRAP! IS THAT YOU MAX? I swear I won't say it again!
@squaretile (3778)
• Singapore
16 Jan 08
yes, that's life and that's the uncertainty of the modern day economy. I would say at least you still have each other. And it's encouraging that you've stood by each other through these financial struggles. We should be prepared to live in plenty and to live in want. I guess you never know, you might get a better job again and things will go back to a similar level as what you were used to before. All the best, my friend.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Jan 08
Thank you. I guess that I was happy when we had all those things, but I am going to say that they were distractions. They kept my mind going and all I thought about was our things. Now we don't have them and guess what, I don't think about them anymore. You know, I really don't miss it either.
@izathewzia (5134)
• Philippines
16 Jan 08
Yes, it is the common words uttered to relieve once feelings. But if we will think about it, it not life or life is not that really. It is our actions that makes life like that. So if something went wrong, it's our action and decision that should count most.
• United States
18 Jan 08
Yes, but are you going to say "that's my action" or just "that's life"?
@mjweed21 (693)
• Philippines
16 Jan 08
THe most constant thing in this world is change. We can't control it. Sometimes, we think that life is so unfair because of some circumstances that we are facing. But all the while, we can't blame others instead it is ours who who commited a mistake. It depends upon our decision. All I can say is, let's all be careful to our decision for whatever we have decided will soon refelcts on us. And try to learn how to accept a certain circumstances.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Jan 08
Thanks for the reply. I agree with you in the sense that sometimes people blame what has happened to them on some other force. That's human nature to put blame on someone or thing, other than ourselves. but, I did not write that so you would think that I blamed anyone but us. I would never put that kind of weight on anyone but the ones responsible.(us)
@jeet2728 (53)
• India
16 Jan 08
hey buddy i m sad sad to hear abut those terrible instances of your life. but dear one thing that i wanna tell u is that the word life in itself is composed all the phases of a person till when he is on this earth living.it comprises of all the dreadful,happy,sorrow,and all other phases.and thats why at the end of such a situation is called "thats what life is". all these situations are then ramified with a single quote.but one should need to understand that it happens with everybody and one should hold his breath and let that time pass away and let time to heal all the injuries and dont let that situation to overwhelm upon urself
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Jan 08
No, I won't let that phrase define my life. It is just a catch-all phrase that kind of sums up the way that things happen and a way to put blame on something, other than someone!
• United States
16 Jan 08
The bigger you are the harder you fall. Let us all remember our humble beginnings, and if we didn't have humble beginnings, perhaps we should imagine them. We are not well off by any means, but we have come far in life, we would be devastated if one of us lost our job, but let me tell you, we have lived on less than one of our incomes, never mind the 2 we generate. We have a child. And knowing what poor is, let me just give you a hint, use coupons when you grocery shop, buy the Sunday papers from wherever you are(make sure they have coupons first) many stores double dollar coupons, and I seriously get over $200 in groceries a week for $60. I get things liek soap, shampoo, shaving gel, razors, dog treats, cleaning stuff and cereal for free or for less than 50 cents. Check it out. Good luck!
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Jan 08
yeah, that was me. I was living large and loving it. I understand that we walk a fine line and all it takes is to fall off on the wrong side. I use more coupons than I used to. When I was growing up, I can remember my Dad sleeping all the time. He was'nt lazy by any means. He slept because He had 3 jobs. He wanted us kids to have more than He had. I miss him. He passed away in '93 at the young age of 76. now there was a man I admired!
@missybal (4490)
• United States
16 Jan 08
That's tough. Yeah, my family went through stuff like that when I was growing up so my mother taught me well about planning for the unexpected and even know you can afford it now you need to consider what if. Well my husband and I almost bought a house that we could afford the payments on based on our income but then it would have been hard if anything where to happen. We decided what he were approved for and what we should get is different. It's only the two of us and if we do have kids it will only be one and so we plan to buy a cheap fixer upper and even know it won't be all we want we will not have to worry if something happens. I try to pay things off as soon as possible. That way if something happens I don't have to worry that our car will be taken away. If we buy a house we are looking to make sure it would be in our current budget that we can pay it off in 5-7 years, not committing to 30 years. It's sad that people buy a house that they really do need the full 30 years in order to pay it off. Really you end up paying so much more in interest. If you keep your bills low than you are able to save more and if your immediate bills are low you don't have as much to worry about if something happens. But people go for all they want the way they want it too fast and think I'm making good money so I can afford to go into debt. Like cars. My father in law lives alone and he has a truck a car and two motorcycles... All I can say is why. He can't drive them all at the same time and he complains he doesn't have any money.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Jan 08
I can understand. I really did not know how to handle that kind of loss until it happened. I just could not forsee that kind of thing. But now I am better off because I have been through it. I could not have that many toys! I mean, if he's a collector, ok...But.
@r0ck_r0ck (1952)
• India
15 Jan 08
there no plans for the sudden bad days, even if u seems to b plaing for bad days, but guess wat when ur days r meant to bad its goona get bad alll the way. so my frnd the only thing u goota do is to hold on n go on n i bet some day u guys will b the world is so beautiful tonight. have faithin god, carry on. gl n my best wishes.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Jan 08
You're right. you just cannot plan for those kinds of things. And i know that when things get bad, they cannot get as bad as it had been. Thank you
• United States
15 Jan 08
Wow pawpaw. I know things like this happen, but we never expect them to happen to us. The good part is, you got through it.....Somehow, we always do. My mom used to tell me, "It'll all come out in the wash". She was right. I didn't understand what she really meant all those years ago, but I've learned to understand it through the years. That's life........It's not the issues that matter, but how we deal with them that counts. In the end, we see that we are much better off somehow. My husband and I lived the way you describe. Nice cars, big house, lots of stuff, - - - livin' the life.....We went from a huge place in the country to a small cottage in town. From 3 vehicles to one, from more money than we knew what to do with, to his one paycheck..But - we feel much better off now because we don't have all of that 'stuff' hanging over us. You're right - we can't give up. We just have to go forward and do the best we can do with what we have to do with.
• United States
18 Jan 08
Did We have the same Mother? (lol) Same thing I heard.