Am I Living Or Surviving?

Answer me this, does this sister have kids? Does she have a loving , respectful hubby? I think it was wrong for her to compare her life with yours. Everybody has their own definition of happiness. See I almost killed myself because I Thought I Had to want what others said was normal to want. It took some time but I Now know Everybody is different. Ask yourself this, are you happy? Do you enjoy being with your hubby and kids. I mean if given the choice between Not being married to your hubby and having money to " have fun" and having life as it is what would you choose? Raising children and being a good wife to Hubby Is not just surviving. It is sad that your sister can't see that.

For me it's not necessarily a monetary thing. The difference between living and surviving for me has to do with having your freedom. I know far too many people who are in controlling relationships either with parents, other family, or a partner or spouse, and anybody in a situation like that regardless of their 'lifestyle' is NOT living. For the record, some people don't really like to go get their nails done lol. I will get a mani or pedi from time to time, I took my daughter on Mother's Day but when you look at all the people who have fake nails and get them done every other week, heck no. Do YOU think you do some fun things? Not everything fun requires money

What is surviving to one is living to another. I don't get my nails done, either and I don't go out to eat of go to the salon to get my hair done every month. I haven't been on a real vacation for a few years... but I'm doing much more than surviving and I think you are too. I enjoy my life. My house, my garden, my crafts and so on. You enjoy your kids, don't you? And your husband and your house? Don't let someone else's definition of "living" define yours. From your posts I've read, you're doing far more than "surviving." There is much more to life than taking vacations and getting your nails done.

Living and surviving is a problem of perspective. Your sister would be miserable living as you do and you proably would not like her life if you could have it. Many years ago, we talked about this with a friend and discovered that we needed a lot less money to have fun than poor people need. We are happy buying a second hand book and reading it so we don´t need the latests gadgets. I don´t go to a restaurant unless I´m invited, but I love to cook and invite my friends to cheap gourmet cooking. I have been thinking for about 8 years wheather I should get my nails done. Most of my best clothes are over 10 years old but I feel great in them. I´m living, friend. I´m even living and not surviving even now that I must only plan my life for 2 and a half months at the most because of my lymphoma.

I do think about living vs. just surviving. If it were just me alone, I don't think I would have any problems with just surviving. Even if all the people around me seem to be 'living it up'. But I do have kids. And sometimes I have doubts that I might be depriving them of 'living' if I don't let them experience a few things once in a while. I don't have a lot in terms of means, so I just put my bar really low.

Every one has his fate and his own way to go. Some people are born to have a carefree life and can enjoy the life a lot,while some are girdled by many matters in their life. I don't think surviving and living are very different, if you think taht the present life is what you want and there are a lo of things you cherish in your life. What kind of life I am living means little to me, that I know What I want matters.

You know what, you can have a wonderful time right where you are with little cost and some creativity. 1. nails done? Are you kidding? That would be a waste for me since I love gardening and playing some sports. 2. Go out to dinner? Seriously? Let some stranger prepare my food and I not know "exactly" what is in it? I rarely eat out and prefer to make my own food if I can. 3. Vacations? Yeah that could be nice, but only if I went by car, x-rays and body exams is not what I would find fun. Besides, if you don't have a bug enough yard, it really isn't much to go camping, bowling, skating, or whatever your interests are. So you are not surviving if you can make up fun things to do either for free or at low cost.

It sounds to me as if she brought you down with her words. Had she not said anything at all you would not have known a difference was even there to begin with. I think now though, that just means you've got to start a fund for "fun" or "vacation" it doesn't even have to be much you put in their, a penny a day if even that. It will add up and you'll see it grow. For me? Vacations are okay but I don't need them.

I think most of us are struggling these days. It is harder than ever to pay the bills. Entertainment and eating out is a luxury like getting your nails done or hair done.

Living with less or no luxury in life does not necessarily means youre just surviving..If we just learn to be contented and happy with what we have then we will not feel less..We are not rich, right now my husband's business cant still be considered promising for a wealthy future but still we make it a point to give in into some indulgence once in a while..coz what if we die tomorrow and yet that wealth we were working hard for to have a comfortable living has not come then we will die with dissatisfaction in life..?we were not able to enjoy life because our budget didnt allow us..? there is always a way how to enjoy in life..amount of dollars in the wallet should not be the basis of living a life with happiness..

When I got pregnant I only took care of my health and my baby until i gave birth. Since I was married already, I see no reason to take care of myself. Then my cousin, who is a nun, came for a visit when my son was baptized. Then she told me that I used to be the prettiest in our family but now she couldn't believe how much i've changed. She told me i should never neglect myself just because i'm married because even she, who's already a nun is having facials. It was then that i realized that just because i've got a kid and i'm married doesn't mean i only have to take care of them and not myself. So from then on, I started to pamper myself a little bit more.

I think the idea here is first we should learn how to survive first and save money even if it is small. Then at a later life of your own and if you save enough money through investing them, then you have a time to live your life to the fullest because all the money you are going to spend is coming from investments or passive income. Learn to sacrifice in the first and reap the benefits in the end. :)

Well I think that most of us just surviving these days. It is really hard to have fun when you have so much problems on your head. I think that we make our life how we want it to be. If you don't like the way you live why not try to change it. This is your life and you have to make it by the way you want it to be. I think I'm also like surviving because it is really hard to have fun. However I always find some time to go out with friends or go to a short holiday with my family and try to relax and forget about all problems I have. I really want to change something in the past and make my life easier but unfortunately this is the life and we can't change the past but I believe that we can change the future. We should do our life better one and if we can and we really want it to be than we should just make it.

There is no big difference between living and surviving, in today's life you have to survive for a living.

is she living or just trying to keep up with others? there really is no better reward than being a mom. i am sure some would think we are just surviving as our money is pretty tight but we enjoy things like walks, ice cream once in awhile, movies and books from the library. i would much rather live my life than be rich.

Are you happy? More importantly - are your children happy? I do like to go out to eat, but I've NEVER had my nails done - I get my hair cut at Supercuts, but not all that often. I know when I was younger I lived much closer to the edge, but I was happy.

Sometimes we land in situations that are beyond our control and we have to make the best of it.Except for a brief period in my life where i really enjoyed life,most of it has been that of survival which is continuing to this day.I have learnt to get rid of excesses in my life,sacrificed a great deal,stopped unnecessary and wasteful expenditure and got on with my life.I am not bothered with what others say or do, i just do my own thing and try to be happy and cheerful.

You are surviving. Your priorites are your children and there is nothing wrong with that! Your sister in living but does she have kids? Sounds like you sister has income to do things,like get her nails done and go on vacations! I wish I had the income to do stuff like that! Even though i live on my own by myself I am doing more of surviving then living which I wish i could do! If I had a better paying job,some money in my savings and just to be able to save money would be helpful! Easier said then done!

I've known for many years that I'm just surviving. Our jobs cover our basic needs, and everything our son needs right now. My husband is content. He enjoys television, and as long as he can come home and sit in front of the TV all night he's happy. He sees nothing wrong. So I guess he would consider himself to be living. But I want so much more out of life that I know I'll never have. If I think about it too much I get depressed over it all over again. People say that money can't buy happiness. I say, give me enough money and I would be a billion times happier than I am now. For me to "live" I would have to be able to quit my job. I would be a stay at home mom. I would play with my child, take him to wonderful and amazing places and teach him about the world.

I would say I am surving. I work two jobs on Tuesday thru Thursday I am at day work by 6:30am and I do not get home from second job after Midnight on those 3 days. Once I a while I fill in the weekend for vacation from the other two. I am single mother raising my two daughters who are now 1 in college and the other just graduated from college. The job market is hard for her and is living at home. I redid her bedroom the color she wants and got everything in the room she wants. I pay for her food and car insurance. She is paying her student loans and her car payment and gas and anything extra she wants. She works right now at Best Buy store locally until she find a teaching job in science for high schoolers. She is very bright person. She will fined something eventually I hope. So Yes, I am surving. I do not go out alot either and quite content to stay at home play in my garden or just sit for a while outside in my back yard and watch nature unfold in front me. Thanks Unique16