Originally Posted by
SkyHigh
I am sure that most people expect to be at least a little bit miserable while at work. That is why it is called work in the first place. Accepting that fact is a part of growing up and of developing a work ethic. As a result most are well compensated for their sacrifices.
At 10 Million a year your attorney relative must have sacrificed and most likely will continue to do so. However he will only have to suffer for a short time in his life then he can retire well off to enjoy whatever he likes. As a pilot industry turmoil will insure that pilots will perpetually be miserable outside of the flight deck and will have to keep working well after the age of 65.
We get what we give. Choosing a career based on fun now will only serve to push the bill onto your later years.
SkyHigh
Point is that there is no magic formula for happiness, or any given set of circumstances that guarantee it. My attorney bother-in-law is seeing a shrink, taking anxiety, BP meds and Ambien just to keep going and recently had a burst blood vessel in his eye due to the stress in the court room. He has none of the burdens on his shoulders that you endlessly bemoan regarding flying for a living, yet he is far less happy than many of the "common" laborers that dig ditches for 20K a year. All the money in the world and he'll likely have no retirement because he will have assumed room temperature by then. It has far more to do with the individual than what he or she does or has. I've been through the career ringer (five carriers), and if I had quit when you did perhaps I'd be bitter as well...who knows. Now I work half the year and it's never been better...best part time job I've ever had. Having (for the time being at least) recently beat prostate cancer (yet another life trial) I am yet again reaping the benefits of not giving up, wringing my hands and running around telling other they should be miserable. I'd rather accentuate the possibilities of achievement rather than basque in the misery of resignation...but that's me.
Whatever makes you feel good, or justify feeling bad I suppose. Rock on Wayne!