Drew'sgirl, I'm sorry if I offended you. I just have a BIG problem with the term "deserve". To me, "deserve" and "entitled" are very closely related and I have trouble with both. We talk in the US Declaration of Independence about "inalienable rights". I believe ALL mankind deserves/is entitled to these. Anything we get above this by hard work or sheer luck is a blessing. Most people work very hard their entire lives and yet never have any luxury items. I do believe if someone has the means (has taken care of housing and educating their children and is financially responsible), then they have the right to buy whatever they desire and should feel no guilt for doing so. But most never are able to be responsible and have enough left over for truly luxurious items.
When I was divorced at age 32 and had two very young children and meagre child support and alimony, I had to learn ways to "pamper" myself without it costing much money. I found innumerable ways - a hot soak in the tub with good soap after the children were asleep, cozying up with a good book and a down comforter, lunch (that I packed myself) in the park with a good friend - these were just a few. As I had more means, I added slipping into bed at night onto good sheets that were ironed. Ah, bliss!
Most of us have so many blessings bestowed on us in life - a good marriage, children, family, friends. I believe we must never forget to be grateful for these blessings, and blessings they are. If these blessings include wealth/financial comfort that allows for the purchase of luxury items, then that's just frosting on the cake.
Those of us on tpf love this brand. Hermes makes many beautiful things. But they are a luxury that most can't even fathom ever owning, and those who can't must find other ways to feel "special"/"rewarded" for their hard labors. Going into debt to buy "things" that make one feel this way is a fleeting satisfaction. And putting stress on ones marriage in order to have them is just not worth it.
I am truly sorry that your job is not satisfying to you. I watched my father work for 42 years in a frustrating, unsatisfying environment (many of those years during the depression when he was lucky to have ANY job!), and it does take a toll. He turned to various hobbies for greater fulfillment, as a career change was impossible.
A few people are blessed to have jobs/careers that they truly enjoy and would feel diminished if they could not do each day; most of us are relegated to working at jobs that are not too difficult to get out of bed each morning and go to, but could be left behind in the blink of an eye if one won the lottery. It is part of life's great unfairness.
I hope you are able to find more satisfaction in your job - it's hard to do ones best when it's unpleasant. But in the end, virtue must be its own reward.
lol
