(no subject)

[geekchick]

I was pretty spoiled growing up, I admit it. I don't think I was spoiled rotten (but then, who ever thinks they are/were?) and I of course didn't get everything I ever wanted, but if there was something I truly had my heart set on, odds were reasonably good that I could have it. Except for a pony. I never, ever got one of those, no matter how much I begged. Or a rocketship, either. I guess I should specify "if my parents thought it was reasonable". One of the lessons adulthood provided was that just because you really, really want something, that doesn't mean you're going to get it. This is of course one of those lessons that you get to learn the hard way. Over and over again. Intellectually, I know that no matter how much I might want these things, there's little to no guarantee that what I want will ever come to pass; life just doesn't work like that. It would take less mental energy to just relax and let what's going to happen, happen. I know that, I do. However, there's still the remnants of a spoiled little child somewhere inside (and if I'm being totally honest with myelf, she's not buried particularly deeply, if at all) that thinks that intensity of desire really ought to count for something, and that I've been patient and I've been good and I ate all my vegetables -- even the nasty brussels sprouts -- and now I deserve my pony, damnit.

Comments

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

You do deserve a pony. (nods)

[quasigeostrophy.livejournal.com]

I don't think I was spoiled rotten (but then, who ever thinks they are/were?)

Oh, I probably was. ;-)

*hands you keys to pony*

Sometimes things can be done, though

[telnar.livejournal.com]

There is a flip side to this, though, which I consider one of the great things about being an adult: Constraints are mostly real rather than arbitrary. Because the reasons that one can't do something are properties of the world rather than "because I said so," it's often possible to fix them by setting priorities.

For example, I suspect that you can have a pony if you want it badly enough to give it priority over other things in your life. It probably just isn't that important to you. Let's look at some of the reasons that you "can't" have a pony (btw, I do know that the pony is just a metaphor, but one that I'll stick with).

-- Ponies are expensive

True, but not so expensive that working longer hours, or giving up other things (e.g. by moving to a smaller house/apartment) wouldn't generate enough money to pay for the cost of buying and keeping a pony.

-- There's nowhere to put a pony near where you live

True, but where you live can also be changed. If that requires changing where you work, or who you socialize with, those things also are chageable. It may not be worth it to you to make all those changes, but that speaks to whether you want a pony badly enough, not to whether it's possible.

While some desires are genuinely impossible based on things like our current understanding of physics, human biology or human psychology (e.g. wanting to be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound), I think that it's far more common to find not that something is simply impossible, but that it requires more sacrifice than one is willing to pay for it.

There's a world of difference between not being able to get a pony and not being able to keep everything one already has and also get a pony. If nothing else, the fact that the pony is at least a theoretical possibility means that those who value it enough (as well as those who are fortunate enough to be able to get it at lower cost) will have a way to attain it.

Re: Sometimes things can be done, though

[geekchick]

That's all true, of course, depending on the exact nature of the pony. Sometimes the pony already belongs to someone else who wants it just as much as you do; you can have a similar pony, but not that exact one. And sometimes the pony you want doesn't actually exist, and all the wishful thinking in the world won't make it available to you by any means.

[thunderbunny3.livejournal.com]

You I'm not going to get Angelina Jolie in a red dress and black stockings (http://www.imadethis.org/designsbyisa/AJGQMarch2004Cover.jpg) to show up wanting me desperately on my door step?

*pout*

Still, I think we all should chip in and get you that pony!

[nminusone.livejournal.com]

Sod the pony, let's all chip in and get Angelina Jolie!

[geekchick]

Angelina Jolie in a ponygirl outfit? *hopeful look*

[thunderbunny3.livejournal.com]

Oh crap, thanks for that mental image! How am I supposed to work today with that image rattling around in my noggin?

*looks down*

Down boy! Now is not the time to play!

[geekchick]

Dude, you so totally started it. ;)

[thunderbunny3.livejournal.com]

Did not!

[nminusone.livejournal.com]

Well I wasn't gonna go there, but yeah, since we're paying I figure she should dress up however we want! Pity I'm too big to get a ride though. ;)

[winterbadger]

Hmmmm... *eyes glaze over*

What about geekchick in a ponygirl outfit? *innocently lecherous glance*