Gossip Girl and Gratitude

I spent most of the train trip watching Gossip Girl. All 13 episodes! And you know what, I thought I’d hate the entire show, but what I actually hate is the stupid narrative of “You know you love me, xoxo, Gossip Girl”.

Ugh. How juvie, although I understand. I think it’s based on a book for teenagers right?

But other than that, the show is pretty interesting and it deals with some very adult issues.

In that sense, I LOVE watching it. It’s all about the super rich Upper Eastsiders in New York and their lives (but they’re only just in high school), which makes all of what they do quite disturbing.

I kind of hope it’s a representation of the super rich, and not the reality, but for some reason I doubt it. All the problems of the superrich make me super happy to be who I am and clear about what I want out of life – meaning what I think is what the most important in life.

It got me thinking about what it would feel like to be superrich. Would I have the same problems? Drugs? Alcohol? The pressure to succeed? Having your life mapped out for you before you were even born? The expectations of your parents?

I definitely know what money doesn’t solve everything, or anything for that matter, because it’s just a tool to get what we want in the end. However…I want money and that’s the truth. My entire blog is partly about personal finance and getting out of debt so how could I NOT want money?

But I want it only on my conditions – to get out of debt, and to be able to live my life the way I want it (which I’m sure they do, but there are different kinds of pressures involved). However, if it came with conditions as it seems to in the superrich with their high expectations of what they expect their children to be like, I’m not sure I’m up to snuff.

Would life really be easier with a trust fund? I wouldn’t have any money worries that’s for sure, but would it be worth it? Would I rather have the debt I have now and the struggles I went through that define who I am and what my character has become over those trials and tribulations versus having everything handed to you?

My friend is a trust fund baby. She has never had to endure hardship. Everything’s been given to her ever since she was born. And she always seems to be lost, shopping, trying to find herself and identify who she is by the clothes and accessories that she buys. That, and going out drinking every night.

But is her life any harder or easier than mine? I don’t think so.

The pressure to succeed may not entirely be there like it is in some rich families (she’s new money) but the pressure NOT to succeed is equally as demanding because when she gets older, gets the inheritance, and then has to figure out how to handle her life and her money on her own without anyone telling her what to do, what will she do?

Will she run to entertainment and shopping to fill that empty void by buying things to define who she is? Or will she stop, find out what means the most to her in life – her reality, and make a change for the better?

Only time will tell, but she tells me all the time that she isn’t sure of what she wants out of life other than the fact that her parents have chosen her to be an investment banker and she’s just living up to their expectations. But it was like she had no choice and just opted to shrug and follow what they wanted even if it wasn’t what she wanted to do deep down inside if she did some soul searching.

Isn’t the idea of individual and personal freedom to do what you want better? Or is her idea of freedom in terms of being told what to do and having your life mapped out for you better? Who’s to say who’s really free nowadays?

However I can see the appeal of having everything laid out for you. I mean she doesn’t even know what she really wants in life, so having her life mapped out for her is easier in a sense that she doesn’t have to think

But having to think and make choices is what makes us human, and not only human, it makes us learn about how far we can go, what kind of characters we have and the strength that we didn’t think we had within to get out of debt for example, or make a career change, or get a divorce.

It must be nice not to have to worry about anything in the world – because you’ve got it all at your fingertips. But it’s when you’re sad, that you can really appreciate being happy. If not, being superficially is just that – a superficial happiness, and then the emptiness just creeps back in.

And I know everyone (the majority I daresay) will say that they’d rather be in debt and happy than superrich and unhappy but is that REALLY true? Have you thought about it? Would you want to be superrich even if it came with all these conditions and pressures?

We all just have different pressures and expectations from others in life, but has anyone taken the time to think about what THEY want, rather than what someone else wants for you?

Just a bit of a reflection while on the train…..Anyway, if you’re looking for something with a bit of drama, some wit, and kind of addictive storyline, Gossip Girl is a good show to watch. And you know what, the fashion is pretty hot on this show too.. I’m picking up some ideas of what to do with the pieces I already have in my wardrobe, and how to mix and match them for new ideas. But this is a bit of an enabling show because I see a cute jacket or skirt/style that I REALLY want, and it makes me want to scour the shops downtown Toronto to see whether I can find it.

*Bad FB!*

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