Full Life

I've got this friend we'll call her Jill. We'll call her Jillbecause that could be her name. Jill is leading a very fulllife. She is married to a go-getter workaholic. She has a careerof her own. She and Mr. Jill have 2.2 kids, live in a muchbetter than median price home for their community, and are apart of every group and organization that needs their attention.Looking at it objectively, the Jill Family has it all.

Yet Jill doesn't see it that way. Here are a few of hercomplaints:

"I have no time to myself." With the demands of her job thatseem to increase every year, the demands of the little Jill's,and the lack of help around the house from Mr. Jill, there isjust no time left. Her therapist says this is a cop-out. Hethinks that anybody could set-aside time if it is importantenough. Jill told the guy to stuff-it on her last visit.

"I have got no time for family." One of the reasons Jill and herhubby got together in the first place was so that they couldhave 2.2 kids and live the dream life in the suburbs. Butsomething got out of whack along the way. The bigger the house,the bigger the yard, the more exclusive the schools, the smallerthe paycheck looked. Jill remembers how happy she was workingpart-time for the doctor down the street when the kids weresmall, and how Mr. Jill would come home at 5:30 pm every nightto play with the kids, and how they spent their eveningstogether as a family. But that was a long time ago.

"My body is falling apart, and I don't know what to do." Sheused to go to the gym three days a week, but now that looks likea luxury in an already full life. Back when Mr. Jill was withhis first company and they finally got some health benefits,Jill took advantage of everything offered. Now that they havethe best insurance available for human consumption, the Jill'snever go to the doctor and rarely take the time to use thebenefits. They write it off as too much hassle to deal withtheir managed care provider. Jill knows she feels better whenshe works out, but she won't take the time knowing that shealready has no time for her family.

"We've got money, but it's not what we need." The bank accounthas never looked better. The stock portfolio is solid. The401-K's are growing every year. Retirement looks sweet. "What'swrong with this picture?" Jill asks. She's never had so muchmoney, and has never been so unhappy. She misses seeing thehubby every day; She misses being with the kids; She missesthose once relaxing vacations together.

"I just want to get off this rollercoaster." Seems like everyMonday Jill thinks this same thought. She even knows that she'sgoing to think it before she does, so it is easier to dismiss itrather than deal with it. She hates the roller coaster life sheis leading. The constant climb to the top of the hill, the madrush down, the twists and turns and the jolting stop, only to berepeated over and over again. She would like to get back on theslow moving train around the amusement park, but doesn't knowhow. Secretly she enjoys the rush of the rollercoaster, andreally does not want to get off. The view from the top of thehill will always be better than the one on the outskirts of thepark.

Jill went back to work this Monday with all kinds of angst. Butdarn the money, and the prestige and the perks are good