This is a story of a man and woman. Once upon a time there lived a man, a generous man, far from perfect. His biggest vice, his "unrealistic" expectations. He did not know how to handle money. He had a constantly Over drafted bank account and credit card bills higher than his monthly salary. Even then, if he had to buy something it had to be the best, not the best he can afford but THE BEST. He bought a house with an EMI almost equal to his salary and then decided that this is the right time to have a second baby. Somehow managed to stay afloat and as soon as he was slightly comfortable financially, he decided that its time to change his car from a regular hatch back to a mighty SUV. Many a times, I have had conversations with him for hours, about how his money management was a mess and how his unrealistic standards are draining him financially.
Now meet the woman, a generous woman, she too was far from perfect. Her biggest Virtue: she had "realistic" expectations from everything and everyone. She handled anything thrown at her with grace. Spent well within her bounds and even saved some when it looked impossible to make ends meet. Even when under tremendous pressure, she keeps a calm demeanor which radiates to the people around her.
She was out of his league, but our man has "unrealistic" expectations!
But there is another side to the story. The same man, started his career as a system admin with a meager salary, barely enough to stay afloat. But his expectations were always "unrealistic". So he decided to take a chance and move to a bigger city. He came to a metro city, struggled a lot and got into a services company with a decent salary. But for our man being the man he is, it was never enough. He then moved to a product company and he was in a good place, both financially and otherwise. When things were looking stable, he decided that he needs to move abroad for a better quality of life, and he did. Left his well paying job in the city and moved abroad, that too, he went there without a job! Struggled for 6 months and landed a job which pays decent salary. More than his salary back home, but not much when you consider the taxes and cost of living. It is yet to be seen what his next move would be.
At every step our woman was the adjudicator, making sure that "unrealistic" does not turn into "impossible". Facilitating the realization of these "unrealistic" ideas. Like saving up a secret fund which they used for the SUV's down payment. Single-handedly managing the move from their house since our man was already out of the country, the list goes on.
When he made each of these switches, if I were to judge, I would have thought that he is aiming too high, and he is taking a risk which is unnecessary. And if it weren't for her, all these would have turned out the way I would have expected. But it turns out that his biggest vice is his biggest virtue. Had he not been "unrealistic" he would have still been a system admin (I mean no disrespect to the job) in a small town with a meager salary who struggles to make ends meet.
what is the take away from all these? you decide!
Now meet the woman, a generous woman, she too was far from perfect. Her biggest Virtue: she had "realistic" expectations from everything and everyone. She handled anything thrown at her with grace. Spent well within her bounds and even saved some when it looked impossible to make ends meet. Even when under tremendous pressure, she keeps a calm demeanor which radiates to the people around her.
She was out of his league, but our man has "unrealistic" expectations!
But there is another side to the story. The same man, started his career as a system admin with a meager salary, barely enough to stay afloat. But his expectations were always "unrealistic". So he decided to take a chance and move to a bigger city. He came to a metro city, struggled a lot and got into a services company with a decent salary. But for our man being the man he is, it was never enough. He then moved to a product company and he was in a good place, both financially and otherwise. When things were looking stable, he decided that he needs to move abroad for a better quality of life, and he did. Left his well paying job in the city and moved abroad, that too, he went there without a job! Struggled for 6 months and landed a job which pays decent salary. More than his salary back home, but not much when you consider the taxes and cost of living. It is yet to be seen what his next move would be.
At every step our woman was the adjudicator, making sure that "unrealistic" does not turn into "impossible". Facilitating the realization of these "unrealistic" ideas. Like saving up a secret fund which they used for the SUV's down payment. Single-handedly managing the move from their house since our man was already out of the country, the list goes on.
When he made each of these switches, if I were to judge, I would have thought that he is aiming too high, and he is taking a risk which is unnecessary. And if it weren't for her, all these would have turned out the way I would have expected. But it turns out that his biggest vice is his biggest virtue. Had he not been "unrealistic" he would have still been a system admin (I mean no disrespect to the job) in a small town with a meager salary who struggles to make ends meet.
what is the take away from all these? you decide!
