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From: fuji@ssc-vax.UUCP (Glen T Fujimori)
Newsgroups: net.singles
Subject: Mid-Life Crisis (really relationships)
Message-ID: <504@ssc-vax.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 22-Jan-86 21:01:25 EST
Article-I.D.: ssc-vax.504
Posted: Wed Jan 22 21:01:25 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 25-Jan-86 05:25:30 EST
Distribution: na
Organization: Boeing Aerospace Co., Seattle, WA
Lines: 56

[...]

The statment in question:

>> Is it possible that we young professionals are so wrapped up in
>> our careers, material things, and our work so as to neglect what is really 
>> important? (this is a rhetorical question) > -----
>> Glen Fujimori	

Pooh:

> Okay, I'd like to ask Glenn:  "neglect what is really important"?
> It sounds as though you're implying that careers, material things
> and work are NOT really important.  Obviously they are to those
> people who are wrapped up in them.

I'm not implying it; in my mind the most important things in life are the
relationships we forge with other human beings...I used to place alot
of emphasis on my career and on material things (I still do to an extent)
but I now realize that it's more important to me to have good friends
(not acquaintances) and a family. I went through my "sports car" phase,
etc. (I'm 29), those things just aren't important to me anymore. I don't
mean to put anyone down...but I've read (and it's happend to me) that
when we start getting wrapped up in our careers (working overtime, etc.)
it leaves less time for cultivating friendships and relationships. It's
a matter of degree of course, an obsession with something is never good.
When we can leave work at work and pay enough attention to our friends
and family, I think we will be the better for it.

Andy Cohill:

> Fact is, it is hard to meet women who even want a family. They all
> want a career. Nothing wrong with that, except I tend to agree with
> Glen. Boy, are these ladies going to be an unhappy bunch in about
> twenty years. (Now I am going to get flamed). Some of my best women
> friends categorically refuse even to "date", or whatever we call it
> these days, preferring to concentrate on their career instead.

You and I must be dating the same women! :-) Seriously, very few women that
I have dated (around my age) have expressed a desire to have kids
(at least anytime soon). I would like to have kids (plural)--guess how
that goes over. Some of it has to do with the age group--alot of women
my age are married already or divorced and want nothing to do with
kids and alot are probably in that career vs. family mode you mention.

As you say, there is nothing wrong with putting a career first...but
I think we are social creatures by nature and we need very good friends
and strong families. And if you (figurative) saw how *sad* that woman in that 
interview was (in that 20/20 story on mid-life crisis) and listened to her 
reasons for that sadness, then I think it would make us all stop and think.

-- 
-----
Glen Fujimori	Boeing Aerospace, Seattle, WA  (206) 773-7408
ihnp4!uw-beaver!ssc-vax!fuji
-----