Deana's Thoughts on Settling

We all have different views on what we are willing to settle for and what we even consider settling. For example one cab driver may feel like he is settling as he may really want so much more for his life than driving around in circles all day every day; while another may believe that he has achieved his dream job. Cabbie #2 may truly love meeting and talking with people from all walks of life which is what his job provides. He may receive fulfillment knowing that he connected with his customers during their daily commute.

Perry's co-worker probably never even considered that he was settling. The affordability aspect probably caused the decision to be either go to the show, stay at a less expensive motel and eat fast food, or don't go at all. He obviously made the right choice to go to the show, as he thoroughly enjoyed it. For him, settling would have meant staying home.

Maybe for a different person the experience of staying in the cheaper motel and eating the fast food would have been so horrific, that they would not have been able to enjoy the show at all. If you asked this person about their trip, they would only complain about the food and motel. They probably wouldn't even bring up the show, and if they did it wouldn't be with anywhere near as much emotion as their dining experience and motel stay.

Settling has never been my strong point. I think I have always had big goals and dreams and I have always wanted more. I think society has made most of us this way. It doesn't matter what you have, someone else has one that is newer, bigger, faster, prettier, more expensive and generally better than yours.

One has to decide for themselves what they want and strive to achieve it, while being happy with what they have now. Perry's right, if you can't be happy now, you never will be; regardless of what you achieve, you will always be simply chasing happiness.