Living by Examples

Reading about other people's experiences in the papers or on the net often provides a yardstick for our own way of living. Is this necessarily beneficial?

For instance when I read remarks made by the wealthy self-made CEO of Serial Systems that he has no qualms in financing his children's education up to 40 years of age! it assured me that I am not spoiling mine by financing their post grad studies. Similarly, when the papers reported a judge's decision that S$15K a month is sufficient to maintain a wealthy wife in a divorce case, it gives me a reality check on what fraction of that is required for my own un-lavish retirement.

Now I am disturbed that I can not rely on my own judgement and always need assurances from knowing that others are doing this and  not doing that or that an average parent allows this and disallows that etc, etc. Living by the social norm, is this even necessary at this stage of my life?

On the other hand being exposed to the experiences of the younger generation does provide some new paradigm. However I always wonder what actually holds me back from a less "normal" lifestyle. For instance you hear about this guy, a hedge fund manager who gained financial independence at his late 20s and instead of accumulating more wealth or building a more successful career, goes away to live in various pockets of the world. Now I analyse why I would seriously never do that no matter how much I fantasize about it. Fear of uncertainties, lack of sufficient examples, inability to leave the comfort zone, lack of confidence and  too much family attachment; these are the various factors for not  leading a more adventurous lifestyle; and not just in terms of territorial but include other vocational aspects of life as well.

Whoa what am I rambling and rambling this morning? Maybe suffering from the influence of a novel. Pardon my continued rambling. Sometime my mind is so spongy. I can read a book or watch a tv drama and at night dream I am a character in the story. Scary. Some novels are so well written that it describes so subtly and aptly the feelings and thoughts of certain characters that strikes notes in your own heart so vividly. "Hey that's exactly how I feel" you may say and "I would never have found these words to let Myself know the true 'Me'." At times like these, it is really good and therapeutic to know you are not alone; for
Here's an example of Me.