Is there a difference between a liberal and a progressive? It seems to me that the same people that have called themselves liberals all their lives are now using the word ‘progressive’. This implies that the word ‘liberal’ is now, somehow, bad? How long ’til the word ‘liberal’ is deemed offensive and politically incorrect? What about the people who still want to call themselves liberals? Will they be forced to start calling themselves progressives in the near future?

I will never be that guy.

When people ask you, “How’s Tom doing?” you’ll never say things like:

Oh, he’s doing great! He just bought a house, he just got a promotion at work, he married a beautiful woman who is a wonderful mother and a great wife, they just had their second child…

And on and on. I’m just not that guy. I’ve always known it, too. The things “That Guy” has I never wanted, and still don’t.

Here and there along the way I occasionally beat myself up because I am not that guy. What’s wrong with me? Why aren’t I like normal men my age? When my father was 33 he had already been married for 10 years and had 2 children, a house, a career, etc. I have nothing.

My life cannot be measured by accomplishments or material things, since I really have nothing, besides a beat-up old Ford pickup and a college degree.

At 33 I look back and realize I haven’t accomplished the goals I set for myself years ago because…

I just never set any. Ambition is something I’ve lacked my entire life. Motivation? I don’t feel like it. Self-discipline? I’ll do it later. I don’t know why this is, I never really thought about it. I guess I just don’t have any passion.

I’ve always been content to do things later, to not worry about it, to go with the flow, to relax and have a good time, to live here and sleep there, walk with my head in the clouds… This is who I am.

A man’s got to know his limitations. At 33 years old I know what I’m capable of. So at times like this I reflect, shrug my shoulders, and say to hell with it. I am who I am. I’m happy, and that’s all that’s ever mattered to me.

So the next time someone asks you, “How’s Tom?” just reply, “He’s doing great!” Smile, and leave it at that.

A man was sitting in the shade under a tree by the lake, fishing lazily and enjoying his day. A businessman approached him and commented, “That’s not the best way to fish, you know. You need a boat.”

The fisherman raised an eyebrow and responded, “Why?” The businessman shook his head and replied, “So you can catch more fish. You’ll make more money and you can buy more boats.”

The fisherman sat up, looked the businessman in the eye and asked again, “Why?” The businessman began to get flustered and blurted out, “So one day you can make enough money to retire! Then you can relax.”

The fisherman smiled and slouched against the tree. He closed his eyes and simply said, “What is it that you think I’m doing now?”