What are you entitled to?
By bounce58
@bounce58 (17387)
Canada
August 17, 2010 6:24pm CST
I’ve often made references here on how I disdain young people having a sense of entitlement. Some of my comments, responses, and even past discussions would indicate how I wished people would be more responsible for their actions.
Now, if I went to the flip side. I also believe that there are some people that deserve a few things in their lives. People who have gone through a lot of abuse, deserve to be happy. Older people are entitled respect for all their sacrifices in life, etc.
Now, at your age, what are the things that you’re entitled to? For me, I believe I work too hard and that I think I deserve a couple of hours of ‘me-time’ a week. No stress from work, no kids whining, no financial stress, etc. How about you?
4 people like this
11 responses
@TrvlArrngr (4045)
• United States
18 Aug 10
I work too much as well and also think I am entitled to spend some of the small amount of my free time doing what I like. My kids however think otherwise. They aways feel entitled and it really irks me.
Some of my employees at work also think they are entitled to things like bending the rules, free food, and giveaways. They are jealous an competitive with each other too. It makes for an awful work environment and just does not make sense to me at all.
I believe if you work hard that you should be rewarded for it with a decent salary and benefits. I do not expect special favors or perks but I guess I am in the minority.
2 people like this
@AnnieOakley1 (5596)
• Canada
18 Aug 10
Funny you should mention you children. My 2 are like night and day. The oldest still believes that the world owes her. She is currently split up with her husband because she has unrealistic expectations about a marriage and his human shortcomings, even though he loves her and the twins dearly, she still kicked him out. 
My youngest, on the other hand, doesn't assume anyone owes her anything, and has worked for everything she has and is continuing to do so. She just graduated 4 yrs of University and has a steady job. Not in her field yet, but it has the possibility of getting her there. She is willing to work for it and earn it.
I do not feel that what you expect out of life, for what you put in is unrealistic nor too demanding. You are reasonable in your expectations. You only want what is fair, nothing more. Good on you! 
My youngest, on the other hand, doesn't assume anyone owes her anything, and has worked for everything she has and is continuing to do so. She just graduated 4 yrs of University and has a steady job. Not in her field yet, but it has the possibility of getting her there. She is willing to work for it and earn it.
I do not feel that what you expect out of life, for what you put in is unrealistic nor too demanding. You are reasonable in your expectations. You only want what is fair, nothing more. Good on you! 1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
23 Aug 10
Hello TrvlArrngr. You are so right in saying that even though you are entitle to some 'me-time', considering that you work hard, but kids seem to have different ideas about being entitled to what. And that entitlement almost always infringes with out entitlements. But we love them, so what can you do?
Hello AnnieOakley1. It is unfortunate that one of your daughters has unrealistic expectations. And that it has already affected her relationship with her husband. If there was a way I could also teach the right way to my kids, I would gladly try to learn. You seem to have done right with your younger daughter.
@AnnieOakley1 (5596)
• Canada
18 Aug 10
I agree with you that the younger generation nowadays seems to expect that the world owes them something. It doesn't. You get what you earn, what you work for. If some freebee giveaways come your way, lucky you. But don't count on it. Unfortunately the younger generation nowadays seems to think everything should just be handed to them on a silver platter. And if they don't like it a certain way, someone else needs to fix it for them...for free! Arghhh!
I've worked hard for all I have, which isn't much, but it means a lot to me. I respect and value my elders as well as other's accomplishments. I have no time nor patience for people who have their hand out while they are sitting on the couch attemting to accomplish nothing!
I think you are very humble to only be asking for a couple of hours of "me time" for yourself. I would think that is a very realistic and simple demand. And if you are having trouble convincing your spouse or children of this, there is something dramatically wrong with their way of thinking, as I will bet that they get at least that much or more.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
23 Aug 10
Hi AnnieOakley1. Thanks for recognizing the touch of humility I try to express with the things I think I am entitled to. It helps a lot that you pointed it out. Sometimes I feel that just by others recognizing it, is already enough. Of course there are days, that I litteraly need those few hours for myself!
Hi debsgw! I think you are right that other generations might have said that to our own generations. That may have been my own sense of entitlement, not recognizing my parents sacrifices to give me everything I've had growing up.
May you 'fit' and afford a lot more stuff with your husband, and have fun doing it!
1 person likes this
@debsgw (256)
•
18 Aug 10
I wonder how many previous generations have said the same things about the youngsters of their time lol?
Having said that, I think it is worse today looking at it from a kind of almost middle aged perspective but how much are we as a society to blame for that? If society reacted to the out stretched hands in the way it did when we were growing up, (ie. ignored them pretty much), maybe less people would feel like the world owes them a living....
I too have worked hard for what I have and agree that it is hurtful if other people choose not to recognise this but prefer to see only what I have now rather than the work that it has taken me to achieve it, unfortunately that's life and I don't intend to let them spoil it for me if I can help it.
In terms of what I deserve, I believe that I deserve what I am currently blessed with, a great husband, nice home and wonderful pets who are our family. So if I want a little me time I try not to feel guilty about taking it, and if my hubby and I want to do something special, we take the time to figure out how we can fit it in and what we have to do to afford it, then if it still seems like a good idea we go for it....
2 people like this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
18 Aug 10
Damn Straight! A good father shouldn't have to wait for Father's Day to have so me time! I hope you do get some me time each week! I am getting what I deserve? It is so new for me but I think I am. I have been so sad for so long. so to be this happy is still feels so strange.
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
23 Aug 10
Don't envy me. Go for what you want. You deserve to be happy, Now!
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
18 Aug 10
[i][/i]Hey bounce! I have worked for since I was a teenager and now
I feel that I am at least entitled to a bit of respect now
that I am a "mature woman" and not an "old woman" or a "granny"!
I expect for a rude nasty azzed teenager to get their azz up
age give me their seat on the bus, as I always did and still
do for someone older than me! And I expect for the guys to
let me on the bus or wherever ahead of them, not trying to knock
me down to get on first! I can go on because here in NY, there
are lots of rude people of all ages! I am not one to keep my
mouth shut either!I've earned all the "me time" I want!
1 person likes this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
23 Aug 10
Hi bounce! I don't live in NYC, I live about 45 minutes out of
Manhattan, but you've got it right about the "NY Attitude"! It
is all around and it is fierce and you have to be tough to "make
it here" no matter where in NYS that you live and being that
I don't live that far from the "Big Apple" or the Bronx or the
rest of the suburbs I get to "mix" with all types of "hard azz"
NY'rs all the time so I'am used to it! When I go to Florida (which
I will be doing in a few weeks) and people ask me "where I'm
from (and a large percentage of Floridians are from NY) they are
not surprised by my answer because they recognize my "accent"!
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
23 Aug 10
When I was younger, I always wanted to live in New York because I know the attitude of the city, and like the songe says, if I can make it there...
So, I believe you when you say that there are a lot of rude people there at different ages. I think it would be a bit difficult for me to ask for my entitlements there now, specially at my age now. But I'm sure you've earned yours! People just have to know!
@maezee (41997)
• United States
19 Aug 10
YOU ARE entitled to that much, in my opinion! Find a way. Make it work. Shoot - I'll babysit your kids to give you a little bit of me time. (Only if I can get paid for the commute. HAHA.) I think me time is 100% important. I'm feeling a little bit this way this week, and these past 2 weeks. I've been pulling full-time here and part-time at the other job and I've been having REALLY extreme "good" and "bad" days. Yesterday I wanted to tear my hair out with everything going on. Today I am pretty cool, pretty whatever about everything. Lethargic.
Oops..Anyway..Your question..Right.. What am I entitled to? I'd say a job. But we all have to work to keep our jobs, so that may or may not be legit. I think patience from my friends - who have NOT been giving it to me these past 2 weeks at all - because I haven't had time to see them. I guess I don't really know. What am I entitled to is a GREAT question. I couldn't even tell ya.
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
23 Aug 10
I can give you one, which you didn't put in here. Weren't you looking for a way to go to school a few months ago? Go-to-school, and yet still have enough time to work so you could pay for tuition. Or was it loan so you could go on studying without worrying about money?
I think you're entitled to that maezee!
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
19 Aug 10
I agree with you. I think that after all the time that I spend with the children as a stay-at-home mother I'm entitled to be able to go to my friend's houses at least once a week for a few hours so that I have the opportunity to unwind. I also think that at my age I'm also entitled to be able to go to the bathroom without always having someone follow me in there when I try to use the bathroom. Oh, and possibly to be able to pick my own radio station in the car.
1 person likes this
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
23 Aug 10
Haha! -about the radio station! Luckily, I don't have that problem, as I am always the one driving, and a lot of the people that I drive have the tendency of sleeping specially on long drives. So, the radion station is always my choice.
May you find that entitlement soon! A radio station, from a car radio, from a car that you can call your own.
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
18 Aug 10
I am entitled to nothing. I really don't feel entitled to anything. Really, I cannot think of anything that I am entitled to.
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
23 Aug 10
I still don't think that I am entitled to anything. Then again, I shouldn't even be alive today.
@JudgeIronFist (2472)
• Singapore
18 Aug 10
I should be entitled to having my own way of living and stop other people from talking behind. I hate people who talk behind my back and tell me what to do.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
23 Aug 10
I think you should look at what's stopping you from having your own way of living. And then slowly elimiate those stumbling blocks.
And for the people that talk behind your back, I don't know what to do with those because I think they have cousins behind my back too!
@arystine (1273)
• Philippines
19 Aug 10
Hi bounce. Just like you, I also work hard. I am juggling regular office job with private practice, so most of the time I feel like I have a "double job". Both jobs are stressful, not to mention the pressure that I feel most of the time, being the breadwinner in the family. I feel entitled to a lot of things.
I believe that I am entitled to enjoy my office job, to laugh and be carefree and not be bothered by colleagues who want to be miserable all the time;
I feel that I deserve not to hear the whines and problems of others which are unbelievably small (and light), compared to the problems that I've been (and still) going through;
I believe that I am entitled to be surrounded by happy people, so that I can forget mine (and my client's) problems for a while;
I believe that I am entitled to enjoy my income somehow (no matter how small the portion) because I worked hard for it;
And most of all, I believe I am entitled to be with a man who will care for me, who will not lie (or at least try to avoid being a liar) and who will listen to me whenever I need to talk and air my feelings.
Thanks bounce for this discussion. I guess I'm venting again. :)
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
23 Aug 10
Hi arystine. I am a little privy to your situation, so I think I could definitely say, that you deserve everything you wrote in here. Mostly, two things: that you don't get bothered by other's petty stuff, specially if they don't know you; and the last one! That he might come sooner and sweep you off your feet, like you rightfully deserve!
Again, I would like to say I wish you luck, but per my other discussion, I know you make your own luck!
@kendria21 (20)
• United States
18 Aug 10
Bounce58,
I am right there with ya! I too, believe that I am entitled to a little "me time" here and there along with no whining kids, nagging man, or financial stress. I wish everyday would be that simple, but I'm not always that lucky. While I don't feel that I am "entitled" to anything, I do believe along with my hard work and dedication should be a little reward of some sort.
@bounce58 (17387)
• Canada
23 Aug 10
Hello kendria21. Aint that right? We work hard, and sometimes a little 'me-time' thrown our way would definitely not hurt. In fact, it may even help us refresh or re-charge to go on doing what we're doing.
Like you, I am also hopeful that there will be that reward somewhere down the road to help even things up. Thanks.
