I won’t lie, if I wasn’t already on vacation for the holiday weekend, I would probably be tuning into at least some of the Live 8 concert being broadcast around the world. The lineup is amazing. But, I think the point is really lost on most people.

This is an interesting look on what I think the majority of people feel. Although it’s a great concert with the best intentions…does it really shift the world’s attitude on poverty? Does attending an awesome concert lead one to want to save the world? Does it make you personally want to contribute to lessening the debts of the world? I doubt it.

It’s sad, I know…there is so much wealth in the world, yet there is even more poverty. I know that I too fall victim to the materialism of our society, and spend $80 for a Lacoste polo (which by the way, the label says Designed in France, Made in Peru - which gives me visions of sweatshops…) or $200 on a pair of Seven jeans (OK, I haven’t done that yet, but I think about it haha).

It’s hard not to be swept up in “keeping up with the Joneses”…and to not desire bigger and better. We are bombarded with too many choices, which often leads to an early midlife crisis. There are tons of books out there geared towards 20-somethings who just don’t know where they are headed. How do we know if the decisions we are making are right?

Our parents’ generation experienced more job security, rather they took a job right out of high school or college and generally stayed there for 20 years. Right now, the trend is heading upwards of the average person holding 10 jobs by the time they are 38. That’s frightening. I have only been out of college for a little over a year, and I have already had two jobs (well, the first I had to leave because it was a bad company, but still…) and while many of my friends are on their first, there are more on their second. I think people fall into the trap of accepting the first job they are offered, and then finding it far from desireable in the end. Not to say that everyone has to enjoy their dream job, or will be doing exactly what they planned right out of school – but there should at least be three key things present. Someone once told me that if you have at least two out of the three things going for you – then you should stay at a job. Those three things would be…great pay, great coworkers, or work you really genuinely love doing.

Right now I am lucky enough to be in a job where all three are true. Sure, I wish I was paid more, and sometimes I wish I was doing something a little different. But, the truth is I know that my company is stable, rapidly growing, and offering me a great chance and opportunity to grow professionally. What else could I want?

So…Live 8 is a concert to get people involved (to double aid) and increase awareness of the world’s debt (to drop debt). But…with so many choices and personal issues around us, can we really be expected to look at the bigger picture and make a true difference? It starts with one…

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