Do You Ever Wish Your Life Was More Interesting?
Nope there will be no tales of naked bodies or supermarket sex toys today. (At least not tales I will be telling as this is a guest post by Susie from NewDayNewLesson.) I know that may not go over too well seeing as Heather has gotten all of us accustomed to her hilarious tales from the lax (as opposed to uptight) country of Finland. The country where it seems everything goes.
It was actually her entertaining stories and the following she has gathered that got me thinking. I have no cool and amusing stories about naked sauna parties or supermarket sex toys so I found myself wondering whether the lifestyle I grew up and live in makes me a less interesting person and less entertaining blogger. It was a question I asked myself once again when I read Vicki’s very entertaining story on her blog Vegemitevix about going From Lover to Mother and Back and again yesterday reading Very Bored In Catalunya’s post on Personal Grooming. All these stories are ones that with my upbringing and life I just don’t have firsthand experience of.
I am Jewish and I was raised in a religious orthodox manner. I was not raised Hasidic although my maternal grandparents, uncles and aunt are. My life was relatively sheltered because aside from my actual upbringing I also *gasp* grew up before the age of internet and cellphones. (On a side point isn’t it amusing to watch old films and see people in mortal danger and wonder they don’t have a cellphone handy to save the day? Well that was my life.)
I lived a sheltered life. I don’t think I really got to know anyone who was non Jewish before I got to College. (BTW-what is the difference between College and University?) Actually if I want to be really accurate, I don’t think I even knew any non observant Jews either until College.
So I grew up sheltered. In a world where premarital sex and flings were a no-no. Cursing was frowned upon. We had our own sets of rules. We kept our friendships to people of our own religion. For good and for bad.
In the twenty years since, I have not been as sheltered. The TV and the internet play a big part in that as well as my schooling and my work. I got married at 19 and yes, I was never with anyone else. Neither was he. We have acquaintances and friends both Jewish and non-Jewish. I have met some really amazing women over the internet in the past 3 years from different countries and all different walks of life. Those conversations with them has enhanced my own personal world.
So why is it that when I see an entertaining and fun blog like Heather’s, I wonder whether I have missed out on something in life. Why is it that I start to second guess myself and my own personal values? I will even admit that I can at times be a bit envious about the openness and the lack of inhibitions other bloggers have in expressing themselves openly about things that would not be acceptable in the society I live in. I have no problem reading the stories, laughing at them until tears streak down my eyes, and reading posts with curse words. I have even been known in anger to curse quite a bit in real life. (*Hangs head in shame*)
It was something I have been thinking about and giving a lot of thought to. Then it occurred to me and I realized something. We don’t all have to be the same. Different can be different, it doesn’t mean it is better. It just means it is different. The diversity in this world, as long as we all respect each other is really what makes the world go round.
So Heather and Vicki, I will continue to read your superb posts that make me laugh. Probably even more so because it may not be things I myself have ever done or experienced. And I will learn to see the world through your eyes and enjoy it for that. Thank you for opening up the world to me a bit more and showing me how even though people are different, they can also deep down be the same.
So what do you think? Do you ever wish you had led a more interesting life?
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I feel a need (actually my husband feels the need) to have me clarify that I am in no way the “Saint Susie” that I appeared to have portrayed myself as. He has also pointed out that he is no Rabbi Mark and that I have not been his only girlfriend. (I was the only special one? Right hun?)
Who is Susie?
A little less than a month ago I discovered blogging. Some would say it was just a midlife crisis seeing as I had recently turned 40. I see it as finally listening to my true self. I blog at New Day New Lesson about finding a positive lesson in our lives every day. My goal in blogging is to get people thinking about their role in changing their outlook on their life. If I manage to help even one person, it is time well spent.
Thanks to Heather for letting me use her blog to express myself on a topic I would not necessarily address on my own blog, you know because of me being a prude and all. 
I'm Heather, an expat Brit living in Kuusamo, northern Finland.
Very interesting guest post, Susie. This is what makes the blogging community so fascinating – we all have different styles of writing and our blogs have different themes. My own blog is sort-of travel related so if I suddenly started talking about my nether regions it would look odd (just laughing at the thought of…Mum’s Gone to the Nether Regions – mirror required).
But how liberating to be able to make comments sush as those on Heather’s blog yesterday and to be part of a hilarious discussion. I think it’s a great way to interact and yet still have your own style blog to come home to!
And thanks Susie for being so open, honest and intelligent about the whole thing. I’m with you 100% of the way. I read so many blogs BECAUSE they’re different. I like variety. I’m never bothered by comparisons to my own life. Besides, if I don’t like what life has given me I can always write myself a better story!
Great post!
You seem to have lived a full and satisfying life so far. And remember the Chinese curse: may you live in interesting times!
Yes, we don’t have to be the same – we are all different. That’s why I love reading blogs from around the world. It’s made me realise that most people, whatever their colour, religion or beliefs, want to connect with each other and live in peace.
Long live the words “nice” and “happy!”
I am laughing at Mum’s Gone to the Nether Regions – mirror required title! Brilliant! I love the fact that there are so many varied blogs out there, so many different lives and ways of life to learn – its so interesting, isn’t it?
Exactly! can you imagine how dull it would be if everyone were talking about the same things all the time. It’s what I love about blogging – i tell my story and others tell theirs and they are different which makes them interesting and worth reading. Very well said that man!
Susie, this is what I enjoy about reading blogs too, the chance to see a different way of doing things. I always see humour and kind people willing to share. I am going to pop over to your blog now. Like you my house just isn’t as clean as it *should* be since I started blogging:) Jen.
Really interesting post. What I think is really interesting about blogging is the differences in every one’s experiences. You think that everyone has the same life as you and your life is so boring but you realise that it isn’t true. I found this post fascinating – thanks for writing! PS – have you really only been blogging for a month?
This was very interesting. I used for work for a firm of Jewish solicitors in Manchester and found their culture to be extremely intereresting, not different, just theirs.
I have learnt over the years that there is no shame in being different, my daughter is different if we want to clutch at straws, but that doesn’t mean she is worse off, or better off for that matter. We are all equal, that’s what counts.
Thank you for sharing a little of your life, Susie. I for one, am truly glad you started blogging.
CJ xx
Great post Susie and thanks for the mention! I love diversity. I think that’s why I love travelling so much. Though Trish not sure whether I could read a post about Mum’s gone to the nether regions without laughing until I cried!! I read once a fab quote about how worldy wise people who have lived in the same town or village all their life can be. The point was that they get to know other people and the ‘human condition’ deeply. Love your guest post! Will have to host you on mine sometime soon. x
Good post Susie, it is good that we are all different and all blog in different ways. I find your upbringing just as fascinating as you probably do ours, and I love that the internet opens up all the diversity for people to see.
xx
Being a North West London Jewish girl, now finding herself in the English Countryside surrounded by bell ringing ancient and beautiful churches, I have found it so liberating being set free from the constraints of my old life, and am fully enjoying the ‘difference’. I really found this post interesting x
Really interesting post. I think one of the reasons I’ve got into this blogging lark is that there are so many different people and different experiences that I would never come across in real life (too shy). I think it’s great too that people can appreciate other people’s blogs despite them not following their own life’s ‘rules’ e.g. not minding about swearing etc. – blogging must be helping to break down so many barriers and pre-conceptions – as well as being a good laugh!
I live in a very small village and one of the things I love about blogging is that it reminds me that there is a whole world out there where everyone is not the same! It opens my eyes to other experiences, other ways of life and I love that!
As to blogging, my readers might disagree, but I don’t often wish for anyone else’s life, even though I know I am a bit boring
I think moving to Israel, having five kids and working in an ER would make for an interesting life in anyone’s books. In mine, in any case. I’m with the others – I love the differences in the blogs. It would be no fun reading only blogs of me-clones.
What a nice surprise to find you here Susie! Interesting post.. questions questions.
I agree with previous posters in saying that thank goodness all blogs are different otherwise I would get bored and not read on and search for the touching, the funny, the normal and the recipe etc.
I am just enjoying meeting and listening to say many women share titbits with me.
I agree. Think of the stories that could be told! When I was pregnant, I was addicted to a blog about hilarious birth stories, told from the nurses’ points of view. The patients were anonymous, but the tales were outrageous. It was fabulous reading.
Great post. I read all sorts of blogs, too. I think variety is what will keep the blogging community going. If we all wrote about the same things, people would eventually lose interest, I think.
LOL Trish-love your title and I bet that post would raise some eyebrows!
I think the blogging community is great the way we can sometimes use other peoples’ platforms as an outlet-even through commenting.
I have really learned so much about the world and myself through the friends I have made online.
Thank you. I do enjoy a wide variety of blogs as well.
And I agree, we are the ones who make life what we want it to be. I also know that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. In every life style there are advantages and disadvantages.
Heather it does seem though that at times a lot of us have the same kind of ideas about topics. What is cool though is that each person manages to address the topic differently.
Thanks. I think I have lived a pretty good and interesting life. I have lived in the USA, I have lived in Israel. I have lived on a kibbutz. I have had all kinds of experiences. And I am looking forward to lots more.
I think it is people connecting one at a time that will bring countries together.
I am thinking that I need to hire a cleaning person! LOL!
Yup only a month. About a year ago I started a different page and wrote once or so and that was it.
Like I wrote on the how it started page on my blog, I have been trying to journal for years because I think there is a big benefit to it emotionally. I never got past 2 or 3 straight days. I started blogging to force me to write everyday.
It is still taking me loads and loads of time though. Need to get faster at it.
I don’t think I would consider it shame. I think it was more along the lines of Heather and some of the others being so uninhibited about things , things that I would probably not do and would never admit out loud to people I personally know. Mostly because it is not accepted. It was kind of feeling that it might be nice to feel so free and liberated talking about whatever they felt like and having no social ramifications IYKWIM.
Thank you Crystal-means a lot coming from someone with such a big following.
Am still cracking up about Trish’s great title!
I think people can be wise without being exposed to the world, but I do think they are lacking certain life experience then as well. To understand people you just have to listen.
Am going to start writing straight away Vicki.
Thanks. You do always make me laugh (I have to stop drinking or eating while reading blogs cause my computer is getting quite dirty from getting spluttered on).
The more we learn about others, the nicer the world becomes.
You must have felt very oppressed and forced into things if you are feeling so liberated.
I am less observant than my parents and grandparents were, and I have 2 sisters who are less than me. I agree there are things that sometimes seem constricting, but I try to take them in stride with all the positives and there definitely are.
Blogging as well as some forums are really great for seeing all kinds of things in life. I love that people connect one at a time and really build friendships.
If you are happy and not envious, then I know many who would be envious of your life, of feeling satisfied.
Sometimes sheltered and small is good.
I think if anyone wrote their life story others would find it interesting if it was something different than what they had experienced. In one of my posts I wrote about the little 5 minute moments here or there being what makes our lives great.
That’s why I decided for myself to go with some kind of theme which is why I blog about a lesson I learn every day from life. I have to say that I have about 30 lessons or so just waiting for me to write about them. Not enough time in the day.
Your life sounds as if it’s been a huge adventure – moving, resettling, life in ER, 5 kids. I don’t think “openness and lack of inhibitions” necessarily means “exciting life”. In fact, if you think about it, it could mean the opposite.
I also have learned loads by blogging and chatting on the internet.
You’ve lived on a Kibbutz? Ooh, would love to learn more about that…
Me too! Is it wrong that i run around cleaning furiously for an hour before hubby comes home so it doesn’t look like I’ve neglected it all day? lol
it does get easier to write the posts after a while – it’s one of those things that the more you do it the easier it gets, i think.
posts like Susie’s giving us that glimpse inside her life, fascinate me – this is why i love blogging, because i’m basically nosy.
woohoo, another guest post offer! How brilliant is that! It guess a lot of being worldly wise is, as you say, keeping your eyes and ears open to the world rather than just living in your own little one.
It’s brilliant isn’t it? I love getting to know about all these different lives that I would otherwise have known little about.
It is interesting to hear of your and Susie’s differences in thinking on that matter as well – everybody is so different aren’t they?
It really does break down those barriers, doesn’t it? It is such a wonderful thing.
this is something that really surprised me about blogging, how you can build real friendships through it rather than just superficial ones.
I have to agree with everyone else Susie – you’re the least uninteresting person I know. Just because you don’t blog about going “down under” or other titillating subjects doesn’t mean you’re boring or even overly inhibited. I love the way your blog has a set purpose and every day really is a “new lesson.” Your blog has such a strong sense of the person behind it. I think that’s the most important thing in blogging. I love reading all the different blogs – too many vagina tales would just get boring and then we wouldn’t find Heather’s so interesting!
You yourself have blogged about things being not better, just different.
Oh and here in Canada the difference between a college and a univeristy is more dramatic than in other countries. Generally a college is privately run, accepts students with slight lower academic averages and offers more career and trade oriented post-secondary training as opposed to the more academically oriented training offered at the government funded universities.
In the US I think the big difference is size only. There are community colleges which are somewhat more like our colleges in Canada, then there are liberal arts colleges which are like mini-universities offering degrees in – you guessed it – liberal arts which are no different than university degrees and then there are colleges that are run by universities as either part of their campus or as a smaller offshoot campus. That’s all I know. Here in Canada there’s some academic snobbery with degree-seeking university students feeling they’re better than diploma-seeking college students, but guess who gets the jobs when they graduate?!? I know many who have gotten university degrees and then gone to a college to get a career oriented diploma in order to get a job.
Well maybe I shall write another guest post
about being stuck in a jeep in middle of a field drenched with water in the dead of night right next to a not so friendly arab village where the kibbutz fields were. Or about my horror about not being able to stay home with my sick son cause sick kids went to nursery so parents went to work… or so many other culture shocks.
I think not feeling envious of other peoples lives must be a sign of real happiness and contentment in your own. Something to be proud of i think!
ha ha, that blog sounds brilliant, is it still going?
the difference is wonderful, isn’t it? and even if they are on the same topic they are still so different from one another. I have learnt so much reading other peoples blogs and trying to understand their way or looking at things.
It could well, for lack of other things to write about I guess *wracks brains for interesting next post*
In the UK a college is what you to before University. so you finish high school at 16, go to college for 2 years and then to university.
LMAO-so basically all bloggers are nosey buggers-is that what you are saying heather?
I think it is because you skip over a lot of the superficial stuff and learn a lot more about peoples’ feelings and dreams.
Ok-so college and university in the usa at least in my eyes in the same.
Thanks Dara. I really do try to be true to myself when I blog.
Thanks Iota.
Hmmm-life in the ER-the one I desperately trying to get out of. I think I am Er’ed out not from excitement though.
My dream is to be some kind of therapist-maybe marriage counseling.
Yup, as far as I can tell in the US they are the same. Thanks for sharing about the UK Heather, I wondered! In Quebec here in Canada it’s the same. You finish high school then go to CEGEP for two years then university.
Those are the blogs I like to read the most. Heather’s personality shines through in hers, yours does in yours, Karin’s does in Cafe Bebe’s. All great blogs in my opinion because of that personality behind it! Valerie at Frugal Family Fun Blog is the same.
I think mine has personality disorder!
No second guessing! I love that blogs are all so varied. We come from different backgrounds and experiences and that’s why it’s fun to read so many different blogs! Loved this!
I did not feel oppressed, more claustrophobic.
Wow-must have been really bad then. Are you still in touch with your family?
Do you have a blog or twitter ID London girl?
I love reading your blog Susie and I have to say that I think you have lived a very interesting life. There are so many fantastic blogs to read and I love to read a variety of approaches/writing styles. Btw I loved your hubby’s end note!!!
Excellent post. While it might be true that people who have experienced less or made more decisions based on their upbringing and religious constraints might look back and they had missed out, but I also imagine people sometimes look back and wonder how their life would have been different had they done less. and experienced less.
I think everyone wondered what if.
Great post
What a lovely and honest post! I think we all feel there’s someone funnier or more exciting than ourselves online. I for one would love to read your experiences growing up! Sounds like you might have some interesting stories to tell!
Sorry, I did not explain myself well. The claustrophobic sensation came from living in area (a gheto I guess), surrounded by so many Jewish families and we just did not feel we had anything, other than being born of the same religion in common. We are non-practising reform and I found the majority of the people had very narrow views.
my web/blog is:
http://www.northwestlondongirlinthecountry.blogspot.com
and I would be delighted for you to drop by whenever you have a moment.
Good post, Susie.
Thanks. Just got my first look at your blog too. I love scrapbooking. I wish I knew how to keep more than one hobby going at a time lol.
Thanks. I figured if he took the time to read it before I posted it and had something to say that I better add it in. LOL
Thanks. That is true-life always look greener on the side.
LOL-I keep saying I don’t remember much about my childhood, but even the snippets I do remember would probably be interesting for someone who never went through it.
Thanks. And btw every time i see your name I lol.
I think that we tend to find lives removed from our own interesting. As a military brat who moved around at least once every 5 years, I am fascinated by people who grew up like you did, Susie- a tight knit community where everyone shares the same values and knows everybody else is nearly unimaginable to me, because I grew up in a fluid community with a wildly diverse population.
And youre right, one of the great advantages to the internet and blogosphere is the exposure to people who interest us. It gives us a great opportunity to find the perspectives which may otherwise go unnoticed in our own communities.