Who do you envy----and why?--Al

-- Al Schroeder (al.schroeder@nashville.com), April 11, 2001

Answers

After checking the dictionary to make sure of the definition of the word envy, I have to say that I don't envy. There are things in many people and my children that I admire and wish I could be that way, do that way or have the sureness or deftness that they do. I wish that there was a way for me to arrive at the mature lines of thought that some do. So, I admire, I wish . . . . but I don't resent, I am not jealous. Maybe I shouldn't be so much that way, but let me give an example of my line of thought. Mercedes and big gold rings, a big shop full of woodworking tools feature in my dreams, but the things I have are mine and mine alone -- I am very partial about my possessions and look on them with affection. They lose no value in my eyes when the Joneses come up with something bigger, better or more expensive. I am glad for them and hope they are happy with the new thing. But I don't go to bed angry and resentful and dream of getting something more expensive, bigger or better than they have. I like nice things and dream about them occasionally. My admiration of the good traits of people I know is not jealous or envious those things would be like little rats chewing my insides out.

-- Denver doug (ionoi@webtv.net), April 12, 2001.

I can't really say I envy either-- or I try not to envy. There are a few people that I admire for different reasons, but I think trying to live and like me is enough of a struggle than having to also feel envy. Because envy, to me.. makes me not like myself as much and none of us really need that.

-- Jen (Winter@nyc.com), April 12, 2001.

I have to agree here - I don't envy, in the literal sense. I tried it once and it tasted horribly. I prayed with all my heart that I never experience that again. *shudder* But I do admire people who accomplish seemingly impossible tasks, and I guess I would not mind being in their shoes for a limited time. People like Alan Greenspan, for instance. And of course there is my best friend, who I can't possibly envy since I love her so much, but who is talented in so many different ways. In particular I wish I could sing and dance like she can, or draw. I have all these things inside my brain but they don't come out. I guess though that when my days and nights are already crowded with the things I can do, envy is kind of meaningless! :)

-- Magnus Itland (itlandm@netcom.no), April 14, 2001.

I envy a girl named Courtney. At first I didn't, but when I saw her hugging up on my man, and flirting all cutesy with him, that's when the green eyed monster caved in. I couldn't help but become jealous. And now every day when I go to 5th period, I stare at her and hope she dies! Why did God create women like that?

-- (ptomlin@swbell.net), April 17, 2001.

I envy a girl named shanitra. at first she was cool until she stole my boyfriend...now I want to kill her!!!

-- ailia hammond (lionel@hotmail.com), July 13, 2001.

I really don't envy anyone. I am able to look at people for who they are, and if they have something more than me, then I just appreciate, but we're all the same. We're all people, no more, no less than one another, so why not just stop hating?

-- Misty (Cankergirl43221@hotmail.com), December 11, 2001.

I envy someone but I won't say who. I envy a girl who's got more brains than me, a boy that I like, and hair that would drive a celebrity crazy-as well as looks. I try to be like her in almost every way. I try to fix my hair like hers, and even grow it out. Whenever she was around, and looked at me, I would do something to annoy her, like act conceited or something. If she tried to be friendly with me, I wouldn't even respond. I would just walk away. I would even act like I was better than she was. I was very resentful, however that is over now.

-- asdf (asdfw@hotmail.com), November 06, 2003.