The Dreaded Question

You know what question I hate the most?

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Seemed to be asked by every adult.

And they look at you waiting for you to reply 

witha good enough answer that will please their judgmental ears.

So you begin,

Well-

but you hesitate knowing they only want to hear 

what they want to hear

I'll probably do someting in buisness 

or maybe be a doctor

or a kind of lawyer.

And their eyes light up with delight that you've picked a job

that will make you rich.

Because isn't that all that matters?

The money?

Not being happy or doing what you love

because that would just be silly.

And then they start talking about the classes you will need to take.

The colleges you will need to aply to.

The people will you need to know

And you think to yourself

Why?

Why isn't doing what you love not enough?

Why aren't they happy with the answer that when you grow up

you just want to be 

happy?

Why do they only care about what you want as a job  and not  about what you want to be?

But if they asked what do you want to do?

They still wouldn't care for your answer.

They wouldn't care that you want to be an artist, a musician, an actor.

They'd give you that smile that tells you quite simply that they are disapointed with you.

Then they'd tell you how impractical you sound!

How juvenile and childish you are!

Do you really think you'll make a living by painting!

They scoff at you and you just shrink back.

What's wrong with wanting to be happy?

You think.

Why can't I be happy?

Why can I NOT  be happy?

Because in the real world happiness brings you nowhere.

So you'll have to find a mundane job

Slaving away at it  till you have enough money to retire.

Then maybe you will get to be happy.