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My Gen X Playlist: Superman (It Ain’t Easy) – Five For Fighting

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Daily writing prompt
How do you balance work and home life?
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I don’t. I mean, it’s not like I don’t try. And in my defense, I have gotten better. But I do get consumed with work. It’s a little bit of a catch-22, though. This imbalance has helped propel my career, but it seems at a cost. Unfortunately, the reward for success is more stress and responsibility. It’s a terrible cycle.

I remember leaving a company once. My boss was trying to convince me to stay. She kept saying I had a bright future with the firm. Finally I had a more honest conversation with her. If I wasn’t working at this company, I’d probably be married with kids by now. As long as I stayed, I wouldn’t have a life. She immediately understood, broke down a bit and said, Yeah, you got to get out of here. She knew it was true.

Yes, there are still tweaks I need to make. I know I really can’t complain. I do think the true heros are the single parents out there. I don’t know how they balance career, family and the sole parent doing the job of two. Some even throw in college classes in the evenings. My hats off to them. Truly superwomen and supermen.

Five for Fighting released Superman (It’s Not Easy) in 2000. It’s a song about Superman’s struggles.

The lyrics focus on the iconic hero Superman; specifically, how, in the opinion of the singer, his life as a hero is surprisingly difficult despite his immense power.

– Wikipedia

All I have to say is, if Superman is having a tough time… What about the rest of us?

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

I can't stand to fly
I'm not that naïve
I'm just out to find
The better part of me

I'm more than a bird,
I'm more than a plane
I'm more than some pretty face beside a train
It's not easy to be me

I wish that I could cry
Fall upon my knees
Find a way to lie
'Bout a home I'll never see

It may sound absurd but don't be naïve
Even heroes have the right to bleed
I may be disturbed but won’t you concede
Even heroes have the right to dream
And it's not easy to be me

Up, up and away, away from me
Well, it's alright
You can all sleep sound tonight
I'm not crazy or anything

I can't stand to fly
I'm not that naïve
Men weren't meant to ride
With clouds between their knees

I'm only a man in a silly red sheet
Digging for kryptonite on this one way street
Only a man in a funny red sheet
Looking for special things inside of me
Inside of me, inside of me [2x]

I’m only a man in a funny red sheet
I’m only a man looking for a dream
I’m only a man in a funny red sheet
And it's not easy.
It's not easy to be me.

10 thoughts on “My Gen X Playlist: Superman (It Ain’t Easy) – Five For Fighting”

  1. My wife was a single parent for most of the 14 years before we met. She somehow managed to raise two kids, start to build a small business, and supplement her income working for nickels and dimes for others. She was also actively involved in scouting, her kids played sports, and she enjoyed life. When my three kids came into the picture, she took it on without a problem. I have no idea how she did and still does it.

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    1. She is Superwoman. Truly amazing. I’ve worked with many single parents and I’m usually in awe how they balance everything, get things done and not go crazy in the process.

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  3. It’s a shame that so much of us experience careers as all-in to the exception of everything else in life. And I don’t think it’s just because we want to… there is always pressure to do more with less, and just get one more thing done before going home when, meanwhile, more priorities get added to the pile. I admire those who set boundaries to protect against this.

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