Women in Athens County Survey question 9
If you could choose having a great “shape” for the next 20 years, a job that starts at $100,000, or something else, which would you choose, and why?
October 13, 2008
“That's easy — I would choose to take care of children of any age, circumstance or background who are without loving families, instead of a great body shape or any amount of money.”
–Shawn Morris, 54, a retired registered nurse from Athens
“I would choose something else. I would choose peace of mind for the next 20 years. A great shape means nothing. I can lose weight, alter my appearance, or grudgingly choose to accept it. A job that starts at $100,000 is great, but does it come with benefits? Is there job security? Will I work long hours? There are too many variables. Peace of mind cannot be bought. It cannot be gifted. It cannot be altered, and is so unattainable for so many, including myself. It's worth it to wish for.”
–Caitlin Seida, 19, an artist from Nelsonville
“My choice would be to have enough money to quit my job and travel. Pull my kids out of school and go all over. Learn a new language, become a citizen of the world.”
–Niki Morris, 36, a non-profit program manager Stewart
“I would choose a beach house in an excellent location!”
–Molly Smith, 18, a freshman at OU, from Athens
“If a great ‘shape’ would include great health, then I'd pick great ‘shape’. If not, then a job that started at $100,000. Then I could buy good insurance, and afford to keep up on things. I would just pick good health and enough money to not have to stress about bills.”
–Barbara Six, 57, a business co-owner from Athens
“Something else — TIME. All that ‘stuff’ and money — it's nothing. We don't know how long our life will be. We can be in great shape and have great fortune, but remember, we won't be here forever. I want to spend time with my family, my friends, my God. I want to give the gift of time.”
–Jody Stickel, 55, a retired teacher from Athens
“Beauty is fleeting and is only an exterior thing; and I've learned to live well and be content on a small income with a very tight budget. I think instead I would choose to always have an attitude of gratitude mixed with humility, and like King Solomon of old, I'd ask for wisdom! A person with these qualities is bound to succeed.”
–Mary Della Harmison, 35, an administrative assistant for a financial and marketing director, from Athens
“I want to be married to a wonderful guy, no matter how much $$ is involved or what my body shape is.”
–Emily Figliomeni, 18, a freshman at OU, from Toledo
“I would choose great health. Without your health, it doesn't matter if you have a great ‘shape’ or make $100,000 a year.”
–Lisa Eliason, 54, an attorney and chief Athens city prosecutor from Athens
“I would choose winning the lottery so I could pay off any bills my family has, buy my parents their dream house in Finland, pay off college, and not have to deal with all the stress of money. If I didn’t have to worry about money problems, then my mind would be cleared for me to excel to get my own $100,000 job and to work out and have a smashing bod.”
–Clare Conway, an OU sophomore from North Olmsted, Ohio
“I wish you had been more specific about the Something Else. This one is hard for me. My family has a history of heart disease, diabetes and thyroid issues. I don't have any of these problems yet, but I have been overweight since I was about 9 years old. I exercise at least four times a week, and unlike some women who claim they exercise at least four times a week, I actually do. This exercising, and the fact that I eat well much of the time, does not help my size. I feel healthy. I can play sports for long periods of time. But I am still afraid that since my weight is way above the average for my height, I may not be doing enough to keep from getting the above illnesses. I'll take the great shape for 20 years.”
–Tiffany Teofilo, 26, an OU Ph.D. student and senior accountant from Athens
“I would choose the $100,000 annual salary. It would be whole lot easier on my day-to-day living and I could afford to go to a gym, then I wouldn't have to worry about my shape.”
–Ginger Gagne, 44, an executive assistant for the president of an IT company, from Athens
“I would chose financial stability because I would like to have children in the future. With the current economy, most people don't have financial stability and therefore have to worry about the welfare of their families on a daily basis. This stress causes more problems than the naked eye can see and that's why I would prefer financial stability.”
–Catia Carter, 25, an administrative assistant from Athens
“A great ‘shape’? You mean a body shape? I'd take the $100,000, but not the job. I have a job. I have a great shape. And with $100,000 in the bank, I could relax and enjoy my child, my interests — my life in general — to a greater extent.
–Cynthia Holliday, an OU university lecturer and administrator from Athens
“Something else... the safety and happiness of my children...always for the next 20 years and beyond.”
–Angela Anderson, 43, a professional fundraiser for education from Athens
“If the ‘something else’ can be anything at all, I guess I would choose freedom and opportunity for all the world's people. That might be even more important than my having a great shape.”
–Lisa Carson, 50, an editor from Athens
“I would choose to have a happy and healthy family for the most obvious reasons.”
–Laurie Gribble-McKnight, 36, a social worker from Athens
“With the money I can do with it what I want and my exterior look doesn't matter.”
–Frances Gander, an acupuncturist and tai chi instructor from Athens
“I would choose the great shape over the job for sure. The $100,000 job would probably be too stressful; and it would be doubtful that I could spend as much time with my son Eli, age 14, if I had a fulltime job away from home. I currently work parttime on my rentals that are mostly in my neighborhood. I would love to have all my houses in perfect condition, so I could do more traveling.”
–Linda Hiller, 53, a house builder and rental manager from Athens
“Something else: WORLD PEACE for everyone on the planet.”
–Susan Mitchell, 47, a marketing consultant, from Athens
“I would want my health. Everything is better when I'm feelin' good!”
–Cheri Johnson, 56, a psychotherapist from Athens
“I would take something else. I would choose to be able to help as many people as I can over that 20 years time by getting the funding that I would need to make my Internet predator program a huge success, to save the lives of as many children as I could, and have my own children participate in my program with me as volunteers.”
–Sherrie Norman, 40, a deputy sheriff, mall manager and retail manager from Athens
“I would choose to have great health for the next 20 years and beyond. Without good health, everything else is negatively affected.”
–Heidi Wilhelm, 39, a mom and birthing instructor from Athens
“CEO of my own company, like the inventor of the bar code! Oh, too late, that business is already a winner!”
–Laura Jordan, 52, a karaoke DJ from Albany
“I would choose a fulfilling career and marriage, financial stability, and healthy family and friends.”
–Johanna Mateer, 26, an independent provider of home health care from Athens
“I would choose a life that is filled with good health for me and my family. I feel that without good health, it is difficult to enjoy anything else. If you have to be a caregiver for others it is difficult to find joy in anything else.”
–Janice M. Wright, 54, a clinical supervisor at Ohio University from Athens
“I would probably pick the money, as long as I get it by being a teacher because that is awesome money to start off with and I have a passion for teaching. I could always afford a personal trainer if I felt like I needed to get my body into shape.”
–Angela Haas, 21, an OU senior from Marion, Ohio
“I would choose a clean environment; access to good local food, and of course, no war. Why? Because I have a new grandson, Brandon, and I don’t want to worry that the air, water or the food he eats is toxic. I have two sons in the air force. They both have been to war zones and are saying the U.S. involvement is wrong.”
–Suzanne Borchard, 56, a children's outreach coordinator from Athens
“Above all else, I would chose to have happiness. If you are happy, you can achieve all of the other goals. With depression playing a key role in so many people's lives, I am blessed to be a happy person. You achieve a great ‘shape’ by working hard and with determination. You can make more money with the same outlook, but happiness is a state of mind.”
–Tabitha Bond, 38, a business owner from Coolville
“I would choose health and happiness. I don't consider my shape or money a huge priority, nor do I want to teach that mentality to my children.”
–Brandi Mullins, 34, an LPN from Athens
“Something else. People are too shallow — better to be happy with your life and to be healthy.
–Sandy Griffin, 67, retired, from New Marshfield
“I would probably choose safety for my children. Not having to worry about illness, getting hurt in any way or even getting abducted. Losing my kids is one of my greatest fears.”
–Diane Scharer, 36, a stay at home mom from Athens
“I would choose to travel all over the world and experience other cultures and people. Life is too short to just crawl into our ‘little box of a community’ and never live in other communities and experience people who are different.”
–Amanda Sharrai, 31, a program specialist for a non-profit, from Athens
“I would choose to live in a place where community is strong and possible, where I'd be guaranteed friends and mentors of varying ages, and where things like supporting local life and businesses is an everyday affair. Athens is that place for me right now, but I think there are always more ways we can strengthen our connections and diversity.”
–Becca J.R. Lachman, 28, interim assistant director at OU, freelance writer and composer from Athens
“I would choose a decent home in the country with a few horses, and just to be able to pay my bills and afford to have my freezer and cupboards full. I like having family and neighbor get-togethers, which include some sort of food for everyone.”
–Billie Byers, 49, former junk separator, cashier, home health aide, wife, mother and homemaker from New Marshfield
“I would choose happiness. I believe that a great shape, $100,000 or anything else can most likely be earned. Although happiness can be ‘earned,’ supposedly, I would love to be as happy as I am right now for the next 20 years… It’s kind of like that saying goes, ‘Money can’t buy you happiness.’ So, I guess I would work for my money and simply be happy!”
–Stefanie Dimofski, 18, an OU freshman from Gahanna, Ohio
“Early retirement. So I can enjoy my time here on Earth instead of having to work for $$$$ every day to pay The Man.”
–Betsy Gosnell, 42, in professional development, from Amesville
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