Quote:
Originally Posted by CBorders
Sort of. I don't have an exclusive girlfriend but I spend between 50 and 60 hours at my job and try to play 30 or so hours of poker per week. The guys who play for a living and have no other commitments like school or work have it the best but there aren't many who have that kind of luxury.
You say you love poker...Do you? Think about that for a moment. It doesn't sound like you enjoy it. It sounds like you want to get to the destination but you can't handle the turbulence along the way. Tournament poker is a serious mindfk. We play for huge amounts of money and get so close so often yet 99% of the time we fail. Oftentimes we are wrong about our decisions and it costs us a lot in equity. We are taught from a young age that being wrong is bad, and that failure is bad as well, so its easy to see why you get down when things aren't going well yet you feel great when you're winning. I think learning to fail and learning to be wrong are crucial skills in poker and in life.
I'm ambivalent towards poker at the moment because I feel obligated to play when I'd rather be out doing things. That and with all the scandals/dramabombs and after playing a lot of live poker I've concluded that the lifestyle of a full time pro isn't for me at this point in time. But I'm intrigued by the game and the highs and lows don't really change my outlook on poker or life anymore so I'll continue to play as a hobby.
I really think you should get away from poker for a little while. It's so easy to get consumed by this game and sometimes we just need to get away to think about what we are doing and where we are going. Take a break, think about what you want out of poker and life. Try some new activities, see some new sights, experience new things and meet some new people to get a fresh perspective. It's okay to quit this game if it doesn't truly make you happy and its putting any sort of strain on relationships in your life. While you're pondering your true feelings towards poker, you may want to take a look at your relationship with your girlfriend as well.
Wow, it's been a while since I saw a high quality post like that!
Well written!
