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Ask HN: How can I come to peace with the years I wasted on pointless things?

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Re: Ask HN: How can I come to peace with the years I wasted on pointless things?

#271

Post by xtiansimon »

jacquesm wrote: post #6

You shouldn't look back, but look forward instead. At 23 you should have most of your life still in front of you. At 57 I'm painfully aware that I don't have all that much time left so I'm trying to make the most of it, there is no reason to wait until you are old to start realizing that your time on this rock is finite. At least you realize it now, some people never do, and I hope that you had some fun.

Following this comment, I think the answer lies in the question.

Stop ‘wasting’ time as you see it.

Keep it simple, and it will be easier for you to stay on your chosen path.

Now for a bit of advise from an older man who ‘wasted’ his youth. Life will give you challenges, and consider carefully how far away from the tree you strive. There is hidden jeopardy in the unknown. Who can you turn to in times of crisis? Who can you trust? To whose advice will you listen? So, make peace at home and with your loved ones first before you take on the world outside.

Re: Ask HN: How can I come to peace with the years I wasted on pointless things?

#272

Post by powlow »

Try not to worry about how you've spent your life up until now. You likely have many, many years left to live your life and focus on the things that matter to you.

I used to think similarly, lamenting mistakes made and time wasted in my earlier life, but as I get older, I now look ahead to eternal oblivion, and realise that in the grand scheme of things these concerns aren't really important.

I just try to use my time as best I can now without being concerned with the past, knowing that my future could end at any moment.

Time spent wallowing in regret is also time wasted.

Re: Ask HN: How can I come to peace with the years I wasted on pointless things?

#274

Post by simplegeek »

Delk wrote: post #228
bloqs wrote: post #208

Your generation is taught to be unreasonable in their expectations, this website is basically made up of prodigal children who all missed some substantial developmental milestones but who ended up being rewarded for years of interest in very specific topics. Bertrand Russell correctly stated that time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time. If you have now decided you want change, then great. However, you have played s…

> In terms of comparisons, John Carmack made some decent contributions, but you have zero insight into the costs of it. Perhaps more importantly, John Carmack et al. are massive outliers. Maybe there's some kind of an excessive cost to the prominent achievements, contributions and expertise of some of those people, maybe not. Many of those people have long-term relationships, families and interests outside of CS or t…

> Linus Torvalds does scuba diving.

Recently finished his biography; he was not much into sports all when he was growing up. I suspect he took up scuba diving late in life.

Re: Ask HN: How can I come to peace with the years I wasted on pointless things?

#275

Post by Delk »

simplegeek wrote: post #274
Delk wrote: post #228

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> In terms of comparisons, John Carmack made some decent contributions, but you have zero insight into the costs of it. Perhaps more importantly, John Carmack et al. are massive outliers. Maybe there's some kind of an excessive cost to the prominent achievements, contributions and expertise of some of those people, maybe not. Many of those people have long-term relationships, families and interests outside of CS or t…

> Linus Torvalds does scuba diving. Recently finished his biography; he was not much into sports all when he was growing up. I suspect he took up scuba diving late in life.

That would be pretty much in line with the impression I've got, depending on what "late" means in that context. I wouldn't be surprised if scuba diving were something that were quite commonly picked up when people were already adults.

I'm not sure if you're intending that as a comment to what I wrote, though, and if so, in what sense. I don't think it necessarily matters if people pick up hobbies and things later in life. It still shows they aren't necessarily having a singular focused on tech at the cost of excluding other things.

Re: Ask HN: How can I come to peace with the years I wasted on pointless things?

#277

Post by Blackstrat »

I'm 67 and I don't think I've ever discovered a "passion". For many people, the one true passion meme is a myth. Me? I seem to be infinitely curious and have bounced from one interest to the other, throughout my life. I had a successful career, married, more interests than I can ever "master". But, I have fun. I learn new things. I don't give a big rip about many of the hot topics that the younger generation seems to think matter, e.g., identity politics, climate change, etc. As some have noted, life isn't a video game. It's a journey. Travel well and enjoy it. I once had a guy working for me that took ADHD drugs to allow him to "focus". All he did was program and have dinner with his girlfriend, who eventually left him because of his monomaniacal immersion in .NET. I can't think of a worse way to live. And WOW 10+ years ago consumed some of my time as well. Though it's been so neutered, it's hard to imagine anyone still plays it.
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