Ask HN: What did you want to do before *life* got in the way? • Hacker News Board

Ask HN: What did you want to do before life got in the way?

#1

Post by meagher » Thu, Apr 20, 2017, 6:36 PM UTC

Did you have plans to do something you really wanted, but never did it? A trip, start up, date with a someone?

Why didn't you? Decided it was just a dream, got sick, or something else?

Re: Ask HN: What did you want to do before life got in the way?

#2

Post by spcelzrd » Thu, Apr 20, 2017, 7:15 PM UTC

I wanted to be a novelist. I still do. But I spent a lot of time on goals that weren't related to this. I wish I had put this goal higher on the list.

Re: Ask HN: What did you want to do before life got in the way?

#3

Post by existencebox » Thu, Apr 20, 2017, 10:01 PM UTC

Throughout said life, and incrementally "ruined" by said life, I wanted to...:

- Be a train. (realized that I was 3)

- Be a breakdancer. (realized that bodies age)

- Be a DJ. (realized I liked employ-ability and stability)

- Be a classicist/anthropologist (realized once again that I liked employ-ability, and wasn't excited about becoming a Vatican priest)

- Be retired so I can go back to A. (still working on it.)

You may have wanted to focus on specific occurrences, but all my biggest/most unfulfilled "regrets" are by nature more long term, and don't have "easy fixes" as e.g. my dream of doing a cross country road trip, or starting a massive fruit garden (I've partially realized both those goals)

Re: Ask HN: What did you want to do before life got in the way?

#4

Post by fspear » Thu, Apr 20, 2017, 11:47 PM UTC

Music...I've always loved music but never learned to play an instrument, the few times I tried I got so frustrated because I'm always hearing melodies/rhythmic patterns in my head and could never replicate them with my rudimentary skills and terrible hand coordination, and growing up I never had enough money for lessons. In my 20's I was working and studying full time so I had no time whatsoever for hobbies and now in my 30's I have money and time but no energy or passion for music like I did when I was younger.

Re: Ask HN: What did you want to do before life got in the way?

#5

Post by partisan » Fri, Apr 21, 2017, 1:33 AM UTC

I wanted to be a priest. At some point, my relationship with faith soured and I no longer saw it as a calling.

Re: Ask HN: What did you want to do before life got in the way?

#6

Post by cjak » Fri, Apr 21, 2017, 3:30 AM UTC

existencebox wrote: post #3

Throughout said life, and incrementally "ruined" by said life, I wanted to...: - Be a train. (realized that I was 3) - Be a breakdancer. (realized that bodies age) - Be a DJ. (realized I liked employ-ability and stability) - Be a classicist/anthropologist (realized once again that I liked employ-ability, and wasn't excited about becoming a Vatican priest) - Be retired so I can go back to A. (still working on it.) You…

Your life journey reminds me of the parable of the Mexican fisherman: https://bemorewithless.com/the-story-of-the-mexican-fisherma... Enjoy your retirement!

Re: Ask HN: What did you want to do before life got in the way?

#7

Post by RUG3Y » Fri, Apr 21, 2017, 4:07 AM UTC

I wanted to be a musician, but musicians don't make any money. Some of them do but you know...same thing with being an artist. I do art, but art doesn't feed the kids.

Re: Ask HN: What did you want to do before life got in the way?

#8

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Apr 21, 2017, 4:53 AM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: What did you want to do before life got in the way?

#9

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Apr 21, 2017, 8:40 AM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: What did you want to do before life got in the way?

#10

Post by toepitt » Fri, Apr 21, 2017, 11:04 AM UTC

spcelzrd wrote: post #2

I wanted to be a novelist. I still do. But I spent a lot of time on goals that weren't related to this. I wish I had put this goal higher on the list.

What would have helped put this goal higher on the list?