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The Top of My Todo List (2012)

paulgraham.com

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Re: The Top of My Todo List (2012)

#3
It's an interesting bit that the advice, "don't shrink yourself into a shape that fits your circumstances," is shrunk into the Taylorist literal form of a "To Do List."

I think you may be failing at the task!

Re: The Top of My Todo List (2012)

#5

I was told by a palliative care nurse years ago, the number one regret people have at death was: I spent too much time at work. (This was in a very wealthy county.)

*people who could afford a palliative care nurse

Almost all very wealthy countries have socialized healthcare including palliative care. For roughly a billion people, palliative care is free.

Re: The Top of My Todo List (2012)

#6
> Don't ignore your dreams; don't work too much; say what you think; cultivate friendships; be happy.

which I then put at the top of the file I use as a todo list.

This is a good memento. It's very easy to fall victim to self-fulfilling prophecies, negative thought cycles and the like. Hard to escape from them, but as Paul argues, you ought to change your environment and life. Get out of a rut to change your perspective. Recharge, reframe to combat unconstructive thoughts preventing you from thinking clearly and getting ahead in life.

Consider also cognitive behavioral therapy to unlearn self-sabotaging behavior.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_behavioral_therapy

Consider also Stoic philosophy. Stop worrying so much about things outside your control. ;)

Re: The Top of My Todo List (2012)

#7
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

*people who could afford a palliative care nurse

Almost all very wealthy countries have socialized healthcare including palliative care. For roughly a billion people, palliative care is free.

Even in the US, palliative care is covered by Medicare.

https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/hospice-care

Re: The Top of My Todo List (2012)

#8
It is somewhat ironic that 2012 PG writes "don't work too much", but 2021 PG writes a long essay on "how to work hard" (at the very top of his essays page), lionizing the idea of non-stop work and expressing disgust at idleness.

Re: The Top of My Todo List (2012)

#9
post #8

It is somewhat ironic that 2012 PG writes "don't work too much", but 2021 PG writes a long essay on "how to work hard" (at the very top of his essays page), lionizing the idea of non-stop work and expressing disgust at idleness.

'No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man.' - Heraclitus

He is not the 2012 PG anymore, he is the 2021 PG. :P Now that I think of it, what will the 2030 PG be like?

Re: The Top of My Todo List (2012)

#10
I've had the curse/blessing of having a few close calls at a rather young age, and I'd like to add to this a bit:

>Don't ignore your dreams, but also critically examine your dreams to ensure they're healthy and would actually bring you happiness

My "dreams" in life drastically changed after almost dying a couple times. They went from all revolving around being the smartest, richest, most successful person possible, to being the happiest, kindest, most supportive person possible. (I know, I know, terribly cliché. But so true.)

If you have unhealthy dreams, the rest of the items on that list become practically impossible to achieve. So make sure to stop and examine them critically from time to time.

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