I decided that I must live my life on my terms • Hacker News Board

Re: I decided that I must live my life on my terms

#201

Post by mbrodersen » Wed, Apr 06, 2022, 3:07 AM UTC

Sohcahtoa82 wrote: post #108

> I've spent my whole life trying to find my purpose I've always been puzzled at how so many people expect to find "purpose". Nobody has "purpose". You weren't placed on Earth for a reason. You only exist due to the luck of your parents getting laid. And quite frankly, 99.9% of the population will be unremarkable, even if you restrict that 99.9% to first-world countries. I don't expect to have an impact on the world…

You are not a cynic at all. Everything you say is correct. However how you feel about it is down to you. It can either liberate you or depress you depending on your personality.

Re: I decided that I must live my life on my terms

#202

Post by yuuu » Wed, Apr 06, 2022, 3:10 AM UTC

shmde wrote: post #44

dimitrios1 wrote: post #14

To become one with God, through his commandments, mostly by loving, clothing, and feeding my neighbor. However, my performance is woefully inadequate. Luckily, my God is a loving God, and has me on a PIP, so hopefully we see some good progress with the time I have left.

DO you work in Amazon ?

I don't know why this is downvoted, I actually laughed out loud.

Re: I decided that I must live my life on my terms

#203

Post by chillacy » Wed, Apr 06, 2022, 4:07 AM UTC

xyzzy21 wrote: post #173

Sohcahtoa82 wrote: post #108

> I've spent my whole life trying to find my purpose I've always been puzzled at how so many people expect to find "purpose". Nobody has "purpose". You weren't placed on Earth for a reason. You only exist due to the luck of your parents getting laid. And quite frankly, 99.9% of the population will be unremarkable, even if you restrict that 99.9% to first-world countries. I don't expect to have an impact on the world…

Actually you can absolutely have a purpose but its completely up to you what it is - there is no greater power or committee who can or will tell you. Well, actually people will be happy to exploit you into doing things the help THEIR purpose but you aren't be true to yourself if you let that happen.

This is the answer: while there is no universal purpose to life, everyone can (or has the burden to) find their own purpose. From my understanding this was the big finding from existentialism, and afaik wasn't as big of a problem back when society forced you into a religious certainty.

Re: I decided that I must live my life on my terms

#204

Post by throwaway6532 » Wed, Apr 06, 2022, 4:52 AM UTC

mapster wrote: post #195

dennis_jeeves1 wrote: post #193

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>God dammit when did I become such a cynic. I disagree, you should replace the word 'cynic' with 'realist''

That’s the cynic’s own delusion: that they are the realist and the world is full of pie in the sky idealists. It’s like the precocious 12 yr old that never matures.

>That’s the cynic’s own delusion: that they are the realist and the world is full of pie in the sky idealists. It’s like the precocious 12 yr old that never matures.

And that's the optimists delusion: that the cynic isn't a realist.

Re: I decided that I must live my life on my terms

#205

Post by throwaway6532 » Wed, Apr 06, 2022, 4:54 AM UTC

tonyedgecombe wrote: post #138

brightstep wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sometimes (maybe most of the time) being a cynic is wholly justified.

I remember reading a paper that showed that slightly depressed people have a more accurate world view. I'm not sure which way the causation went though.

Accurate views tend to be depressing, so I know which way my vote goes.

Source - slightly depressed person

Re: I decided that I must live my life on my terms

#206

Post by ThinkBeat » Wed, Apr 06, 2022, 5:45 AM UTC

em-bee wrote: post #140

ThinkBeat wrote: post #107

That is a kumbaya care bear concept. If you are in a tiny percentile of people who can do that, you are most blessed and prlivliged. A member of the neo aristocracy. (Or you are skilled at deceiving yourself.) That "doing what you love" intersects with "what will get paid for" is rare as well. For the vast majority of people working is a nessescary evil to survive. If they made such a choice they would starve. If the…

what is a philosopher? someone who attempts to understand fundamental aspects of our life. but how can you understand life if you don't live it yourself? so, yes, you have to work to make a living, but understanding the point of that should inform your research into philosophy. if you spend all day studying the works of other philosophers then all you are doing is rearranging the findings of others without producing…

this is true.

I am getting old, as all people eventually do unless something unfortunate happens.

I have a mildly interesting tapestry of "life" saved up. I can now study philosophy to try to understand the past better, or in context, or as what not to do :)

Some reading is depressing as it gives advice to what a young person should do to avoid common mistakes and pitfalls. I can look back see I did most of those things and if I had started studying earlier I might have had a better outcome.

Still cant change the past

But yes interaction with the world and trying to find people to have good conversations with is essential

Re: I decided that I must live my life on my terms

#207

Post by yetihehe » Wed, Apr 06, 2022, 6:22 AM UTC

honestduane wrote: post #199

Sohcahtoa82 wrote: post #108

> I've spent my whole life trying to find my purpose I've always been puzzled at how so many people expect to find "purpose". Nobody has "purpose". You weren't placed on Earth for a reason. You only exist due to the luck of your parents getting laid. And quite frankly, 99.9% of the population will be unremarkable, even if you restrict that 99.9% to first-world countries. I don't expect to have an impact on the world…

> I don't expect to have an impact on the world or even get my own Wikipedia page that doesn't immediately get taken down for not being notable. Are you saying that its not possible to do one without the other? I find it is FAR easier to impact the world "at scale" than is to get the credit and money for it.

Yeah, You can even have a situation, where your work is invisible if done right and impacts thousands of people every day yet you barely have minimum wage, for example street cleaner.

Re: I decided that I must live my life on my terms

#208

Post by v-erne » Wed, Apr 06, 2022, 6:29 AM UTC

Dayshine wrote: post #185

Sohcahtoa82 wrote: post #164

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Making the world a better place" is a trope that Silicon Valley was making fun of. Every startup thinks they're making the world a better place and the phrase has lost its meaning. https://youtu.be/B8C5sjjhsso https://danielfschmidt.medium.com/is-your-startup-trying-to-... Unless your goal is to eliminate poverty, homelessness, disease, hunger, human trafficking, climate change, or assist with any other humanitarian…

I spend my free time making IDE tooling used by thousands to make game mods played by millions. Am I making the world a better place?

If You believe that world where everybody has escaped reality is somehow better, then probably Yes. Other than that You are just helping others to coast along waiting for nothingness to take them back.

Re: I decided that I must live my life on my terms

#209

Post by p0d » Wed, Apr 06, 2022, 6:47 AM UTC

crossingTime wrote: post #194

p0d wrote: post #150

Trying to live my life the way Jesus taught. I believe life and work have purpose. I think we should work hard and enjoy what we have. Not compare ourselves to others as you say. I don't think death is the end. I think my work is to help look after this rock and contribute to society. I think I need some framework beyond my own head to make sense of life, work and death. As a younger man I would have said I have fait…

As a scientist and programmer, everything to me points to a creator. Obviously every person has a different set of options, and some people have no options. I think most people that aren't following Jesus are already following "I decided that I must live my life on my terms." OP has just decided that they want to choose a different direction of what they are choosing to do in this life. I believe the true purpose is…

Your comment touched on something which was on my mind when I was writing my own comment. The problem of pain and suffering. A lot of modern 'success' thinking does not consider the difficulties of life.

I am inspired that you have remained true to your beliefs having battled, lost so much.

A dear 40yr old friend died of cancer last year leaving behind his wife and 3 little girls under 10. He was one of the best men I knew. His work colleagues spoke at his funeral of how good a man he was. A man who never lost his temper and clients requested him as he was so well respected. I hope at my own funeral similar will be true.

Re: I decided that I must live my life on my terms

#210

Post by tonyedgecombe » Wed, Apr 06, 2022, 7:03 AM UTC

ChrisMarshallNY wrote: post #33

> Basically, I want to grow old doing what I love, not feeling that I am working. That’s where I’m at, now. I was forced into that, but, after a few years, I’ll admit it’s the best thing that ever happened to me. I’m not rich; and likely never will be, but I’m going to be fine. I was considering working for another ten years, and adding more to a pile, but it would have cost me my soul. This was made quite clear to m…

>of almost 27 years

It shouldn't but I'm willing to be that worked against you as well.