51–60 of 105 posts
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Clearly. We should strive to be miserable and frustrated because that's a lot better.
We should strive for something greater than ourselves.
But I think a strategic view of "what big choices in life will contribute to long term happiness?" is a still good thing to consider.
I'm a little disappointed in the middlebrow dismissals here. Let's set aside the brain stuff and do some simple math: you're going to live anywhere from three to seven decades after you reach 30, but only one decade of adulthood before. Therefore your have the opportunity to build a foundation for your life's happiness in your 20's. Economists have this notion called the "discount rate", which is the degree to which…
... and the more biased toward short-term returns you are, because you're young.
Life's a bitch that way :)
Here are three of my decades thus far. I'm trying to decide which of these was "wasted" according to the article: Phase I, 21-30: "Work hard/Play hard" mode, socking away retirement savings, building skills & reputation to prepare for Phase II, nights & weekends packed with climbing trips and going out. "I think I can get a full night sleep the weekend after next". Phase II, 30-40: "Semi-retired nomad" mode, working…
Phase I, 18-29. "Work, train (athletics), travel, and save money." Started working at 18. Never settled down anywhere, after 21 I started saving money. Also building contacts that will carry me into phase II.
Phase II, 29-34 (now). "Husband/father/freelancer/student/athlete/coach". Pursuing studies in Math (my passion) getting ready for Grad school (2014). Funding it with Phase I and working part-time from home. Lots of family time and staying in good shape. Keeping a consistent routine (something I never did in Phase I).
Phase III. Probably starts around 35 next year: Math PhD? Post-doc, etc. Nothing set in stone. But without Phase I in my 20s the way it was I wouldn't be in the position to do this now.
I think I was supposed to be a student first, then start a career. Not the other way around.
At Age 20: I was partying like a madman, it was awesome At Age 21: Graduated, seeing a great girl, making a little money, enjoying city life At Age 22: Still having fun, meeting and sleeping with new people At Age 23: Yup. Same. At Age 24: New girl, same awesome life At Age 25: Lots of international travel this year. More great friends made Fun! At Age 26: More of the same. And I'm still doing financially fine (thoug…
At Age 20: I was partying like a madman, it was awesome At Age 21: Graduated, seeing a great girl, making a little money, enjoying city life At Age 22: Still having fun, meeting and sleeping with new people At Age 23: Yup. Same. At Age 24: New girl, same awesome life At Age 25: Lots of international travel this year. More great friends made Fun! At Age 26: More of the same. And I'm still doing financially fine (thoug…
Awesome. It sounds like you had a great decade! Do you have any pointers for us early-twentysomethings? I've just turned 23 and while I'm having fun in the city, enjoying the world of work, it doesn't sound quite as interesting as the same part of your life. How did you meet new friends, expand your social network, sleep with new people, and enjoy the metropolis? I've found the transition from university to work has…
Once you're on the inside of something like that then the barriers to meeting new people within the scene are significantly reduced, though obviously you're perceived to have put up barriers to everyone else to a greater or lesser extent. Also it turns out a lot of goths are software engineers...
I guess what I'm saying is if you have a thing (be it goth, learning the ukelele, mountain climbing, whatever) don't be afraid to embrace the thing, and don't let the day job take over your whole life :)
--edit-- Also, just do stuff. Take a risk, meet people off the internet. I organised a couple of 'fark' meetups in London back then, and even have a couple of pretty good IRL friends met through some much shadier sites.
At Age 20: I was partying like a madman, it was awesome At Age 21: Graduated, seeing a great girl, making a little money, enjoying city life At Age 22: Still having fun, meeting and sleeping with new people At Age 23: Yup. Same. At Age 24: New girl, same awesome life At Age 25: Lots of international travel this year. More great friends made Fun! At Age 26: More of the same. And I'm still doing financially fine (thoug…
Soo... you are definitely not wasting your 20s. :-)
Which, incidentally, I don't advise putting off for quite as long as I have, there's a balance somewhere and I think I might have overshot, but I did have an awesome decade.
Is HN now the place for junk neuroscience? Seriously?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
> The only way you should concern yourself with living is to try to be happy every day, whatever that means to you. Barf. There's a lot more to life and human flourishing than just making yourself happy.
Clearly. We should strive to be miserable and frustrated because that's a lot better.