61–70 of 107 posts
I take a lot of personal pride in being able to persevere; lots of people do -- why downplay this or regard them as "suckers"?
Work is anything that you are compelled to do. By its very nature, it is undesirable. The speaker draws a dichotomy between work and play, as he defines these terms, with work being things done under compulsion and play being things done based on desire (and especially passionate desire). His theme is a clarion call to shape your life, and the way you make a living, around things you love to do and to avoid dying a s…
"Play" is usually used to refer to divergent creativity. Convergent creativity is also important, and most people who never experience any pressure or limitations never get the latter of those down. Here's a post I wrote last week on divergent convergent creativity: http://michaelochurch.wordpress.com/2012/04/06/creativity-an...
What makes most "work" idiotic and soul-munching is that most of it's white-collar social climbing. Most people are actually more relaxed and happier when doing work activities than on average. What makes them unhappy are all the social stresses and extrinsics (such as unreasonable deadlines, bad personalities, implicit threats of professional adversity) that "work" imposes on them and that have nothing to do with actually getting things done.
but does it really make sense loving someone when you are not loved back? that is hard work. and it hurts. but i just might got it all wrong.
That's the one part of his message that irks me. First, he says "marriage is a milestone", and makes it seems like it's the top milestone since he mentions it first. OK, that's fine and dandy but has serious demoralizing consequences for the single dude who has tough luck finding love. Never ever say marriage is a milestone to single people. Second, I agree with you. Loving someone when they don't love back makes no…
My advice is - in spite of previous dissapointments, you shouldn't give up on people, but keep on looking for this "natural" match. IMO, for most people, having a true friend [1] introduces more happiness than any professional/financial success, so it's definitely something worth pursuing.
[1] Bonus points if that true friend is also your spouse.
Work is anything that you are compelled to do. By its very nature, it is undesirable. The speaker draws a dichotomy between work and play, as he defines these terms, with work being things done under compulsion and play being things done based on desire (and especially passionate desire). His theme is a clarion call to shape your life, and the way you make a living, around things you love to do and to avoid dying a s…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I for one, wish that we could have one career half the week and a completely different career with no overlap the other half of the week.
I do that. I'm a freelance developer part time, and a freelance musician part time. It's difficult, and way more work than just doing one or the other. You have to constantly guard your ability to do it -- if you let them, people will demand your absolute full time devotion to them. But I've found when you lay out th rules early on, they usually accept that they can't have you body and soul. If not, they weren't a go…
I like programming, but sometimes I wish I could do it only a few days a week and spend the rest doing something where I wasn't hunched over in front of a box 13 hours a day. Sales! Photography! Helping injured animals! I've never done anything that didn't involve sitting alone a desk all day...
One of the best articles I've read in a long time. I'm 21 and about to graduate. I totally relate to this and am already trying to adopt this way living into my life. My friends often tell me I'm being unrealistic and I'll soon realise that I need to grow up. My plan is to work part-time when I leave university leaving myself all the time I want to work on my own projects and to socialise. That's what makes me happy,…
I'm 22 and that's pretty much what I do. In Denmark you get payed to go to the university. I spend maybe 10 hours a week on it, and the rest is for making music and socializing. I have never been happier.
One of the best articles I've read in a long time. I'm 21 and about to graduate. I totally relate to this and am already trying to adopt this way living into my life. My friends often tell me I'm being unrealistic and I'll soon realise that I need to grow up. My plan is to work part-time when I leave university leaving myself all the time I want to work on my own projects and to socialise. That's what makes me happy,…
Recent college grad here too. Strongly suggest that. Work just enough to get by, pay the bills, eat, etc. Dedicate atleast 2-3 hours, completley focues and uninterrupted, to your passion,purpose, craft. Or socialize purposefully - building relationships and allies sort of speak.
The second part gets a bit more complicated if you want to freelance or start your own company, but IMO you can still learn a lot early on "working for the man" that will help carry you forward in your own ventures.
One of the best articles I've read in a long time. I'm 21 and about to graduate. I totally relate to this and am already trying to adopt this way living into my life. My friends often tell me I'm being unrealistic and I'll soon realise that I need to grow up. My plan is to work part-time when I leave university leaving myself all the time I want to work on my own projects and to socialise. That's what makes me happy,…
I'm 22 and I told a couple coworkers at lunch that I wish I could do my job part time, and that I'd give up half my salary to just have all that free time back. They thought I was crazy.
If you want to do it, see if your employer would allow it. Don't regret not doing so ten years down the track.
So, you can attack it on both fronts. Your job isn't everything you always dreamed of? Well, if that dream job is out of reach for now, you can start working on your personal life. Half your life is spent working, but half of it is not. Don't overlook the chance to live that second half of life just because of work.
Yes, try to aim for a job you enjoy. But if you can't secure that dreamy job where work feels like play every day, all hope is not lost.
(FWIW, this is conclusion is not the result of a defeatist attitude, but rather the realization that the satisfaction I derive from my personal life lags that which I derive from my professional life. Consequentially, I can reap the largest improvements in my personal life. I can't take shortcuts and fill that void with more work, because my physical & mental health deteriorates when the balance breaks down in either direction)