I've agreed with you on just about everything, except tight pants. But I disagree here. Ooh, debate!I don't think your job has to be inspiring or amazing. It's OK to draw a check for honest work, then go about your life. Not everything has to be the greatest most important thing ever - some people take pleasure in living simply and going with the flow. If you don't want to live that way, and want a bigger sort of life, that's cool. But dismissing others as "cowardly" is sort of mean (that word stuck in my craw, as by your definition I'm a coward).Now, people who hang on in lives that make them miserable, because they're too afraid to change? That's different. I've been there, and I've gotten out. But your post seems to be striking a tone of "if you aren't happy all the time, just walk, if you don't you're a coward." I think if I went through life thinking that I'd collapse from the pressure.In summary: Viva mediocrity! Woo hoo for average!
Goose, if it makes you feel any better you're a gnarly-attired, unkempt, political-haired tool to me.
shannon--I see what you're saying and this here might be where we divert not only fashion-wise, but "meaning-of-life"-wise. To me, I view life as short. Very short. So, yes, I think people should strive to attain the best in EVERY ASPECT of their lives ALL THE TIME. That's called progress. When people stop doing that and get complacent, shit gets stagnant. Just look at our government and what it has become if you need a larger example. They've clearly stopped trying.Happiness is more fickle, as what will make one person happy is not necessarily what will make another one happy. Being an engineer, for example, would not make me happy. But for some, that profession is their dream. However, I doubt they'd be "happy" (in my definition of the word) with being in an entry-level position for 30 years, especially when the possibility exists to, say, build the most amazing bridge in the world (or whatever it is that engineers do). Sure, they'd be making a nice paycheck either way, but when you're not completely satisfied with what you're doing for 40+ hours per week or you don't believe what you're doing now will get you to where you want to be later, I can't believe someone is doing anything but convincing themselves that they're OK with that. I would bet if given the option of doing something grand or doing something ho-hum, most people would err on the side of magnificent (perhaps, you're not most people).For me, as a writer, I'm not happy with where I'm at. For now, it's fine, I suppose, but the second I start thinking, "Well, sure I'm not writing the kinds of articles for the kind of audience I used to dream about, but, eh...it's a paycheck," that's when I start calling myself a coward. I want the best for myself work-wise and otherwise. Perhaps our definition of "best" is also different. That is quite possible. If the "best" to some other journalists is the Nameless Suburban Chronicle, then more power to them. I congratulate them, in fact, for achieving their dreams. For me though, the best is The New Yorker, so the second I stop dreaming and working toward that, and the second the word "comfortable" becomes interchangable with "happiness," that's when I begin to have a problem with myself. That's when I become a coward.Moreover, aside from work, I think very similarly about personal relationships. People who stay in bad relationships for the sole fact that they "don't want to be alone" or have given up on finding someone they actually feel passionate about and meets their standards are engaging in a form of cowardice too. Unfortunately, I've been there, but fortunately will never be there again. (Nor will I ever mention anything quite so cryptically personal on this blog again. Plus, The Anti DC has resolved only to marry for money. Zing!)xo,Your Local Rampant Objectivist
Man, I should have never shown you that video.
peter--Whatevs. I bet you secretly love yourself some Ayn Rand style rants.
Ayn Rand rants are the only kind I will read any more. SHARING IS USELESS.
Post a Comment
6 comments:
I've agreed with you on just about everything, except tight pants. But I disagree here. Ooh, debate!
I don't think your job has to be inspiring or amazing. It's OK to draw a check for honest work, then go about your life. Not everything has to be the greatest most important thing ever - some people take pleasure in living simply and going with the flow. If you don't want to live that way, and want a bigger sort of life, that's cool. But dismissing others as "cowardly" is sort of mean (that word stuck in my craw, as by your definition I'm a coward).
Now, people who hang on in lives that make them miserable, because they're too afraid to change? That's different. I've been there, and I've gotten out. But your post seems to be striking a tone of "if you aren't happy all the time, just walk, if you don't you're a coward." I think if I went through life thinking that I'd collapse from the pressure.
In summary: Viva mediocrity! Woo hoo for average!
Goose, if it makes you feel any better you're a gnarly-attired, unkempt, political-haired tool to me.
shannon--
I see what you're saying and this here might be where we divert not only fashion-wise, but "meaning-of-life"-wise. To me, I view life as short. Very short. So, yes, I think people should strive to attain the best in EVERY ASPECT of their lives ALL THE TIME. That's called progress. When people stop doing that and get complacent, shit gets stagnant. Just look at our government and what it has become if you need a larger example. They've clearly stopped trying.
Happiness is more fickle, as what will make one person happy is not necessarily what will make another one happy. Being an engineer, for example, would not make me happy. But for some, that profession is their dream. However, I doubt they'd be "happy" (in my definition of the word) with being in an entry-level position for 30 years, especially when the possibility exists to, say, build the most amazing bridge in the world (or whatever it is that engineers do). Sure, they'd be making a nice paycheck either way, but when you're not completely satisfied with what you're doing for 40+ hours per week or you don't believe what you're doing now will get you to where you want to be later, I can't believe someone is doing anything but convincing themselves that they're OK with that. I would bet if given the option of doing something grand or doing something ho-hum, most people would err on the side of magnificent (perhaps, you're not most people).
For me, as a writer, I'm not happy with where I'm at. For now, it's fine, I suppose, but the second I start thinking, "Well, sure I'm not writing the kinds of articles for the kind of audience I used to dream about, but, eh...it's a paycheck," that's when I start calling myself a coward. I want the best for myself work-wise and otherwise. Perhaps our definition of "best" is also different. That is quite possible. If the "best" to some other journalists is the Nameless Suburban Chronicle, then more power to them. I congratulate them, in fact, for achieving their dreams. For me though, the best is The New Yorker, so the second I stop dreaming and working toward that, and the second the word "comfortable" becomes interchangable with "happiness," that's when I begin to have a problem with myself. That's when I become a coward.
Moreover, aside from work, I think very similarly about personal relationships. People who stay in bad relationships for the sole fact that they "don't want to be alone" or have given up on finding someone they actually feel passionate about and meets their standards are engaging in a form of cowardice too. Unfortunately, I've been there, but fortunately will never be there again. (Nor will I ever mention anything quite so cryptically personal on this blog again. Plus, The Anti DC has resolved only to marry for money. Zing!)
xo,
Your Local Rampant Objectivist
Man, I should have never shown you that video.
peter--
Whatevs. I bet you secretly love yourself some Ayn Rand style rants.
Ayn Rand rants are the only kind I will read any more. SHARING IS USELESS.
Post a Comment