A reoccurring theme in my life recently has been doing what you love. Or rather balancing doing you (I) love with what my (your) responsibilities. This recent cycle began when I was visiting with a friend who started his own business. This endeavor has required a huge amount of flexibility and a fair amount of risk. I was actually involved for a short time as he was just getting started but I was offered a less glamorous and much more settled job that offered a steady (if not large) salary and a generous benefit package. I chose stability. I like my job. I know that what I do has a direct positive benefit to my community and I have made some much needed improvements to how we operate that have resulted in new programs and opportunities. I'm proud of this, but I don't love my job. It is safe and allows me to support my family. But I don't love it. If I had freedom to do what I love I could rattle off a list of things I'd rather be doing (that's another entry though).
That recent visit with my aforementioned friend had me feeling jealous of his situation and how his passions have worked out for him. More then jealous I began thinking about other friends who do what they love without concern for whether it results in financial gain or comfort. They take comfort in doing what they love and do without material things. They don't get caught up in societal expectations. These feelings and thoughts were reaffirmed recently while reading, of all things, a post apocalyptic zombie novel. It's called Zone One and it's a good one. Heavy on philosophy not on gore and a great read. Book reviews aside, a large portion of this book points out the folly in our modern world of bureaucratic systems and social norms. With a fair amount of humor it points out how silly some of what we endure on a daily basis is when viewed from the other side of the void. The curse of keeping up with the Jones' and judging success or happiness by how big your house is, what car you drive, or who's name is on your clothes doesn't make much sense in that broken world.
I have shied from risk at certain points of my life and embraced security. I could be happy with less stuff and more experiences. But I'm not sure that I can justify risking my children's security. If my kids got sick or injured and I didn't have insurance to help them I wouldn't be able to live with myself. Also my safe secure job also allows me to spend a lot of time with my kids. I don't work more than 40 hours a week generally and it allows me to spend quality time with my kids. It leads me to think that the romantic path sometimes isn't all it's cracked up to be. I'm always of two minds about things so here is my resolution: (And I'm stealing this, as well as the quote at the top, from Stevil from this place.) That as of this day, while making the choice between pursuing that which is practical and safe, or that which our much younger selves would look upon us in response, offering a big gap toothed grin, I will chose to engage in something that my younger and probably better looking self would think was pretty sweet. Here are a few examples of things I'm thinking about doing:
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