We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.
Worrying about choosing a career is a First World Problem, isn't it? All that most people need and want is a job in which they can succeed and survive. Extra money is even better and many people prefer that even if the responsibility is onerous and stressful.
Another problem with the "career" idea is that it implies a lifelong occupation with some sort of upward trajectory. Today, however, many if not most people change jobs, or careers, during their lives. Sometimes voluntarily, sometimes not.
Work that "does good for others"? All compensated work does good for others or it would have no monetary value, but the work which does the most "good for others" is work that creates jobs. It makes sense to claim that it is the entrepreneur and the inventor who do the most good for others and for society as a whole.
Want to do good for society and for others? First thing: be independent and self-sufficient. Second thing: support your family and raise them well, if you have one. Those are the most valuable things a person can ever do.
What about the idea of a "calling" or a mission? Interesting idea but usually only applied to religious or medical paths and most people would like to be writers, artists, or musicians if they could. I have never heard anyone claim a calling to software sales, but far more people build interesting, fulfilling, and useful lives doing the latter than the former.
Many are called but few are chosen. Missions and passions make for good hobbies if they do not seem to work as income-producing jobs. Everybody needs cool hobbies and sports, and a stimulating social life, to round out a life so it's a good idea to make time for one's passionate pursuits too.
The midtown west side of Boom Town, USA has been transformed over the past decade. First came the giant high end residential Trump complex, as seen in my car pic below from the West Side highway. River views. A city itself, built on the old Hudson Line railroad yard. I think one or two more such apartment towers are in the works.
If you stroll over to the far west end of 42nd St., new luxury construction is everywhere. It all feels kinda sterile, but people want to live there now.
Always show up. Cocktail parties, neighborhood parties, church, weddings, funerals, club events, professional meetings, interviews, volunteering, community activities and events.
Even if these things are not your cup of tea - which, for many guys, they are not - at least one good thing comes out of each attendance. I guarantee it. This is not a mercenary attitude. It's an attitude of connection and respect. Except for funerals, I always go somewhat grudgingly because I am naturally taciturn without much to say but I am never sorry that I did "suit up and show up," and at least tried to be engaging and humorous.
I bring this up because I have had several highly serendipitous encounters in the past couple of weeks which have been good fun for me and will be helpful to my kids' lives.
My life, and the lives of our kids, would be quite different if they, and I, did not apply the Woody Allen theory: "70% of success is showing up." My second great job came from a random show-up, and our dearest friends today came from random meets in friendly surroundings.
Come to think of it, meeting the future Mrs. BD was highly random and would never have occurred under normal circumstances. That was good, because otherwise the mate might have been a more socially-predictable and ultimately boring one. One must make space to let serendipity happen.
The higher ed marketing machine has done a good job for its booming industry over the past 50 years, but it has gotten ridiculous. A college degree means nothing. Anybody who wants to can now cheat, drink, and bs their way to the piece of paper as long as they can find a way to come up with the cash.
Let's face it. If you can't or won't handle Calc. and Aristotle, you can't use it. Get a job and learn something real. And read books.
It's a good discussion. I have several problems with their conclusions, but by free will I have decided to put my tomatoes out instead of writing my thoughts. I guess you could claim that my genes and neurons made me make that decision.
I think power can act like a drug, and promote the most self-indulgent or sociopathic character traits. Not so, however, in those determined to be on best behavior. What sorts of people seek power over others?
Unfinished artwork is great fun to look at. It's as much fun as watching a Youtube of craftsmen or chefs at work - or the late lamented Bob Ross' painting show.
Often, a finished product reveals little of what went into its production. It is concealed.
Mrs. BD and I saw the show at the Met's new satellite gallery a few weeks ago. Worth a trip. You can travel the world, but olde NYC right here in little olde USA remains the premier fine art venue in the world. The tourists know that.
On the occasion of what would have been her 100th birthday,
Look at Mark Rothko.