4 ms·

I have no issues with society. I like living in my city and my friends and family here. Is the point you're making more that my question is silly because there'

I have no issues with society. I like living in my city and my friends and family here. Is the point you're making more that my question is silly because there's not really a way to answer it usefully?

grawprog 9y ago
But by leaving all that. You can get to know yourself and discover what it is that truly drives you. Everyone has something that drives them even if they dont know. Sometime it takes drastically altering your life to discover that. I was mostly joking about the forest hermit thing. It's more about maybe making a big change to your life, doing something you're scared of or never thought of doing and seeing where it takes you. I mean if you find life dissatisfying now. What do you have to lose? But you may discover something you never even knew existed. You said you have time and money. What else are those things for if not trying new things in life? You only get one to do things as far as we can tell. If what you're doing now sucks and small things don't help try making a big ridiculous terrifying change. Just do something on a whim. I've done it lots and I can tell you my life certainly has been interesting. It doesn't always work out well but it's never boring. I've been everything from a biologist to a programmer, to a garderner to a cnc operator. I've ran my own business, I helped start a non-profit organization. That's just work let alone my fucked up personal life. I've never had a lot of money or time though. I just take the opportunities that come and go where life takes me.
- whamlastxmas 9y ago
  I have actually done some "fuck it" and leave it all behind in my past year. I packed everything I owned in my car and moved across the country to a new place I've never been before and lived on a vineyard in wine country CA for a while. I also once just packed a single backpack and drove off into the sunset on a road trip with no plans for a couple weeks. I learned valuable things from my experiences - I learned how much I value the meaningful friendships and connections I have in my life. I learned that my concept of "I could be happy if only I found the right place to live" to be untrue, as I knew before but had trouble believing until I tried it for myself. I learned how great it is to meet new people, which was new for me as a life-long introvert. I do really value my friends, my relationship, and my family. They give me meaning in life more than anything else, and I don't just want to leave it all behind to find myself because I feel I've mostly already done that. My last resort in life would be to move to Thailand to become a Buddhist monk. But I'm not quite there yet.
  - grawprog 9y ago
    Fair enough. I think I understand a little better. I'm sorry i don't think have much advice on that. I'm a little lost in that way myself at this point. I've just been dealing with it by not thinking too much into life. It is what it its. A bunch of shit happens and you die. But it has helped me appreciate little things more. I wish you luck on your quest for life's meaning.
  - webmaven 9y ago
    > I do really value my friends, my relationship, and my family. They give me meaning in life more than anything else If that's the case, then reframe the question to some variation of "what should I do with my life that will enhance/maximize the relationships I find meaningful?", or perhaps "what should I do with my life that will bring me into contact with more of the kind of people I would want as friends?". For example, if your family/friends tend to be literary folks, you might consider becoming a librarian, or managing a bookstore.

grawprog 9y ago

But by leaving all that. You can get to know yourself and discover what it is that truly drives you. Everyone has something that drives them even if they dont know. Sometime it takes drastically altering your life to discover that. I was mostly joking about the forest hermit thing. It's more about maybe making a big change to your life, doing something you're scared of or never thought of doing and seeing where it takes you. I mean if you find life dissatisfying now. What do you have to lose? But you may discover something you never even knew existed. You said you have time and money. What else are those things for if not trying new things in life? You only get one to do things as far as we can tell. If what you're doing now sucks and small things don't help try making a big ridiculous terrifying change. Just do something on a whim. I've done it lots and I can tell you my life certainly has been interesting. It doesn't always work out well but it's never boring. I've been everything from a biologist to a programmer, to a garderner to a cnc operator. I've ran my own business, I helped start a non-profit organization. That's just work let alone my fucked up personal life. I've never had a lot of money or time though. I just take the opportunities that come and go where life takes me.

whamlastxmas 9y ago
I have actually done some "fuck it" and leave it all behind in my past year. I packed everything I owned in my car and moved across the country to a new place I've never been before and lived on a vineyard in wine country CA for a while. I also once just packed a single backpack and drove off into the sunset on a road trip with no plans for a couple weeks. I learned valuable things from my experiences - I learned how much I value the meaningful friendships and connections I have in my life. I learned that my concept of "I could be happy if only I found the right place to live" to be untrue, as I knew before but had trouble believing until I tried it for myself. I learned how great it is to meet new people, which was new for me as a life-long introvert. I do really value my friends, my relationship, and my family. They give me meaning in life more than anything else, and I don't just want to leave it all behind to find myself because I feel I've mostly already done that. My last resort in life would be to move to Thailand to become a Buddhist monk. But I'm not quite there yet.
- grawprog 9y ago
  Fair enough. I think I understand a little better. I'm sorry i don't think have much advice on that. I'm a little lost in that way myself at this point. I've just been dealing with it by not thinking too much into life. It is what it its. A bunch of shit happens and you die. But it has helped me appreciate little things more. I wish you luck on your quest for life's meaning.
- webmaven 9y ago
  > I do really value my friends, my relationship, and my family. They give me meaning in life more than anything else If that's the case, then reframe the question to some variation of "what should I do with my life that will enhance/maximize the relationships I find meaningful?", or perhaps "what should I do with my life that will bring me into contact with more of the kind of people I would want as friends?". For example, if your family/friends tend to be literary folks, you might consider becoming a librarian, or managing a bookstore.