"We’re told to do well in school so that we can get into a solid university in order study something that will allow us to be hired in a lucrative position, and when we get bored, it’s not a problem, because we can just go back to school to get a masters..."
Whenever I find myself considering going back to school, it's always been from a place of fear rather than a place of wonder.
Yes! I totally agree with the going back to school can come from a place of fear rather than wonder! I'm always telling my two young adult children -- one just out of college, one currently in -- that graduate school should NEVER be to figure out what you want to do, but for those who have definitely decided what they want to do and need graduate school to do it!
This reminds me of the many views and quotes the Stoic's have on the subject of death. I've been pondering a lot of these views/quotes lately that teach how we should put up mental boundaries around the things that keep us from living life to the fullest. Worrying about money, that job promotion, successes that we cannot control, and even death keeps us from wondering and exploring and even enjoying life.
This also makes me think of how many things we say "yes" to in life that should really be big fat "NO's"!!
Yes! I actually just mentioned memento mori in a reply to Lynn above before I read your comment. I’ve been really feeling the need to say “no” more often lately and focus on the most important “yes’s” too.
This is the technique that I used to find "house time." I thought of myself as dead (that my life was over) and that all that I have accomplished to that date comprised what I did in my life. From that day forward, I did not worry about dying and all my time became house time. Sure, I could have done more with my life, but I did enough.
I am certainly a Stoic. If you set the dead point, you don't need to remember you will die...you already have. I sent this idea to a friend who is fighting in Ukraine. It was helpful for me when I had cancer (now in remission)--my dead point was when I was diagnosed.
"We’re told to do well in school so that we can get into a solid university in order study something that will allow us to be hired in a lucrative position, and when we get bored, it’s not a problem, because we can just go back to school to get a masters..."
Whenever I find myself considering going back to school, it's always been from a place of fear rather than a place of wonder.
Excellent work Shiv
Yes! I totally agree with the going back to school can come from a place of fear rather than wonder! I'm always telling my two young adult children -- one just out of college, one currently in -- that graduate school should NEVER be to figure out what you want to do, but for those who have definitely decided what they want to do and need graduate school to do it!
This reminds me of the many views and quotes the Stoic's have on the subject of death. I've been pondering a lot of these views/quotes lately that teach how we should put up mental boundaries around the things that keep us from living life to the fullest. Worrying about money, that job promotion, successes that we cannot control, and even death keeps us from wondering and exploring and even enjoying life.
This also makes me think of how many things we say "yes" to in life that should really be big fat "NO's"!!
Thanks, Shiv, for this!!
Yes! I actually just mentioned memento mori in a reply to Lynn above before I read your comment. I’ve been really feeling the need to say “no” more often lately and focus on the most important “yes’s” too.
This is the technique that I used to find "house time." I thought of myself as dead (that my life was over) and that all that I have accomplished to that date comprised what I did in my life. From that day forward, I did not worry about dying and all my time became house time. Sure, I could have done more with my life, but I did enough.
That’s such an interesting idea. It reminds me of the stoic concept of memento mori, which translates to “remember you will die.”
I am certainly a Stoic. If you set the dead point, you don't need to remember you will die...you already have. I sent this idea to a friend who is fighting in Ukraine. It was helpful for me when I had cancer (now in remission)--my dead point was when I was diagnosed.