This is actually one of my favorite pieces by you! I live my life similarly around having a handful of "good day building blocks." I have my moments when I think "I should do more", but then I remember all the times I wrote about how the good life is just one I can do the simple things that bring me joy each day.
Been a month since I quit, and life has been just that!
At some point (roughly when I was 30) I decided 5 years was way too long to try to plan ahead.
For me, 1-year plans work. Long enough to accomplish something concrete and lasting, but not so long that the plan becomes irrelevant due to changing life circumstances, values, etc.
I've been working on a bit of a "life syllabus" for myself that's more short-term. Just checked your writing out - I'm a fan! Would you happen to have a piece about your current 1-year plan?
I like to say a "direction" is more important than a plan. As it gives you the flexibility to move around, while knowing you'll end up at some version of an answer you're content with.
The difficult part is feeling free to meaningfully explore that direction at a young age when there are other factors at play. I didn't mention it in this piece, but parental/cultural conditioning played a huge role in my falling onto this path as well. It's hard to answer in a short response, but I didn't feel like I had the option to explore.
I came to a similar realization. One good day, one day a time
https://gameofone.substack.com/p/40-chainsmoking-good-days
This is actually one of my favorite pieces by you! I live my life similarly around having a handful of "good day building blocks." I have my moments when I think "I should do more", but then I remember all the times I wrote about how the good life is just one I can do the simple things that bring me joy each day.
Been a month since I quit, and life has been just that!
At some point (roughly when I was 30) I decided 5 years was way too long to try to plan ahead.
For me, 1-year plans work. Long enough to accomplish something concrete and lasting, but not so long that the plan becomes irrelevant due to changing life circumstances, values, etc.
I've been working on a bit of a "life syllabus" for myself that's more short-term. Just checked your writing out - I'm a fan! Would you happen to have a piece about your current 1-year plan?
I'd be interested to see yours once it's ready
I'll share it with ya when it is! Full disclosure I geeked out and wrote a course description and everything.
Yep! I did write something about it here: https://www.russellmaxsimon.com/p/the-fifth-value
Lovely, will check it out!
“Your peers teach you that being the kid with answers gets you more points and classroom clout than being the kid with questions.”
True. The conditioning starts there and some adults never break free from it.
It's a hard spot to be in as an observer, knowing that it's a journey people need to first choose to embark on by themselves.
To me it would seem to make sense that you need to have a pretty solid plan coming out of college.
I agree that exploration is important, but ideally that’s covered during your education/childhood when it’s easier to make mistakes.
That being said, I definitely understand how tough it can be to find out the career you dreamed of is not all it’s cracked up to be.
I like to say a "direction" is more important than a plan. As it gives you the flexibility to move around, while knowing you'll end up at some version of an answer you're content with.
The difficult part is feeling free to meaningfully explore that direction at a young age when there are other factors at play. I didn't mention it in this piece, but parental/cultural conditioning played a huge role in my falling onto this path as well. It's hard to answer in a short response, but I didn't feel like I had the option to explore.