The big question-life?

What is life all about? I mean, you're born, you live and then you die? Does it really matter what we do in between? Is it important or do we just survive until we die? Im wondering if its not such a bad thing to not have a career? What does everybody think?

Should we do what we THINK we SHOULD do? Or do we do what we REALLY WANT to do REGARDLESS OF THE CONSEQUENCES (ie. being a poor artist instead of a rich lawyer or something)?

Please answer my question as i need all the help i can get.

I think what im trying to say is that should you do what you REALLY want to do even if you cant envisage a successful (as in money wise) life for yourself? Do you follow your dreams even if it doesnt seem sensible? Do you think we all have one life duty or gift to offer the world?

I think you should do what you truly love. If you love what you do and are gifted, then you will be alright. Today it is kind of hard to survivie even if you do have a good job!
As far as life's duty? I think the saints have come and gone. there are no more, and what ever you do you should do because it please you and you have something inside you that needs to be expressed and because it makes you happy. No on the duty. My personal impression of you LG, is that you will be very successful and famous one day!! I truly feel this.

SuzyQ

I think it is about helping others who are less fortunate and making someones life alittle happier or better!

Some people have a strong passion for something that they have a talent for and cannot be swayed from pursuing that dream...that is beautiful to me...though, I am not one of those people.
Think of Mozart, Monet...

I live a life of service as a Registered Nurse, but, I find I have a talent for the skills (including people skills! LOL! I know it doesn't show on this board..asi es la vida!)...anyway, I get many personal rewards from my work. I also believe in donations...money to charities and church, giving blood, giving community time, donating coats, clothing, and other items to Good Will. I also stop and help those who are stranded, in honor of those who have helped me.

I believe that some were destined to inspire others and some were meant to lead and some were meant to be worker bees like me!

Each to their own, but I've chosen the poor artist route. I heard an interesting thing on radio national the other day about how in the fourteenth century the greatest thing people wanted was to be 'saved', whereas now, the one thing people want is to be rich. We've all inadvertantly become worshippers in a cult of money.

Whenever I've tried to pursue the path to material gain in the form of career, I've been left feeling dissatisfied. Nice corporate jobs have been more soul destroying than anything else. When I left school I studied a bachelor of sciene in biotechnology, not because I loved it, but rather I thought it would be a good safe career move.

So...after several years of wandering about in unhappy workplaces and beating myself up for not trying to fix that great vacuous absence of a tangible success, i've finally embarked upon something I love and I don't give a shat about where it takes me. I've gone back to uni doing a bachelor of creative writing (YAY!) and it's rewarding in so many ways - none of which are linked to money, sucess or the potential for future gain.

I live off AUSTUDY, a rapidly depleating savings account and a small amount I make from breeding dogs - I'm comfortably poor - but for the first time in forever, I'm really happy with where my life is sitting. In regards to sensible choices, I think I got to a point where there were no other options but to take this course of action - I couldn't keep going along pretending I was happy doing something I hated.

Are you going through an identity/purpose crisis yourself, or is this rhetorical?

Ah, Cortica!
You are definitely an inspirer! Love your posts!

You know.. my step brother(turning 30 soon) always says i think about the stupidest pointless things and that money is everythingthis i dont agree :o) i like the things i think about(life, people, etc etc.) He says i think TOO much, when is TOO much? Is it too much because he doesnt think about the same things? Hmmm... maybe he is right tho, that i shouldnt go to the point that my brains gonna explode but hey, thats impossible or is it? 😕 haha anyway... he says that money is everything and you must be successful in life, but i think ok?? what is being "Successful" in life? Is it being happy with your life or is it becoming rich like he says? Hmmm... sometimes i feel toward the more doing the things you want to do.. even if it doesnt bring cash. But sometimes i think that no one can ever be truly happy forever cus i dont know, just the american way? *cough* but i cant say yes no one can be happy cus i dont know that.But i know deep inside that im not going to be listening to what my parents/siblings say, because i need to do something that will make me somewhat happy with my life where i can say "even tho life has ups and downs atleast im doing something that i enjoy" yeah, and the question if it matters inbetween it? I really dont know. We dont know what happens in the end so why not just live it and see where it takes us in the end. And if it is just THE END then hey, atleast u did something when you were living 😕 and if you didnt then thats just your choice i guess. So basically we make our own futures. But really, the things that come along with, ofcourse no one can predict, like you make your own path but the things that happen along the way, who can predict that? Even the lil things, such as you get into an accident cus you crashed into this lady, did you know that you were going to have an accident today? Maybe that crash would change ur whole life..hm. And its funny how the lady came at the exact same time and point where you just happen to crash into eachother, and the same to you too. Its weird like that. Hmmm maybe things do happen without any explanations, just does cus it has to be that way..i dont know!alsdkfjsdklajfasd

Wow guys, Cortica and SQ, you have hit the nail on the head. My question is not rhetorical, i am going through a crisis. Ill just explain a little bit about my background.

Grew up with divorced parents, lived with sister and mum, on a pension. Life was fun, interesting and sometimes hard but we didnt have much money. I guess i saw what my mum went through (and she was always telling me never to rely on anyone else, a mistake on her behalf because now i find it hard to trust people) i swore to myself NEVER to be poor again. A lot of the time i have done what ive wanted to do and have done quite well out of it at times, but lately ive become neurotic about security and owning a house etc... and im probably listening to my mum too much about having a conservative life and being sensible blah blah blah. Deep down inside i just dont feel having a sensible life is for me. I know i have a talent and i want to go out there and use it. I dont know how to explain it but ive always been a bit of a poineer or a leader and a little waywood. I feel i am quite progressive in a lot of ways and have been happiest 'out there' on my own, doing my own thing and inspiring other people.

Cortica, your story is inspiring to me. You are a good writer; the course is definately fitting for you. How you were feeling a couple of years ago is how i am feeling right now. I will be entering the second year of my psych. degree next year and while id like to finish it, i dont think i will persevere with it as a career.

SQ, i cried when i read what you wrote, thank you so much. Ive always felt the same way and i feel like i am repressing my spirit by aiming for a 'safe and secure' life. At the end of the day i am going to die (not literally but you know what i mean, one day!) and I'd hate to feel id wasted my life by living out of the FEAR, i guess now ive just got to be brave enough to be myself. Its just little things like yesterday i saw an add for auditions for a 6-part mini series (locally produced) and thought (im into music, thats where my talent lies) 'wouldn't it be great if i had some finished product to try to sell to them, even for self-promotion'! But of course i dont because i havent been bothering with it lately. SQ, i know it sounds dodgy but ive always thought i would be successful too! Now i suppose ive just got to go out there and do it. I might fail miserably but at least I'll always know i gave it a try.

I think ive been surrounded by too many middle class conservatives 😉
I'll keep you posted. SQ, i think you're right, ive always felt i will be famous or successful in some way. I dont think its fame that i really want, i just want to be successful at what i do and i want to move people in some way.

Anyway, you guys have a great weekend. I will speak to you soon.

PS. I am just about to press 'submit'. This is it, im putting it out into the Universe.

SQ, im sorry i repeated myself twice! Im just getting a little excited. Yes, i will be reverred and i will never forget my internet friends, lol! 😉

Do you have means to support yourself before this happens?? I know the starving artist seems glamorus, but alot of artists are nuts anyways! I had a brother in-law who is excellent artisist and hasnt made a dime. He cant even take care of his children and he is too lazy to get a job, so he lives off other people.

I think the reason he is unsuccessful in life is because he is a selfish person who cares about only himself and his own happiness and because of this, he will remain that way!

You are quite right, LG, in that you can't let other people tell you what is best for you...what would make you happy. (Even though they think they are giving good advice, and care about you). Only you can decide what makes you happy! I believe that following your dreams will make you successful!
Naturally, the word successful does not meant the same thing to everyone...as Luz was saying...

It sounds like you are aware of where your best talents lie and have ideas on how to make it work for you...I say go for it!

My sister and brother-in-law had successful professions by some standards...little by little they started their own business...eventually, my sister quit her high-paying job to work on their business full time...as it grew, he quit his job too! They are now happy and successful! She tells me they have less income yearly than they used to...but, they love what they do and it continues to grow every year! The main thing is that they see it as a success and they are HAPPY doing it! (They are artists and do art shows and Renaissance (sp?) Festivals).

Ah yes, Star, 'success' to me means being good at what you do, being happy about it, and maybe eventually making a living from it. Oh yes, 'success' also means integrity to me. I think you've got to be a successful person as well as having a successful career. I can see myself being successful, i just dont think i have reached my potential yet because i am letting certain fears and phobias rule my life. That to me is failure (see my other post, "everything happens...", ive explained it all there). I suppose ive just come to a massive realisation today; that i am letting my fears stop me from acheiving my goals. Maybe my fears all stem from a fear of failure... Something more for me to think about. Isnt it funny how we have to reach the 'end' or the final straw to really make changes?!

Anyway guys, keep smiling and thanks for giving me all this wonderful advice in the form of a kick up the arse! Yes, i need a good kick up the arse! But now i know i need to face my fears rather than run away from them and hope they disappear.

Bye my friends and Ill speak to you soon,
LG...