Living life for the moment....immature or enlightened?

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Just got done serving a three week ban ( Twisted Evil

) so I thought I'd drop in and kick around some shiznet that's been on my mind.

I'm having somewhat of an early life "crisis' in that I have no direction and am not sure how I want to live my life.

My ambitious side desires that I become a productive member of society, working in a meaningful profession and making a difference in the lives of those around me and society in general.

Conversely, my cynical side says that "nothing matters because we are all going to die anyways" and in turn, pushes me towards a lifestyle of enjoying the moment and apathy towards work.

My ambitious side wants me to read books so that I may acquire knowledge and grow in the future, while my cynical side wants me to waste time playing video games. I think you get the picture so anyways....

I'm currently allowing my ambitious side to captain the ship that is my life, as I'm in college and working hard to put together a top shelf resume but the cynical side is slowly pulling at my conscience. I'm faced with the question: will the hours spent hitting the books, working throughout the week, and constantly forcing myself to grow and adapt to function in both the workplace and society be worth it in the end? As life is relatively brief, is it not better to "buck the system" and live a simple life spending time "hanging out", traveling, and accumulating memories?

Essentially, I can't tell if my cynical side is bread from immaturity and that living such a life would leave me unfulfilled when I grow older; OR if my cynical side is enlightened and has given me the early realization that the wear and tear of the life society promotes is a waste of our short time on earth and that in old age I'd be regretful of all the time I had spent working if I lived according to my ambitious side.

Feedback??? (It's late, so if anyone needs further clarification of my convoluted writing just say so. )

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How old are you Bubba?

I'm 26, and I have this same struggle basically every day:
I don't wanna go to work/study/work-out/ whatever
I don't wanna be 40 and broke/burnt-out/ shiftless/whatever

I think your mind is just fuckin' with ya Laughing

it happens to me too

Unfortunately, the facts of life tell me I gotta somehow live in the moment AND get my work done too.
It's a tricky business, and sometimes I get bored.
The mind is very very good at making up excuses not to do the things we dislike ......there's always something better to do, right?!

I hope this helps

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"How old are you Bubba?

I'm 26, and I have this same struggle basically every day:
I don't wanna go to work/study/work-out/ whatever
I don't wanna be 40 and broke/burnt-out/ shiftless/whatever

I think your mind is just ****' with ya Laughing
it happens to me too

Unfortunately, the facts of life tell me I gotta somehow live in the moment AND get my work done too.
It's a tricky business, and sometimes I get bored.
The mind is very very good at making up excuses not to do the things we dislike ......there's always something better to do, right?!

I hope this helps"

It's good to hear others share in my misery Laughing

I'm 19 but nearing 20 quickly Drunk

I feel like I should have some of this figured out by now as my entrance into the "real world" is rapidly approaching.

I understand moderation is key, but maintaining that moderation has proven to be very difficult. I feel like I get wrapped up in work/school far too often and forget to enjoy things. Constant work has already left a negative imprint on me. I can't imagine how I'll feel about it when I'm 40, even if I achieve success.

I would really enjoy, in a sense, being a "bum" for an extended period of time after graduating from college, but I know fear of scorn from my parents/friends will not allow such behavior Sad

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Quote:

I would really enjoy, in a sense, being a "bum" for an extended period of time after graduating from college, but I know fear of scorn from my parents/friends will not allow such behavior

Hmm, sounds like you're facing a tough decision.

From what you've said, it sounds like you work very hard and are feeling like the 'fun' part of your life is getting shoved aside....and you need a break.

Take this into account when you read my advice: I have the opposite tendency of you. I play too much, and have a hard time making myself work.

If you've been in school for a long time and haven't had a chance to just 'look around' , you might actually NEED a break.

Being a bum takes planning. It's actually a lot of work.

If you decide you need some time off after college, I would suggest planning it now. Make sure you have the money, know when you are going to start looking for a job or whatever, and then take the break decisively.
Since you said your parents wouldn't be too pleased with that, I'd point out that it is just a chance to recharge so you don't get burnt out.
Make a good 'case' to them in a way that highlights what they want to hear " Work is important to me. I take my life seriously. blah blah"

It's tough...sorry I don't know how else to help.

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B&f-

There's nothing new in this.It happens to everybody at some point.In the terms you both present it it is not capable of resolution.Henry Miller placed your condition under a microscope and left behind a detailed description.Once you take the "bum" route it is difficult to recover.The career route can be seen as a way to the "bum" route.So if you fancy the "bum" route the best thing is for it to have financial foundations.Hence career.And,and you might not like this,you can get to the "bum" route faster by cutting out all unneccesary spending.A reasonably intelligent person,as you both must be,should be able to afford the "bum" route in comfort and style by 35 if you put your backs into your careers and there's a lot of years left after that for "bumming".That is going to depend on how ambitious you are to become a safe and secure "bum".Money is the key.And marriage,except just for a jape,is right out.At 35 with,say,$300,000 in the bank,you don't want any debris holding you down if you want to do some proper "bumming".
Now-how about seeing those books in a similar light
as the play objects you are into.You have to like your own company for that,which a good "bum" should do,and you have to choose books you love.
No video game I have seen remotely compares to Tropic of Cancer.It is the same with work.Why shouldn't work be as much fun as the pool hall?

Ask yourselves this.You are a top sportsman and you are 21 and you already have $2 million.Do you take the bum route or do you stay a top sportsman with all that entails.If you think your work is tough don't try being a top sportsman.

And don't forget you need to be tight fisted and always value every last dollar.

Just some idle thoughts from a bum.

Best of British though.