These days there are plenty of people doing posts, memes and videos about life is a journey not a destination… which is actually blatantly obvious since death is the destination for 100% of us.
I’m pretty sure nothing is going to propel us forward except doing it ourselves so work unfortunately seems to be the vehicle which makes perfect sense as to why that’s not an attractive tagline
“Work is your vehicle to the destination of life which is death”
Coffee though is a totally acceptable fuel… easier on the liver than alcohol and apparently makes socializing easier… though that’s possibly the chocolate accompaniment
Dabblers are not workers - I dabble in housework - therefore I am an amateur - I do cook dinner every night (I include those nights I go get takeaway as wins) therefore I can call myself someone who helps around the home in regards to food and dishes but who is unlikely to win any employee of the month awards for their contribution.
It's interesting how writers and artists have a really hard time labeling themselves as such. I think it's also interesting how we believe we can only have one type of work identity. I'm a this or I'm a that. But no one is just one thing. We're all multi-faceted. I think we need to stop asking people "What do you do for a living?" and start asking them "What do you value?"
I love getting to see glimpses of the art of your painting, and to read the art of your writing, and to sense the art of your thinking, David. I appreciate the strands you weave in this essay. I despise identifying who we are with what we do for money. So limiting.
What if we asked each other with curiosity, "Who are you?" And actually listened one another to in-sight?
That should be a post in itself Hans - though I suspect many when asked Who are you? might struggle to separate their identity from their work… we use descriptors without thinking.
I hope you do explore it more further as I wonder if a lot of the problems we have in the world are due to people not so much as identifying with polarizing views but not actually knowing who they are personally… not just aligned to someone else’s viewpoint.
I think that is very thoughtful, David. Identity can be tricky, especially if we segment into hard and fast tribes. Thanks for your impetus in considering this. Have a good week there. Since you're ahead of us, what do I have to look forward to this week? :)
We do need to focus on the journey, because the destination is as you say final. But I guess like most journeys (unless you're really lucky and all the traffic lights are green, everyone else has decided to stay at home and the weather is nice) involve several traffic jams, intermittent fog and in my dad's case going round at least one roundabout twice (he used to tell us it wasn't a proper journey until we'd done that!). So, the journey can be tough. It's how we deal with it that makes the difference (and whether the coffee at the service station is good!)
Nicely put Tina... did your Dad honk the horn in tunnels as well? My wife loves to do that.
Definitely a mindset for life makes all the difference which is why I enjoy your substack so much as it really seems to drive positive as well as practical thinking
I hate labels, they are so restrictive and related to value judgement. But sometimes they are useful or necessary. Maybe just to clarify what you are not, or to give some kind of indication of what you care about or are capable of. Same with slogans. If we could understand one another better without them, I'd be happy. In the meantime, let's keep painting and sketching...
So basically what I’m hearing is:
Life is a journey
The vehicle is work
And the fuel is coffee… possibly spiked with occasional dread and sugar.
Doing the work, especially when you don’t feel like it, is what separates dabblers from doers.
I’m pretty sure nothing is going to propel us forward except doing it ourselves so work unfortunately seems to be the vehicle which makes perfect sense as to why that’s not an attractive tagline
“Work is your vehicle to the destination of life which is death”
Coffee though is a totally acceptable fuel… easier on the liver than alcohol and apparently makes socializing easier… though that’s possibly the chocolate accompaniment
Dabblers are not workers - I dabble in housework - therefore I am an amateur - I do cook dinner every night (I include those nights I go get takeaway as wins) therefore I can call myself someone who helps around the home in regards to food and dishes but who is unlikely to win any employee of the month awards for their contribution.
Yes I think you have the sense of it Neela 🌶️💐
I’d argue that dabbling in housework is actually an art form.
Also, I fully support replacing hustle culture with caffeine and chocolate diplomacy. ☕🍫
Hmm I do an impressionist style of bed making but am a professional at finding excellent cafes
Honestly, finding excellent cafes is a legitimate talent that deserves recognition. Bed making is just moving fabric around lol
It's interesting how writers and artists have a really hard time labeling themselves as such. I think it's also interesting how we believe we can only have one type of work identity. I'm a this or I'm a that. But no one is just one thing. We're all multi-faceted. I think we need to stop asking people "What do you do for a living?" and start asking them "What do you value?"
I like that Bette - what do you value - it makes for a much wider appreciation of people and ourselves
Can you imagine if we start asking that question. People would be looking at us like we have three heads. Well, what do you mean? lol
Hot take but if you're making money as an artist you're not doing it right 😆 isn't the dream to be famous after we complete that journey? 💀
Jokes aside, I see you as an artist. A smartist, and if you leave one of those jobs, you'll still be the other thing.
I'll continue to be a marketer even when my job inevitably discovers I'm a loon 🫡
You say the most charming things, thanks Nadine 🤗☕
I love getting to see glimpses of the art of your painting, and to read the art of your writing, and to sense the art of your thinking, David. I appreciate the strands you weave in this essay. I despise identifying who we are with what we do for money. So limiting.
What if we asked each other with curiosity, "Who are you?" And actually listened one another to in-sight?
That should be a post in itself Hans - though I suspect many when asked Who are you? might struggle to separate their identity from their work… we use descriptors without thinking.
I hope you do explore it more further as I wonder if a lot of the problems we have in the world are due to people not so much as identifying with polarizing views but not actually knowing who they are personally… not just aligned to someone else’s viewpoint.
I think that is very thoughtful, David. Identity can be tricky, especially if we segment into hard and fast tribes. Thanks for your impetus in considering this. Have a good week there. Since you're ahead of us, what do I have to look forward to this week? :)
This Wednesday the sun is still working the sea looks lovely and the triple chocolate brownie should have a health warning
We do need to focus on the journey, because the destination is as you say final. But I guess like most journeys (unless you're really lucky and all the traffic lights are green, everyone else has decided to stay at home and the weather is nice) involve several traffic jams, intermittent fog and in my dad's case going round at least one roundabout twice (he used to tell us it wasn't a proper journey until we'd done that!). So, the journey can be tough. It's how we deal with it that makes the difference (and whether the coffee at the service station is good!)
Nicely put Tina... did your Dad honk the horn in tunnels as well? My wife loves to do that.
Definitely a mindset for life makes all the difference which is why I enjoy your substack so much as it really seems to drive positive as well as practical thinking
He did if we pestered him enough!
That is traditional 👏
I hate labels, they are so restrictive and related to value judgement. But sometimes they are useful or necessary. Maybe just to clarify what you are not, or to give some kind of indication of what you care about or are capable of. Same with slogans. If we could understand one another better without them, I'd be happy. In the meantime, let's keep painting and sketching...
Here's to painting Lisa - though I'm done for today 🤗☕
I get it. I call myself all kinds of names, too, when writing. I've recently adopted this outlook:
"Well, today, I'm a [writer/ crocheter/ whatever I'm doing that day]."
I like that approach… though I suspect most days I would be called a coffee drinking visualist
Gotta have that coffee. 😉