Life Plan?

Off Topic
41

[quote]Professor X wrote:
I will be the first to admit that you could very well work hard for something only to have it blow up in your face. I am sure just about all of us have experienced this to some degree…some way more than others.

That should never mean that you don’t ever try though. It seemed like some in this thread do just that.[/quote]

I have given up some things to concentrate on my career, making money, education, and saving for my future. A friend of mine thinks I am foolish, because I postpone living today in the hopes of living tomorrow.

He is right, to a certain extent, because I could be hit by a bus while crossing the street, and none of what I have done would matter.

There should be a mean between planning and living. A lot of the conflict is because what we do as preparation is often not enjoyable in itself. We “suffer” because we believe we will be rewarded later on. I don’t have the answer, and I don’t think anyone could really have the answer, since none of us are sufficiently equipped to know exactly the future outcome of present choices. Whatever one decides, one has to at least be able to find some satisfaction in the present.

42

My number one goal is to die with the majority of my life written in black ink instead of red. What I mean by this is to have my life exert a net positive influence on other people and the world around me. Its a hell of a task but at the end of each day I run a tally of all of my interactions with people. If I indulge in losing my temper, belittling a store clerk who made a mistake, getting visibly irritated at people in my way, etc…I count them as “red ink”. Anytime I help someone out, suppress my anger, etc, its “black ink”. It sounds hokey to a lot of people but is really improved the quality of my life.

Career Goals: Get transferred to Switzerland, where my pharm. company is centered. Work my way up into administration.

Personal Goals:
-Get my JLPT Level 1. This is one of the highest level Japanese proficiency tests in the country, as well as the most recognized.

-Get a teleplay optioned or purchased.

-Maintain 10-12% BF year round. I’ve done the whole “bulking” thing, and I’m done with it. To each their own, but I much prefer being lean.

-Perform 15 sternum pull-ups with perfect form. If you’re not familiar with these nasty bastards to a search for Poliquin’s “pull-up variations”

43

[quote]
There should be a mean between planning and living. A lot of the conflict is because what we do as preparation is often not enjoyable in itself. We “suffer” because we believe we will be rewarded later on. I don’t have the answer, and I don’t think anyone could really have the answer, since none of us are sufficiently equipped to know exactly the future outcome of present choices. Whatever one decides, one has to at least be able to find some satisfaction in the present.[/quote]

I agree with this 110%. As you’re going about your day try to take a running tally of your thoughts…how often you’re dwelling on the past or (wildly) speculating about the future. Planning is of course necessary to a certain extent but it becomes a problem when your attachment to achieving some future goal interferes with your appreciation of the present moment, IMHO.

44

[quote]thosebananas wrote:

im surprised that many ppls goals on here are to get rich.

sure that should be a goal, but not one of your primary goals… id rather be poor but be really happy with my life than be stupidly rich and not be happy. so id rather do a job that interests me and i have a lot of fun at but only get paid a small amount rather than doing something i fucking hate and getting a large wage.
[/quote]

I’ve always thought that getting rich was a byproduct and not the primary goal.

Yet, so many people choose getting rich, or the equally banal - “I want to be famous!”

If they put their energy into developing their skills, and not into self-delusional daydreaming, they just might end up rich and/or famous.

My 2 cents

45
  1. Get Through School
  2. Get Through College
  3. Follow my uncles and grandpas foot steps and join the U.S. Marine Corps (hopefully)

Thats basically it.

46

I had a plan, but I was done at 35.

47

Looking back from 45, my plan played out… as planned! Some stuff was a bit out of order, but I’ve arrived doing what I’ve always wanted for the most part.
Career-wise, I’ve become a successful illustrator. Training-wise, numerous injuries and set-backs have kept me from my physique goals, but I’ll keep doing it as my body allows.
I ended up marrying the girl I’d fantasized about all through college, and have an awesome son together.

As far as money goes, I completely stopped worrying about or prioritizing it after 9/11. I see what it did to my dad always wanting more, to make a million. He’s now old and miserable, but has a big bank account. I told him I want none of it when he dies.

My plans for the future are to get my son into college, and move myself and my wife to the Caribbean or a southern state (I hate cold weather). I’ll retire from being an illustrator to being a painter as Picasso was.

But overall I maintain that we’re not promised tomorrow, so I live my life day-to-day. This works well with my philosophy regarding money. :slight_smile:

48

[quote]EG wrote:
arnoud verschoor wrote:
My only life plan is to not plan my life…

Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.[/quote]

Normally I would agree, but when it comes to the all encompassing aspect of life itself, I feel that pushing too hard in any one direction is a mistake.

There’s something to be said for allowing things to happen for themselves.

49

[quote]analog_kid wrote:
EG wrote:
arnoud verschoor wrote:
My only life plan is to not plan my life…

Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.

Normally I would agree, but when it comes to the all encompassing aspect of life itself, I feel that pushing too hard in any one direction is a mistake.

There’s something to be said for allowing things to happen for themselves.

[/quote]

It takes sacrifice to actually achieve anything worthwhile in life. Let’s stop pretending as if this is not the case.

If no one was willing to put certain desires on hold to reach a goal, there would be no doctors, engineers or lawyers…and while we could benefit from far less lawyers, we need the rest.

It is easy to talk about balance when you haven’t had to actually experience that.

50

[quote]Professor X wrote:
analog_kid wrote:
EG wrote:
arnoud verschoor wrote:
My only life plan is to not plan my life…

Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.

Normally I would agree, but when it comes to the all encompassing aspect of life itself, I feel that pushing too hard in any one direction is a mistake.

There’s something to be said for allowing things to happen for themselves.

It takes sacrifice to actually achieve anything worthwhile in life. Let’s stop pretending as if this is not the case.

If no one was willing to put certain desires on hold to reach a goal, there would be no doctors, engineers or lawyers…and while we could benefit from far less lawyers, we need the rest.

It is easy to talk about balance when you haven’t had to actually experience that.[/quote]

Or athletes for that matter. Sacrifice is just what it means, so if there is no sacrifice there can be no achievement. A great saying to live by, “If it’s easy it ain’t worth shit”

51

[quote]streamline wrote:
Professor X wrote:
analog_kid wrote:
EG wrote:
arnoud verschoor wrote:
My only life plan is to not plan my life…

Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.

Normally I would agree, but when it comes to the all encompassing aspect of life itself, I feel that pushing too hard in any one direction is a mistake.

There’s something to be said for allowing things to happen for themselves.

It takes sacrifice to actually achieve anything worthwhile in life. Let’s stop pretending as if this is not the case.

If no one was willing to put certain desires on hold to reach a goal, there would be no doctors, engineers or lawyers…and while we could benefit from far less lawyers, we need the rest.

It is easy to talk about balance when you haven’t had to actually experience that.

Or athletes for that matter. Sacrifice is just what it means, so if there is no sacrifice there can be no achievement. A great saying to live by, “If it’s easy it ain’t worth shit”
[/quote]

There would be no Michael Phelps or anyone else at the Olympics.

Extraordinary people are that way because they knew when to sacrifice something to reach a goal.

People who claim they never want to sacrifice anything rarely achieve much of anything.

It sounds like loads of fun to spend every year of college only focusing on ass, alcohol and weed…until 10 years later and you are working for that nerdy kid who sat in the front row.

52

[quote]Professor X wrote:
streamline wrote:
Professor X wrote:
analog_kid wrote:
EG wrote:
arnoud verschoor wrote:
My only life plan is to not plan my life…

Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.

Normally I would agree, but when it comes to the all encompassing aspect of life itself, I feel that pushing too hard in any one direction is a mistake.

There’s something to be said for allowing things to happen for themselves.

It takes sacrifice to actually achieve anything worthwhile in life. Let’s stop pretending as if this is not the case.

If no one was willing to put certain desires on hold to reach a goal, there would be no doctors, engineers or lawyers…and while we could benefit from far less lawyers, we need the rest.

It is easy to talk about balance when you haven’t had to actually experience that.

Or athletes for that matter. Sacrifice is just what it means, so if there is no sacrifice there can be no achievement. A great saying to live by, “If it’s easy it ain’t worth shit”

There would be no Michael Phelps or anyone else at the Olympics.

Extraordinary people are that way because they knew when to sacrifice something to reach a goal.

People who claim they never want to sacrifice anything rarely achieve much of anything.

It sounds like loads of fun to spend every year of college only focusing on ass, alcohol and weed…until 10 years later and you are working for that nerdy kid who sat in the front row.[/quote]

You’re making a lot of assumptions out of a few sentences…

53

[quote]arnoud verschoor wrote:

You’re making a lot of assumptions out of a few sentences…[/quote]

Luckily, you were born with fingers that can type out how complex your statement really was.

Pins and needles.

54

[quote]nephorm wrote:
Professor X wrote:
I will be the first to admit that you could very well work hard for something only to have it blow up in your face. I am sure just about all of us have experienced this to some degree…some way more than others.

That should never mean that you don’t ever try though. It seemed like some in this thread do just that.

I have given up some things to concentrate on my career, making money, education, and saving for my future. A friend of mine thinks I am foolish, because I postpone living today in the hopes of living tomorrow.

He is right, to a certain extent, because I could be hit by a bus while crossing the street, and none of what I have done would matter.

If you get hit by a bus, you deserve to die.

55

I have this statement at the bottom of an amazing picture of a water fall. The picture is mounted on wood and always hangs where I can see it daily.

“Destiny is not to be waited for: it is to be achieved.” Author unknown.

Such a statement speaks volumes and it’s quite clear what it’s saying!

56

[quote]Professor X wrote:
It takes sacrifice to actually achieve anything worthwhile in life. Let’s stop pretending as if this is not the case.

If no one was willing to put certain desires on hold to reach a goal, there would be no doctors, engineers or lawyers…and while we could benefit from far less lawyers, we need the rest.
[/quote]

Agreed.

The question is not necessarily about accomplishment, it is about fulfillment. Happiness. Accomplishments are wonderful, and the weight an individual gives to accomplishments is at least somewhat determined by his culture and education. In the midst of pluralism - in which most of us are - there are very many valid, honorable paths to choose. One must know oneself well enough to be assiduous in the pursuit of goals necessary to be happy - to lead a life well lived. By which I do not mean to imply a life devoted to sensual pleasures, which would be appropriate to cattle and not human beings. Nor do I mean to imply that one’s goals cannot be directed toward others, as opposed to oneself.

A person might be happier as a farmer and father than as a CEO, despite having incredible business aptitude or accumen. There is little sense sacrificing for things - even exceptional things - from which one does not derive great value. And this is a problem because we do not have access, as human beings, to full knowledge of the consequences of our actions, and therefore might fall well short of our goals, gaining nothing, and because we do not know whether those goals, once attained, will truly fulfill us or bring the happiness we hoped for.

57

[quote]nephorm wrote:
Professor X wrote:
It takes sacrifice to actually achieve anything worthwhile in life. Let’s stop pretending as if this is not the case.

If no one was willing to put certain desires on hold to reach a goal, there would be no doctors, engineers or lawyers…and while we could benefit from far less lawyers, we need the rest.

Agreed.

Extraordinary people are that way because they knew when to sacrifice something to reach a goal.

People who claim they never want to sacrifice anything rarely achieve much of anything.

The question is not necessarily about accomplishment, it is about fulfillment. Happiness. Accomplishments are wonderful, and the weight an individual gives to accomplishments is at least somewhat determined by his culture and education. In the midst of pluralism - in which most of us are - there are very many valid, honorable paths to choose. One must know oneself well enough to be assiduous in the pursuit of goals necessary to be happy - to lead a life well lived. By which I do not mean to imply a life devoted to sensual pleasures, which would be appropriate to cattle and not human beings. Nor do I mean to imply that one’s goals cannot be directed toward others, as opposed to oneself.

A person might be happier as a farmer and father than as a CEO, despite having incredible business aptitude or accumen. There is little sense sacrificing for things - even exceptional things - from which one does not derive great value. And this is a problem because we do not have access, as human beings, to full knowledge of the consequences of our actions, and therefore might fall well short of our goals, gaining nothing, and because we do not know whether those goals, once attained, will truly fulfill us or bring the happiness we hoped for.[/quote]

good post.

x2

58

Even to be a farmer you need a life plan, I would think maybe even more so. You simply can not excell at anything without a plan of some form. Which isn’t difficult it’s as easy as giving something a little thought.

All those individuals out their with empty lives have failed to plan. A plan is basically a map that shows you where you’re going. Give it some thought and you can tweek it to your stlye.

59

“I’m sick of following my dreams, man! So I’m just gonna ask them where they’re going, and hook up with 'em later.”

Mitch Hedberg

60

[quote]nephorm wrote:
A person might be happier as a farmer and father than as a CEO, despite having incredible business aptitude or accumen. There is little sense sacrificing for things - even exceptional things - from which one does not derive great value.

And this is a problem because we do not have access, as human beings, to full knowledge of the consequences of our actions, and therefore might fall well short of our goals, gaining nothing, and because we do not know whether those goals, once attained, will truly fulfill us or bring the happiness we hoped for.[/quote]

Damn, Neph! You need a noble soundtrack behind that.

Excellent post!