Mr. Offerman (chuckling at this jab), great advice for a young person. Here, I sit in Bozeman, MT, looking at the Bridger mountains this very moment. I’ve had a very ad hoc existence in the career world made even more spurious by contracting multiple sclerosis (MS). Many years ago, I thought the military was my calling, that academia rang my bell, or custom furniture creation would float my boat. However, my MS is worse, but my writing skills remain tight. Soon, as the gods see fit, my poems, with editing, will coalesce into a publishable volume; there is no money in poetry or in most writing. Finally, in about six months, I will have my shukke tokudo, zen priest ordination ceremony. And, yes, no money there. However, I am happy. I’ve been married 22 years and have a couple of kids that are wonderful as well. Life is grand. Pastor, find a something that feels like a good groove and stay with it for over a year. Take some chances and say ‘yes’ to things and opportunities. Like Nick said, treat people with kindness and sincerity. With simplicity, sincerity, and kindness, things will come your way, Pastor.
Question: Nick, who are your top five philosophers and why (of course answerable with just a few sentences)?
Me: Hegel (Dialectics), Dogen (Advanced Dialectics), Derrida (On the Margins), Foucault (on power and society), and finally many comedians (they make us laugh and call out the bullshit).
Don't just settle, you can get stuck for life doing something that you despise. I am seventy two years old now, but it was an adventure. Over the years I did many things, several construction trades, foundry, saw mill, factory and even more while in high school. The thing is is not being afraid to try something else. In my case at age twenty eight I found some thing I loved doing and was excellent at and well respected in my trade. Wouldn't have happened with out trying different things.
Early in my career, of the best pieces of advice I received from a wonderful mentor and boss was “do something you love and you’ll never work harder on your life.” Here I am at 40 years old and the truth to that statement rubs itself in my face every day.
I’ve found that what I take pleasure in can often be hard-work itself. When I was 25 that meant burning the candle at both ends in hours of labor and hours of enjoyment; but now with a lovely wife and children whom I adore that hard-work looks very different and far more intellectual.
I think what I’m trying to say is the passion for life can be linked in anything that you take pleasure in doing with all your vigor. For some people that’s building things with their hands, for others it’s an office job, for others it’s art.
If you do something you love, you’ll work incredibly hard and eventually become incredibly talented. And with a little luck and good people around you the financial promise will follow as well.
You’ll trip and fall and be challenged and some days you’ll hate it and some days you’ll love it, but the vast majority of days you’ll be ready to give it your all.
Now I find myself wondering why the Lebanese (my birth country) immigrants were called shepherds. Perhaps because the original shawarma recipe used lamb, and lamb was the domain of shepherds in Mexico, vs. pork which was more prevalent?
Good morning from the great state of Maine, Nick. I agree 100% with your answer. Also, al pastor is delicious. There is an authentic Mexican restaurant here which serves a gluttonous menu item called the burrito California. It’s roughly the size of California, and al pastor is my go to protein for that bad boy. Pastor, like Nick said, you are never too old to start over again. Over the years, I have found the lyric “What you once were isn’t what you want to be anymore” from Wilco’s song A Shot In The Arm to be a powerful mantra for change. One of many gems from Jeff Tweedy and company. I hope you figure this age old conundrum out. We’re all rooting for you.
this is great stuff!!! everything you said is spot on!!! people have been caring way to much about the hustle, and not the actual issues, like the PLANET LITERALLY DYING IN FRONT OF OUR EYES, anyways this helped bring a lot of clarity, atleast i know i’m not the only writer who thinks this. decades and decades of people have ignored the real issues because of money. this message couldn’t be more important to all youth. Keep writing!!!! love to see it!!!
This is one of the empathetic towards the least pecuniary blessed. " Subscribe at any level", it's more aligned with your pastoral musings.
So, despite being a "beautiful flawed human being", indeed you are allowing space for some of the 185 documented cognitive biases to exist.
Your thoughtful advice is also pointing the saliency of collateral advantage for ones that didn't get "the role", or maybe lost it, and are not monetarily available to up the subscription ante.
I can bet that the generic "Wall Street jerk-off" yiu mentioned in this uplifting monologue, would reluctantly depart with said fiat financial representation to get deeper access. He's, most probably as you seem to notice to be knowing that being human and part of listening to one other is not a parameter that factors in in his scale of values.
Thank you for allowing a view into your empathic humanity.
A pork on a stick lover and other animal bits Shepherd (really my last name translated to English).
Nicely done. Not only am I'm going to share your advice with my 16yr old son, but now that I know Bacon Tester is an option, I may be switching careers myself!
Thank you so much for your answer, I’ve been so excited about it that I have had the chance to comment anything. I shows this to all my friends and my dad lol and I also got a dvd collection of parks and rec, maybe If one day I’ll get the honor of meeting you you’ll sign it for me, being the first Barquisimetano you meet in person (I’m assuming).
“Find what’s in the work that makes you feel good.” Well said. Speaking of satisfying matters, and bacon, how about ‘sea’ bacon? The oh so fleet and delicious tuna. More pointedly what do you think is the best method (incl. time & temp) to grill-sear yellow tail tuna? Went out. Found some warm(ish) water, caught a couple & froze. Thawed one, marinated it (perhaps marinading good tuna is overkill) & grilled. Didn’t get it right. Wanted sashimi-ish middle. Didn’t get it. It came to mind that fish are waaaay more delicate to grill than meat, w method that one cooks one type (trout) being entirely different from cooking another. FWIW Rainbow will always be the favorite. Not nearly up to snuff to waste a rainbow ‘experimenting’. Anyway, thanks for any tips. And keep sharing your (and participating in our) quest to find daily satisfaction. Without regularly donating … .
This was a great start to the day! Very inspiring and practical! I'm a nurse and trying to figure out where my passion lies as we move through the pandemic. I keep forgetting that my career doesn't define me. I remind myself that we'll all be compost someday, and the pressure to perform feels a little lighter. I needed to hear this today, thank you.
My question is about art and work that you find meaningful. How do you pick your next project (work or otherwise)? Do you have a scale between "work is work/ whatever pays the bills" and "my life's passion and legacy, I'd forego all earthly goods to do exactly this"? (I know what I mean, hoping you do, too).
Mr. Offerman (chuckling at this jab), great advice for a young person. Here, I sit in Bozeman, MT, looking at the Bridger mountains this very moment. I’ve had a very ad hoc existence in the career world made even more spurious by contracting multiple sclerosis (MS). Many years ago, I thought the military was my calling, that academia rang my bell, or custom furniture creation would float my boat. However, my MS is worse, but my writing skills remain tight. Soon, as the gods see fit, my poems, with editing, will coalesce into a publishable volume; there is no money in poetry or in most writing. Finally, in about six months, I will have my shukke tokudo, zen priest ordination ceremony. And, yes, no money there. However, I am happy. I’ve been married 22 years and have a couple of kids that are wonderful as well. Life is grand. Pastor, find a something that feels like a good groove and stay with it for over a year. Take some chances and say ‘yes’ to things and opportunities. Like Nick said, treat people with kindness and sincerity. With simplicity, sincerity, and kindness, things will come your way, Pastor.
Question: Nick, who are your top five philosophers and why (of course answerable with just a few sentences)?
Me: Hegel (Dialectics), Dogen (Advanced Dialectics), Derrida (On the Margins), Foucault (on power and society), and finally many comedians (they make us laugh and call out the bullshit).
Only fair that I answer as well.
With gratitude,
Joe
Don't just settle, you can get stuck for life doing something that you despise. I am seventy two years old now, but it was an adventure. Over the years I did many things, several construction trades, foundry, saw mill, factory and even more while in high school. The thing is is not being afraid to try something else. In my case at age twenty eight I found some thing I loved doing and was excellent at and well respected in my trade. Wouldn't have happened with out trying different things.
Early in my career, of the best pieces of advice I received from a wonderful mentor and boss was “do something you love and you’ll never work harder on your life.” Here I am at 40 years old and the truth to that statement rubs itself in my face every day.
I’ve found that what I take pleasure in can often be hard-work itself. When I was 25 that meant burning the candle at both ends in hours of labor and hours of enjoyment; but now with a lovely wife and children whom I adore that hard-work looks very different and far more intellectual.
I think what I’m trying to say is the passion for life can be linked in anything that you take pleasure in doing with all your vigor. For some people that’s building things with their hands, for others it’s an office job, for others it’s art.
If you do something you love, you’ll work incredibly hard and eventually become incredibly talented. And with a little luck and good people around you the financial promise will follow as well.
You’ll trip and fall and be challenged and some days you’ll hate it and some days you’ll love it, but the vast majority of days you’ll be ready to give it your all.
Now I find myself wondering why the Lebanese (my birth country) immigrants were called shepherds. Perhaps because the original shawarma recipe used lamb, and lamb was the domain of shepherds in Mexico, vs. pork which was more prevalent?
Good morning from the great state of Maine, Nick. I agree 100% with your answer. Also, al pastor is delicious. There is an authentic Mexican restaurant here which serves a gluttonous menu item called the burrito California. It’s roughly the size of California, and al pastor is my go to protein for that bad boy. Pastor, like Nick said, you are never too old to start over again. Over the years, I have found the lyric “What you once were isn’t what you want to be anymore” from Wilco’s song A Shot In The Arm to be a powerful mantra for change. One of many gems from Jeff Tweedy and company. I hope you figure this age old conundrum out. We’re all rooting for you.
Love,
Adam, Amanda and Levi
this is great stuff!!! everything you said is spot on!!! people have been caring way to much about the hustle, and not the actual issues, like the PLANET LITERALLY DYING IN FRONT OF OUR EYES, anyways this helped bring a lot of clarity, atleast i know i’m not the only writer who thinks this. decades and decades of people have ignored the real issues because of money. this message couldn’t be more important to all youth. Keep writing!!!! love to see it!!!
Saw you was in the uk recently. If you ever come to Liverpool fancy a pint Nick?
This is one of the empathetic towards the least pecuniary blessed. " Subscribe at any level", it's more aligned with your pastoral musings.
So, despite being a "beautiful flawed human being", indeed you are allowing space for some of the 185 documented cognitive biases to exist.
Your thoughtful advice is also pointing the saliency of collateral advantage for ones that didn't get "the role", or maybe lost it, and are not monetarily available to up the subscription ante.
I can bet that the generic "Wall Street jerk-off" yiu mentioned in this uplifting monologue, would reluctantly depart with said fiat financial representation to get deeper access. He's, most probably as you seem to notice to be knowing that being human and part of listening to one other is not a parameter that factors in in his scale of values.
Thank you for allowing a view into your empathic humanity.
A pork on a stick lover and other animal bits Shepherd (really my last name translated to English).
Montréal, QC
Best of luck Pastor.
Nicely done. Not only am I'm going to share your advice with my 16yr old son, but now that I know Bacon Tester is an option, I may be switching careers myself!
Thank you so much for your answer, I’ve been so excited about it that I have had the chance to comment anything. I shows this to all my friends and my dad lol and I also got a dvd collection of parks and rec, maybe If one day I’ll get the honor of meeting you you’ll sign it for me, being the first Barquisimetano you meet in person (I’m assuming).
“Find what’s in the work that makes you feel good.” Well said. Speaking of satisfying matters, and bacon, how about ‘sea’ bacon? The oh so fleet and delicious tuna. More pointedly what do you think is the best method (incl. time & temp) to grill-sear yellow tail tuna? Went out. Found some warm(ish) water, caught a couple & froze. Thawed one, marinated it (perhaps marinading good tuna is overkill) & grilled. Didn’t get it right. Wanted sashimi-ish middle. Didn’t get it. It came to mind that fish are waaaay more delicate to grill than meat, w method that one cooks one type (trout) being entirely different from cooking another. FWIW Rainbow will always be the favorite. Not nearly up to snuff to waste a rainbow ‘experimenting’. Anyway, thanks for any tips. And keep sharing your (and participating in our) quest to find daily satisfaction. Without regularly donating … .
Re: Pastor = Shepherd ~ Perhaps a pastor is likened to one who shepherds his/her/etc flock?
This was a great start to the day! Very inspiring and practical! I'm a nurse and trying to figure out where my passion lies as we move through the pandemic. I keep forgetting that my career doesn't define me. I remind myself that we'll all be compost someday, and the pressure to perform feels a little lighter. I needed to hear this today, thank you.
My question is about art and work that you find meaningful. How do you pick your next project (work or otherwise)? Do you have a scale between "work is work/ whatever pays the bills" and "my life's passion and legacy, I'd forego all earthly goods to do exactly this"? (I know what I mean, hoping you do, too).
Thank you,
Jessie
Chicago suburbs, Illinois