Ask HN: What to expect from life?
5 comments
My view of what I want to be when I get old has changed over time. Both because a change in perspective at 20/30/40/50 and a changing definition of "old".
But some things are constant: I always want to be doing stuff, and leaving the world a better place than I found it. As much as I can be, be kind, help others. Some things I've done have had a huge impact, some have been small (time I spent on a telephone crisis line, or hell just picking up a piece of litter) but all made me glad I did them. Of course I am human and don't live up
Learn from your mistakes, especially ones that affect other people. You don't have to dwell on regret, but just try not to do them again.
Don't forget you are (probably) starting close to the goal. My parents and inlaws were children during terrible wars, and their respective countries (on three continents) were bombed, people put into camps, horrible things. They never dwelled on those things but it surely affected their outlooks on life. Me, I was lucky enough to have been born in a wealthy country at peace (Australia) and years ago moved to Silicon Valley. Basically by doing nothing I have always been better off than 98+% of the people who have ever lived (including when I was a kid and my mum had to make all our clothes, and my parents couldn't always afford to eat at the end of the week). So I figure I shouldn't waste the opportunity that, say, some of my relatives in other countries don't have.
And remember you get good at what you do: if you spend a lot of time playing video games, you'll be good at playing video games; if you spend a lot of time programming in Java you'll be good at programming in Java. Again: decide if what you're doing is what you really want to do -- and if it is, do it without regret.
But some things are constant: I always want to be doing stuff, and leaving the world a better place than I found it. As much as I can be, be kind, help others. Some things I've done have had a huge impact, some have been small (time I spent on a telephone crisis line, or hell just picking up a piece of litter) but all made me glad I did them. Of course I am human and don't live up
Learn from your mistakes, especially ones that affect other people. You don't have to dwell on regret, but just try not to do them again.
Don't forget you are (probably) starting close to the goal. My parents and inlaws were children during terrible wars, and their respective countries (on three continents) were bombed, people put into camps, horrible things. They never dwelled on those things but it surely affected their outlooks on life. Me, I was lucky enough to have been born in a wealthy country at peace (Australia) and years ago moved to Silicon Valley. Basically by doing nothing I have always been better off than 98+% of the people who have ever lived (including when I was a kid and my mum had to make all our clothes, and my parents couldn't always afford to eat at the end of the week). So I figure I shouldn't waste the opportunity that, say, some of my relatives in other countries don't have.
And remember you get good at what you do: if you spend a lot of time playing video games, you'll be good at playing video games; if you spend a lot of time programming in Java you'll be good at programming in Java. Again: decide if what you're doing is what you really want to do -- and if it is, do it without regret.
> And remember you get good at what you do: if you spend a lot of time playing video games, you'll be good at playing video games; if you spend a lot of time programming in Java you'll be good at programming in Java.
Just added that to my personal quote collection :-) Sort of obvious, but in an easy-to-forget kind of way...
Just added that to my personal quote collection :-) Sort of obvious, but in an easy-to-forget kind of way...
I expect from life the comfort and safety to contribute, and to love myself, my family and my friends. I expect to treat people kindly, and I'm delighted when I'm treated kindly. I don't want to discourage anyone, don't want to hurt anyone, don't want to kill anyone.
However, the universe hates you in a non-judgemental way (entropy) and wants you dead, so you are responsible for carving out that comfort and safety.
I've never had specific long term goals. I finished college, and I'm just about done raising a kid who has excellent potential. Those are short term goals that sort of assert themselves.
I don't know what I want to be when I'm old, other than to be. I'm probably already older than the life spans of most of humanity in recorded history. I want to remain curious about the world, contribute according to my interests and abilities, and die in modest comfort.
However, the universe hates you in a non-judgemental way (entropy) and wants you dead, so you are responsible for carving out that comfort and safety.
I've never had specific long term goals. I finished college, and I'm just about done raising a kid who has excellent potential. Those are short term goals that sort of assert themselves.
I don't know what I want to be when I'm old, other than to be. I'm probably already older than the life spans of most of humanity in recorded history. I want to remain curious about the world, contribute according to my interests and abilities, and die in modest comfort.
When I was younger I wanted to do something huge and earth-shattering with my life. Something noteworthy, that the history books would remember.
Now I just want to live a good life; to do something that ensures that the world is a little bit better for me having existed. That's all I really hope for. Learning how to accomplish that is a journey, and that journey is what I expect life to be; or at least that's the form I hope mine will take.
Now I just want to live a good life; to do something that ensures that the world is a little bit better for me having existed. That's all I really hope for. Learning how to accomplish that is a journey, and that journey is what I expect life to be; or at least that's the form I hope mine will take.
After graduating college and beginning to work in the real world my expectations have changed drastically.
I feel a lot more like a cog then an individual. Even if I excell at work I'm just a well oiled cog.
I feel a lot more like a cog then an individual. Even if I excell at work I'm just a well oiled cog.
A young reader and contributor from your community. I always read you guys' technical opinions and actually am really curious about your view on life. Sometimes I ask following questions to myself and try to answer them. Now, as I believe you people are more experienced and older than me, I want to hear your answers if you are also okay to answer them publicly.
What do you expect from your life? What is your mission/goal in your life? Do you have anything in your mind? Who do you want to be when you get old?