"We all have reasons for doing what we do when we're not getting paid."
I often forget to revisit what I would do, and enjoy, if money were no object. If I had earned financial independence for myself and my family. Where, at least financially, we were living a good life.
Sometimes I get caught up in the practicality of life. The planning; searching for threats and fulfilling obligations and not even getting to the part of seizing opportunities, where often a lot of the 'fun' and pushing forward in life is hidden.
Why do I do this? It's not even well known to me yet. I think I know. But sometimes I forget. Maybe I'm too focused. Maybe I'm not focused at all. Maybe I'm focused on the wrong things. Or maybe I'm trying too hard on the right thing.
Who knows. I sure don't. Yet.
I do enjoy making. Creating. Sometimes fixing. Although I can be lazy and appreciate being able to do most of my current income-driving activities behind a computer, I often get the most satisfaction out of the physical labor: wrenching on my car (I do not want to be a mechanic full time), creating (photographer, videography, writing, but again, not so much that it's something I could do full time).
Sometimes the things that I enjoy most that would be nice to do all the time, are simply enjoyable because I'm not getting paid for doing them. I'm simply doing them because I enjoy them. And the moment I 'have' to do it for money, is the moment it becomes a grind.
I'm sure there's a balance somewhere. Where I can optimize fun and income doing something I enjoy. It's so hard to find in life, as a human. We've set up these societal frameworks that help us in so many ways, but also don't help us in so many ways. For the record, I'm much more optimistic and believe in more good than bad.
This was merely a stream of consciousness after reading an "In the Moment" excerpt by Sam Smith, ex Hagerty and Road and Track editor.
The opening line struck a chord in my current life's challenges where I've chased the money, and tried to go after something purely because of the money, and have gotten burned. Running a brick-and-mortar small business is harder than anyone lets on, but also rewarding all the same. That's a story for another time.
Where to now? Back to thwarting threats, fulfilling obligations, and trying to do a better job of seizing opportunities.