Quote:
Originally Posted by TheDragon
Well, for the people who choose to see it that way, if they're diagnosed with something, mental health or otherwise, then it will become true for them. As Henry Ford said, "Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you're right." If someone chooses to believe that they have no purpose, no one will be able to give them purpose but themselves.
I'm a very realistic person, so I absolutely understand the needs and realities of having to work and survive, especially having been homeless and extremely poor at one point. But with that in mind, I also firmly believe that if one has a passion, one can follow it even in this world where it's unorthodox. Society's rules and norms are there, but the greatest minds have challenged it, and often changed it. I look up to entrepreneurs, inventors, artists and leaders for that exact reason.
I certainly cannot do a 9-5 job, so I initially became a cook, because I craved a job that was faced paced, exciting, and mildly nuts (cooks are all nuts...) until I came to the conclusion that the working world wasn't for me, and I refused to become another person stuck doing a job just because, and after a bit of soul searching, realized that I had the traits of an entrepreneur and really wanted something of my own, so now I'm own that path. I've seen artists, writers, other entrepreneurs do the same. Sometimes it requires sacrifice before you get there, but we can create our own paths, so why be forced to be stuck in a square as a circle?
This is one of my favourite quotes of all time, that has kept me going to this day -
“If you're going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don't even start. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives and maybe even your mind. It could mean not eating for three or four days. It could mean freezing on a park bench. It could mean jail. It could mean derision. It could mean mockery--isolation. Isolation is the gift. All the others are a test of your endurance, of how much you really want to do it. And, you'll do it, despite rejection and the worst odds. And it will be better than anything else you can imagine. If you're going to try, go all the way. There is no other feeling like that. You will be alone with the gods, and the nights will flame with fire. You will ride life straight to perfect laughter. It's the only good fight there is.”
-Charles Bukowski
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I think the thing you don't understand is that people who make money from their passions are lucky. It was either fate or destiny or luck or "it's not what you know, it's who you know." It's like winning the lottery. Not everyone who can sing will be able to feed themselves with their music. I come from a very large family of artists. Those who are not living in poverty put their to the side as hobbies and work "regular" jobs.
I, too, was homeless and in extreme poverty for a long time. I am doing okay now. Not middle class but can at least feed my kids and know we have lights and water every day. However, I did that by putting aside the idea that I could survive without having a "traditional" job. I wen to vocational school and got the job I have now, where I struggle and suffer. I have never been "lucky" with finding people who will pay me to do things I am passionate about. I am very happy for people who find this. But 95% of people who chase their passion end up sitting in a job they do not enjoy. And why? Because that's how society runs. And, yes, I think that had a lot to do with why there is more mental health problems now.
It's the lie of society: "You can become anything. But even if you work hard, run the distance, and even if you're top of your class/skill/game.... 'anything' is rather limited."
