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September 03, 2003
Purpose gives purpose.
I've had a tremendous amount to do before leaving in my trip. A number of Kittredge computer projects had to be completed, a Sarahpeutics project, and some some set up on a new server. Whats strange is the level of purpose I've had in these projects. When I worked on the Kittredge projects before, I didn't feel any urgency or any sense that what I was doing mattered, which made it difficult to do. Knowing I have something to look forward to has given me drive to do these projects with umph.I've been thinking a lot about time. More to the point, our relationship with time. As my 2 week trip looms, I can't help be feel that 2 weeks is an eternity. Think of all the things I have to do, all the time at work I'll miss! What if things go wrong? What about all the servers I manage? As I told others about my trip, they didn't seem as concerned about the time as I did. Many of them had gone in the back country for 2 weeks before. These are all outdoor people mind you, but I still thought it strange that they had such a different view of time than me. I am constantly running against time, or at least thats how I feel. There's just not enough of it. I feel like its always holding me back. One of my other hopes for this trip is that it gives me perspective on my relationship with time. I don't want to feel hounded by it all the time. I want to feel like I HAVE the time to talk to friends and family and read and write and climb... withOUT feeling guilty. Is that selfish? I do not think so.
I was thinking about how most people in this country only have 1 or 2 weeks of vacation. The more I think about that figure, the less it makes sense. People need time for themselves, to do the things they want. But they also need time for friends and family. By having so little time off, the average person constantly feels betrayed by time. They have to sacrifice the things that are really the most important, for things which really have no meaning. This does not make sense to me. This article talks about a new study that finds Americans are working much longer hours. With all the problems we have here, will that help? The article implies it will. Since all our woes can be tied to our economic downturn, working more hours means higher productivity, as well as more money earned to spend. Remember, its your fault and mine that we are in a recession. We aren't buying enough. Never mind all that debt we already have. But back to my original point, working more just makes people, who are already unhappy with their work, MORE unhappy with their lives.
On a different note.
In order for me to keep going the way I'm going, I've started viewing my crusade as an experiment. So, I'm headed in this strange direction in the name of science. Plenty of others have tried the same experiments, its just that few have documented their descent (ascent?). As I see things that people wouldn't normally try, but have not rational reason not to, it is my duty as a scientist to try it and document the results. This line of thought often helps me commit to decisions I would probably otherwise chicken out of. Is this a good thing? Think so. Or at least, I can find no rational reason why not.
And I STILL have to pack for this trip!!! Curse you time!
Posted by wonko at September 3, 2003 11:33 PM
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Comments
I would suggest unplugging and taking the batteries out of all your clocks.
"Take time for all things. Great haste makes waste." --Benjamin Franklin
"Time and tide wait for no man." --William Bradford
And here is an interesting blog with some insight and perspective on the time we have now vs. the time we had when we were younger.
Posted by: Obigabu at September 4, 2003 02:42 PM
On the issue of time, here's a recent TAR post that has some interesting tidbits: Is Hibernation Time Travel?
Posted by: kasei at September 4, 2003 03:34 PM
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