I Should Stop Boasting About My Balderdash Prowess Before I Lose It Altogether
Posted by Moose on October 22nd, 2009. Filed under: My Brain Needs a Drink.After feeling stuck for so long, I should be happy about all the shifting over here in my little hallway-shaped corner of the world. BUT SHIFTING IS UNCOMFORTABLE, YO. Especially when you use the word yo, a vocabulary addition that really doesn’t sit well on someone so painfully Anglo-Saxon.
Without stranding you in the oozing mire of detail, I’ll just say that I’m pondering my life purpose. That’s rather unbearably earnest with the faintest tinge of maudlin, isn’t it? Such thinking lends itself well to earnest and maudlin, so I’ll just forge ahead and allow you to demonstrate the stolid forbearance I’m sure you possess. I have great faith in your will and fortitude, see. You’re welcome.
It’s a quandary that historically belongs to recent college grads, but I think a lot of us are feeling it these days, what with the questionable economy and that ever-present and somewhat irritating idea that it’s good to contribute something of value to the world. Good, yes. Easy to figure out, NO.
Especially because you have to blend what you enjoy and are good at with what’s of value to other people. Then you realize you forgot to factor in how to do that AND exist in the rent-paying, tax-owing world. Then your head explodes and you have to scrape bits of your cerebellum off the ceiling with a butter knife.
Let’s see: I’m good at entertaining via, if not winning, Balderdash. I’m good at writing overly-verbose email. I’m good at knitting sweaters for electronics. I’m good at baking things with lots of butter. Perhaps if I keep adding to this list, I’ll be able to extrapolate my life’s calling.
Or not. But that’s OK too. If nothing else, I can print up the list and hand it to prospective dates. WILL BAKE SUGAR COOKIES AND ENTERTAIN YOU ON GAME NIGHT.
Related posts:
October 22nd, 2009 at 7:06 pm
I figured out my life purpose after I let Sallie Mae consolidate my federal loans, thus ruining my chances of getting the government to write them off because I would NEVER, EVER, NEVER be a teacher. Then I became a teacher and fell in love. But then I got knocked up so I guess it works out for now. I can hate my stubborn determination when I go back to work in five years.
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:54 pm
I envy your Boggle prowess. I am horrid at it, despite being a word nerd. It’s rather sad.
As for life’s purpose, I hate to be a downer, but even when you “figure it out” it seems there’s always something else. I know I am meant to teach, but the rest? I’m kinda screwed.
Good luck, friend. You have so much to offer the world. xo
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:32 pm
As a non-profit (and thusly impoverished) member of the warm-fuzzy-working, sometimes I think, “Gee, it would be so nice to be earning decent money! I don’t need to be spending my time doing such ‘honorable’ work!” But then I look at job listings, and non-profits are the only ones I find interesting. So it goes.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Not Boggle! BALDERDASH! Although I’m sure you’re very good at Boggle too.
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:35 pm
So…they’re not the same then? Perhaps this is why people laugh at me when I try to capture the queen during a game of euchre.
October 22nd, 2009 at 11:36 pm
Oh god, I LOVE Balderdash. Best game ever.
And btw, my head explodes daily. Just like you described.
October 23rd, 2009 at 5:31 am
I’m good at Wii bowling, but not enough to quit my day job.
October 23rd, 2009 at 9:32 am
I am struggling with this right now too. I have a boring “pays the bills” job but want to do something else that is more fulfilling. What that something else is, I have no idea.
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:29 am
The way I get around this is to have a job that sounds cool to outsiders (ooooh, music industry!) even though it is actually pretty boring. I use my spare time to do things I love to do (jewelry, writing). I’m pretty busy, but there is something very “best of both worlds” about the arrangement. I don’t have to worry about health insurance and I can enjoy my creative endeavors without having to panic that I might not peddle enough bracelets to make the mortgage.
IN OTHER WORDS, maybe the job doesn’t have to be EVERYTHING.
October 23rd, 2009 at 2:15 pm
A good baker and an enthusiastic game player is all I ever wanted in a partner, you should know. Not that I’m hitting on you! Oh, this got awkward. Just that … there are people out there who admire such qualities.
Now, let’s never speak of this comment again.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:14 pm
I keep telling myself I should come up with such a list so my dream job will appear out of nowhere. However, my current job pays too much to leave of my own accord.
October 23rd, 2009 at 6:37 pm
Moose!!!! your back, or have been back, or i was just out of the loop…. I was telling my gf about this blog i use to read all the time and then i stopped, maybe work blocked it or something because i could not see it… now i can… and your still around… COOL!
October 24th, 2009 at 11:18 am
“Especially because you have to blend what you enjoy and are good at with what’s of value to other people. Then you realize you forgot to factor in how to do that AND exist in the rent-paying, tax-owing world. ”
I have a ‘job’ I enjoy a lot (technically I’m employed but it’s self-employment) but the economy has dealt me a huge hit and now that annoying bill, mortgage, and tax paying thing is getting a lot harder. Oh, if only I didn’t have to worry about such trivial matters.
October 25th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
I had an epiphany one night in college after smoking too many joints: the purpose of life is to Become Who You Are.
Ponder that one for a while.
October 26th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
ME TOO. I can organize drawers and have voice power that requires NO BULLHORN. WHO WOULD LIKE TO HIRE ME AND PAY ME? VOLUNTEERS?
October 28th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Why is it the things we enjoy and are good at, can’t pay the damn bills? I am an excellent blog commenter and wine drinker and yet, NOT A CAREER!