You know the song, Once in a Lifetime by Talking Heads? You probably do, but in case you need a refresher:
The song is about reflecting on your life and not knowing how or why you got to where you are.
And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife
And you may ask yourself, “Well, how did I get here”?
It’s about realizing what you’ve done up until that point – having lived on “autopilot” so to speak – is not what you actually wanted.
And you may ask yourself, “Am I right? Am I wrong?”
And you may say to yourself, “My God, what have I done!?”
And that concept terrifies me.
I despise the concept of living on the preset path of “go to school, go to college, get a job, get married, have a family, retire, die”. That’s not to say I will never do any those things; I just cannot and will not live on a path that has been laid out for, and expected of, me. That is not the way to experience a fulfilling life.
The concept of living on “autopilot”, where your actions are not necessarily of your own will, but rather the result of traveling the path expected of you, can only result in you living a life that is only partially yours. I have to live true to my own will. And I have done so. I hated school and I didn’t go to college. And I’m doing the best I ever have. I would much rather lead a fulfilling life than an easy life.
Do not confuse this for hedonism. Hedonism concerns itself only with pleasure. Pleasure is a factor of, but distinct from, fulfillment. I want to work, but I want my work to be fulfilling.