Sunday, 21 March 2004

The kind of life that I want

Tonight I went out with Laura to her mentor's house. It was a nice house, with lots of art on the walls, a couple of kids running around, some guinny pigs, a nice big kitchen. The thing that I really liked was how they seemed to be really laid back, relaxed, and seemed to have things really figured out. I am sure that isn't how they feel, but that's the impression that I got.

I went away thinking that that's where I want to be, where I am planning to go. It seems like a really nice life. Now I just have to figure out how to get there. ;-)

I've been thinking about this for a while: how life can be like engineering (or vise versa). For you to know if you are "successful", you have to first figure out what criteria you are going to make that judgement. Does that mean you will have to be an excellent lawyer? Good parent? Welcoming neighbour? You have to figure out what values and characteristics you hold dear and then judge yourself against that. Don't judge yourself against someone else's criteria. In a way what I am saying is to take a TDD approach to life.
Listening to: Buggles - Video Killed the Radio Star


8 comments:

  1. TDD approach to life eh. If only everything were as deterministic as a unit test. ;)
    To quote Ned Ryerson from Groundhog Day: "It's all one big crap-shoot anyhoot." You never know when you're going to go, so there's no sense in saving happiness for a rainy day. It's sad to admit it, but the corny cliches are true.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Yep, I agree. It's one of those "live like this is your last day on earth, but plan like you will live forever"
    For the TDD approach to keeping people on track, I keep on thinking what Kopple (business prof) said like every lecture: "if you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there". I think that it's more about direction rather than seeing if you get a pass / fail.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ever listen to a band named The Ataris? Well, not only are they amazing, but i'd argue that, on a whole, their songs contain the best lyrics that you'll ever hear/read - good for romancing the ladies too. I dare you to investigate their songs. So good! Anyhoot, here is one of their songs that helps me reflect on life. Do you recognize the movie reference? (Hint, it's my favorite movie, that i never shut up about). I will amend the title of the track to help keep the movie reference a mystery. Let me know if any of you who don't already know the song can figure out the movie without googling.
    Lyrics:
    It was the first snow of the season,
    I can almost see you breathing in the middle of that empty street.
    Sometimes I still see myself in that lonesome bedroom
    playing my guitar and singing songs of hope for a better future.
    Life is only as good as the memories we make
    and I'm taking back what belongs to me.
    Polaroids of classrooms unattended.
    These relics of remembrance are just like shipwrecks,
    only they're gone faster than the smell after it rains.
    We said that we would never fit in
    when we were really just like them.
    Does rebellion ever make a difference?
    So long, Astoria, I found a map to buried treasure.
    And even if we come home empty handed we'll still have our stories
    of battle scars, pirate ships and wounded hearts,
    broken bones and all the best of friendshipsÖ
    this is my wish and I'm taking it back, I'm taking 'em all back.
    Cooter.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hey man, what song is that?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sellers;
    So long, Astoria.
    Did you figure out the movie?
    You should check out San Dimas Highschool Football Rules, too. That song is a lady killer, for sure. Do you recognize that movie quote?
    Cooter.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I googled it and it come back as the goonies... I have not watched that for a LONG time, so my memory of the quotes is a bit sketchy...

    ReplyDelete
  7. "San Dimas Highschool Football Rules" is from Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Congratulations to both of you, except Jim, who had to google. You suck! Everybody should know The Goonies off by heart. I hate you.
    Cooter.

    ReplyDelete