Finding the Forest

Through a friend's great weblog, I found this speech by Steve Jobs. It's impossible not to be inspired.

As I fret about paying bills and attending meetings and doing laundry, I'm constantly losing sight of the forest for the trees. I fully agree with Mr. Jobs and have spent unholy amounts of money on books like What Color is Your Parachute? and Do What You Love and the Money Will Follow. Paradoxically, my well-programmed jadedness usually dismisses the idea of pursuing the things you love -- it has always seemed like a namby pamby indulgence at best, a total disregard for reality and a ticket to homelessness at worst. I mean, how many of us can really make a living eating chocolate chip cookies and drawing princesses? This jadedness is the reason I majored in communications and business instead of art. I'm a pro at following the rules.

The Steve Jobs speech aside, I've met countless of other examples of folks doing exactly what they love. They all say the same thing: "It's scary at first, but it's the best decision I've ever made". Whether it's becoming a stay-at-home mom in this super woman culture, or becoming a humor essayist or starting a business in say, gourmet duck food, they've all got that energy and buoyancy that we rule-followers rationalize as delusional. Oh sure, they say it's hard, but there's a glint in their eyes that betrays a satisfied determination. And of course, there are accountants out there who love niggling over assets and liabilities and there are uncompromisingly unhappy artists and billionaires. Figuring out what is right for each particular individual is the hardest part, ain't it? No easy answers, obviously, but I feel that my namby pamby side is starting to win over the jaded side...