Whatever You Want

[kerravonsen]

There's a saying: love God and do what you want.

Which is not as foolish as it might seem, because if you love God (first), what you want is to do good things, things that please Him.

I say this because I was pondering what I really wanted to do. I came to the conclusion that I want to make art/craft that encourages people. Even if that is just on the tiny level of making someone smile, or lightening their eyes because they see something pretty. "Brighten the corner where you are." It doesn't have to be big, or grand. Because even though grand things are grand, little things applied more frequently, they do a lot in the long run. (Cue metaphor about water wearing away stone.)

I mean, yes, it is true that I don't think I'm capable of grand things, but I don't even desire to do grand things. Grand things tend to be tainted with ambition, and poisoned by fame. Fame is horrible, I really don't want that. Mind you, the ones who have achieved grandly good things, they've usually done it by perseverance in small things that grew.

If you could do whatever you want, what would you do?

Comments

[fred_mouse]

I'm finding that question really confronting. Because on the one hand, I value the work I do and I see that it is useful (and that it is quite a niche thing that not a lot of people have the necessary collection of skills for, and I'm only doing as well as I am because I work in a team of really good people). But if I had an independent income? Now that my kids are adults? I would stay home and potter and make crafts, and maybe get my garden going properly. And at some point I would hopefully work out what it is that I want to invest my time in that is valuable for more than just me, but I have no idea what that might be.

[kerravonsen]

I would stay home and potter and make crafts, and maybe get my garden going properly. And at some point I would hopefully work out what it is that I want to invest my time in that is valuable for more than just me, but I have no idea what that might be.

I think there is a season for rest and refreshment, to look after yourself.
But after a while, idleness just becomes irritating, and that's the point where outward-looking purpose becomes needful. And this time of isolation, we've been confronted by the downsides of idleness.

I know I've been saying to myself: "I hate that what I'm doing is pointless!"
Then: "Okay, so take some time to rest, time for yourself, just do what you want."
Me: "But what I want is to do something that isn't pointless!"

8-P

[fred_mouse]

For Reasons, I haven't ended up with any real idleness, but instead feel like I'm on a seven day a week treadmill, rather than a five day.

That conversation with yourself? That sounds like me :)

[jaxomsride2]

I would make more of a bid to be a published author. Working for a living makes having time to do that at the moment almost impossible.

[kerravonsen]

What would you write?

[watervole]

What would I do? Pretty much what I do already, I guess. A benefit of a husband with a pension. Look after the garden and the allotment, play board games, do some craft activities and help look after Oswin.

If it wasn't for the carbon footprint, I would travel far more than I do. I have many friends whom I will never see again for this very reason.