Is it enough to do what you love?
How much of "what you love to do" should you do? Do you ever reach a point of diminishing returns? And, most importantly, do you measure happiness by frequency or ability in that activity? These are all questions I’ve been asking myself constantly.
Skateboarding has been probably the most constant priority in my life. Aside from going to school, going skating has been something that I do. It’s something that has brought me to amazing cities, provided for me amazing memories, created amazing friendships, and relocated me to the amazing place where I live today. But is that enough reason to define life's success by being able to do that one thing that you most love to do?
Traveling and spending time with all types of people has, more and more, convinced me that the answers to these questions are all “no”. Life goes deep, and you can fully experience that through any single lens. I’m not arguing against the value of specializing in something.
But life is also wide. There are so many lenses to peer through. So many flavors of a place, of a person, of a life, waiting to be experienced by any human willing to take each and every step in any of those directions. Which direction to take can only be determined by trial & error and being open to respected advice.
How much of "what you love to do" should you do? Do you ever reach a point of diminishing returns? And, most importantly, do you measure happiness by frequency or ability in that activity? These are all questions I’ve been asking myself constantly.
Skateboarding has been probably the most constant priority in my life. Aside from going to school, going skating has been something that I do. It’s something that has brought me to amazing cities, provided for me amazing memories, created amazing friendships, and relocated me to the amazing place where I live today. But is that enough reason to define life's success by being able to do that one thing that you most love to do?
Traveling and spending time with all types of people has, more and more, convinced me that the answers to these questions are all “no”. Life goes deep, and you can fully experience that through any single lens. I’m not arguing against the value of specializing in something.
But life is also wide. There are so many lenses to peer through. So many flavors of a place, of a person, of a life, waiting to be experienced by any human willing to take each and every step in any of those directions. Which direction to take can only be determined by trial & error and being open to respected advice.
Doug Henry and I playing skateboard. Photo: Alex "Moo" Cao
Finding something we really like can mean deciding to continue consuming that. But it should also mean finding another something that we really like, given the experiences gained. Stop trying, reaching and testing, and we stop living.
Conversely, trying every flavor in the ice cream store, so to speak, can leave you with no direction at all. It is crucial to meander with a goal in mind. That seems obvious. Nevertheless, it is meaningful and necessary to sample other paths, explore new roads, and examine fresh prerogatives.
The person you ultimately are shows you the path you will pursue in the longer term.
Define yourself by what you do, and you will get deeper and deeper into one specific scope. Define yourself by who you are, and you will grow in ways and directions you never thought possible.
The balance is the challenge.
- 7Ply Epic
Conversely, trying every flavor in the ice cream store, so to speak, can leave you with no direction at all. It is crucial to meander with a goal in mind. That seems obvious. Nevertheless, it is meaningful and necessary to sample other paths, explore new roads, and examine fresh prerogatives.
The person you ultimately are shows you the path you will pursue in the longer term.
Define yourself by what you do, and you will get deeper and deeper into one specific scope. Define yourself by who you are, and you will grow in ways and directions you never thought possible.
The balance is the challenge.
- 7Ply Epic
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