![Picture](/uploads/3/8/7/0/38706765/4504177_orig.jpg)
"There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed." - Ernest Hemingway
This is what we do, if we are living honestly. Hemingway had more reason than most to sit down at the typewriter and bleed. He served in World War One, and reported on World War Two. Serving as an ambulatory driver in WW1, Hemingway witnessed firsthand the results of displaced flesh metal moves during war. He himself felt this effect when an Austrian mortar shell exploded feet from him.
When he went to writing, bleeding the truth of his life into words, Hemingway bled a personal history magnitudes more disquieted than an average person. On July 2nd, 1961 Hemingway killed himself with his favorite shotgun. I’m convinced, had he not bled honestly in his writing, had he lied, he wouldn't have survived as long as he did.
This concept of living honestly has struck me lately. My seniors will be leaving the safe haven (not a Nicholas Spark’s book) of K-12 education and entering a less certain world. The sudden realization of 'what do I want to do with my life?' can be crippling. There is so much possibility, so many different paths. As a teacher, this idea is fascinating. In each class I've taught, I've seen many (not every student, we're being honest here after all), many students develop the character traits and skills to follow any number of promising career paths.
This brings me to a question: when these students decide on a tentative path, how honestly do they make that decision? I'm not suggesting they might lie to themselves, I just wonder how many of us know how to make honest career decisions. A kid might say they love animals, so someone says, 'become a vet or a vet tech!' But when that same kid says they also love gardening and sustainable agriculture, we say, "okay... become a vet, vet tech, or go into sustainable farming!' Add a desire to have enough financial income and free time to work with an NGO for water purity in developing nations, and we respond, 'umm... yeah, consider that too!' At some point, we need to figure out a core aspiration.
Some have it easy. They have found the job, “the job for them.” One Sunday afternoon my senior year of college, my roommate, Ben, and I rode back to UW La Crosse with his dad. On the trip, we talked about college, jobs, the weather (anything other than politics, as forewarned by Ben). His father talked about being a timber cruiser in Wisconsin. As we drove past a stand of old-growth elm trees, he gave the trees a quick glance, "That's a beautiful stand of wood. That elm will go for 1100 by 12 feet. In that whole lot, you've probably got over a hundred thousand." He'd been talking pretty continuously up to that point, but he stop at that moment, with a far-off look, as if putting a mental saw blade into one of those old elms to admire the pale hue and smooth grain. He had found what he loved, and he couldn't imagine doing anything else.
Many in our generation have trouble finding this occupational singularity. We have so many things we'd like to do. How will we figure out 'our thing?' Chances are we won't. Not on the first try. That would be lucky. The best advice is to continuously strive towards what you're passionate about. We have to be brave enough to continue chasing those passions down. Don't settle.
A friend recently indicated to me that a nice raise had made her intolerable job slightly more tolerable. Making money is important. No question. You need to make money to live. To recreate. To create opportunities. But money can be made many ways. What is the point of making money at this job? What is the end game? Will this job lead to one for which you do have a passion?
A family member, G, worked 14 hour days in financial accounting for two years at a big firm. That job led to a position in accounts for a national basketball team, a dream job. I have been in teaching for four years, which will lead to a career in higher education. At no specific moment, but gradually during college, I developed a love for the personal growth, positive environment, and intellectual challenge of higher education.
But like my generation, it is not the only thing I want to do, so it is not clean. The lack of sterility would turn a surgeon's stomach. I want to work in health. To own a small sustainable business, like a coffee shop, winery, or farm. I want to be healthy. Weight train. Run triathlons. I want to get outside, go hiking, cut firewood, and go hunting for healthy game. I want to build a shed with my dad and brothers. I need to spend time with my family.
The only way I can see to reach these aspirations is to strive towards them tirelessly and in the face of unforeseen challenges. Oh, and one more thing, enjoy the journey.
This is what we do, if we are living honestly. Hemingway had more reason than most to sit down at the typewriter and bleed. He served in World War One, and reported on World War Two. Serving as an ambulatory driver in WW1, Hemingway witnessed firsthand the results of displaced flesh metal moves during war. He himself felt this effect when an Austrian mortar shell exploded feet from him.
When he went to writing, bleeding the truth of his life into words, Hemingway bled a personal history magnitudes more disquieted than an average person. On July 2nd, 1961 Hemingway killed himself with his favorite shotgun. I’m convinced, had he not bled honestly in his writing, had he lied, he wouldn't have survived as long as he did.
This concept of living honestly has struck me lately. My seniors will be leaving the safe haven (not a Nicholas Spark’s book) of K-12 education and entering a less certain world. The sudden realization of 'what do I want to do with my life?' can be crippling. There is so much possibility, so many different paths. As a teacher, this idea is fascinating. In each class I've taught, I've seen many (not every student, we're being honest here after all), many students develop the character traits and skills to follow any number of promising career paths.
This brings me to a question: when these students decide on a tentative path, how honestly do they make that decision? I'm not suggesting they might lie to themselves, I just wonder how many of us know how to make honest career decisions. A kid might say they love animals, so someone says, 'become a vet or a vet tech!' But when that same kid says they also love gardening and sustainable agriculture, we say, "okay... become a vet, vet tech, or go into sustainable farming!' Add a desire to have enough financial income and free time to work with an NGO for water purity in developing nations, and we respond, 'umm... yeah, consider that too!' At some point, we need to figure out a core aspiration.
Some have it easy. They have found the job, “the job for them.” One Sunday afternoon my senior year of college, my roommate, Ben, and I rode back to UW La Crosse with his dad. On the trip, we talked about college, jobs, the weather (anything other than politics, as forewarned by Ben). His father talked about being a timber cruiser in Wisconsin. As we drove past a stand of old-growth elm trees, he gave the trees a quick glance, "That's a beautiful stand of wood. That elm will go for 1100 by 12 feet. In that whole lot, you've probably got over a hundred thousand." He'd been talking pretty continuously up to that point, but he stop at that moment, with a far-off look, as if putting a mental saw blade into one of those old elms to admire the pale hue and smooth grain. He had found what he loved, and he couldn't imagine doing anything else.
Many in our generation have trouble finding this occupational singularity. We have so many things we'd like to do. How will we figure out 'our thing?' Chances are we won't. Not on the first try. That would be lucky. The best advice is to continuously strive towards what you're passionate about. We have to be brave enough to continue chasing those passions down. Don't settle.
A friend recently indicated to me that a nice raise had made her intolerable job slightly more tolerable. Making money is important. No question. You need to make money to live. To recreate. To create opportunities. But money can be made many ways. What is the point of making money at this job? What is the end game? Will this job lead to one for which you do have a passion?
A family member, G, worked 14 hour days in financial accounting for two years at a big firm. That job led to a position in accounts for a national basketball team, a dream job. I have been in teaching for four years, which will lead to a career in higher education. At no specific moment, but gradually during college, I developed a love for the personal growth, positive environment, and intellectual challenge of higher education.
But like my generation, it is not the only thing I want to do, so it is not clean. The lack of sterility would turn a surgeon's stomach. I want to work in health. To own a small sustainable business, like a coffee shop, winery, or farm. I want to be healthy. Weight train. Run triathlons. I want to get outside, go hiking, cut firewood, and go hunting for healthy game. I want to build a shed with my dad and brothers. I need to spend time with my family.
The only way I can see to reach these aspirations is to strive towards them tirelessly and in the face of unforeseen challenges. Oh, and one more thing, enjoy the journey.