He always joked that those who were so busy and stressed on the golf course never seemed to get to their golden years of retirement. I never got him as a kid because I thought all the meaningless wasting of time my friends’ parents did was such a big deal. Dad didn’t seem bothered about others, meeting expectations or speaking unkindly. Now I see that he was a Stoic in the true sense of the word. I don’t think he ever took offence and he had enough opportunity to get very irritated.

Perhaps the prime reason for his way of being was the years he spent in the 2WW. The war generation were a special group and it may be that Stoicism is best achieved through seeing the realities of conflict and the abuse of power.

Nevertheless, I do feel that one has to do what one enjoys for employment. It is hard to be authentic if you have to manufacture your passion day after day. But onn the gold course, my friends and I often call a time-out to appreciate the wonderful moments we have together in nature.

I do think it is difficult for many people to find themselves if they have no passion or goal. This might explain the time wastage- they are like flotsam tossed around by the waves of others expectations. I am also guilty at times.

Thanks Tim, my students have a link to the blogg. They deserve it.

I just found this post and am reading through all of the comments. At the moment I’m relating all too much with your comment. I’ve graduated from UCR in US history and am quitting my job to travel to Argentina. I’ll be teaching English as a way of getting me out there and supporting myself. I have no background in business or am pretty clueless as to how I will create income upon automation a la TF, so teaching will have to do… for now. I plan to do some backpacking in my time off.

Did you find that something you were destined to do?

“Having said that, how do I avoid living the rest of life in preoccupation? Can one truly live in leisure and make a difference in this world?”

What outlooks did you come to in reflecting on these questions you posed?

Best,

Henry

Your book, The 4HWW, has also been an inspiration. Never has it seemed so possible to achieve things that I once thought were beyond my reach or ability.

Thank you for sharing, I hope one day to be able to contribute half as much to the lives of others as you have to mine.