_{FAQ: Ask questions here! | Commissions | MangaBullet | pixiv}


Addendum. (overall reply to comments)

...Before I say anything, I'm far too stupid to actually say anything meaningful on a random journal on a random art site. That is, my opinions/ideas != The Right Answer. OK?

(By the way, sorry I keep posting these semi-philosophical things on my journal rather than daily, trivial stuff that most people post... my life's not very interesting, so it's not worth writing about. Also, I'm constantly hounded by exams and papers. No one needs that much spam, right? lol.)

--


So, the situations I've been hearing about thus far seem to be as follows:

1. Money [job you don't enjoy] > Hobbies
Pros: You'd be financially stable.
Cons: You might have to give up things you like for the sake of money.

2. Happiness > Money [job you don't enjoy]
Pros: You're happy.
Cons: You might be financially unstable.

3. Money [job you don't enjoy] + Happiness
Pros: Nice combo. Get both of what you want.
Cons: How much money + happiness? Is this just "settling" for a job? Will you have regrets for settling and not taking risks? Is it possible to be happy with a job you don't like? (How much of your life is your job?) etc.

4. Money = Happiness [job you enjoy]
Pros: Ideal situation.
Cons: How do you find this? Hopefully it exists. Maybe a form of "settling"?

So...

Questions to answer:
1. How much happiness can money buy? _{(How much money would be needed so that the happiness "bought" by money >= direct happiness?)}
2. Is sacrifice necessary, or is chasing two rabbits at the same time okay? _{(= If you have to choose one or the other, choose both!)}
3. How worthwhile is risktaking? Will you be able to "start over"?
4. What do you personally consider to be happiness? _{(haha, one of the really big questions)}



My progression has been from (1) to (2). I was planning to major in economics last year (freshman, college) because I wanted money. If you haven't already heard me whining already about this, here it is again: I am poor, on full financial aid (thank goodness for this school), etc., etc. However, money != happiness. Money is a means by which one can get happy. The ultimate goal seems to be happiness. Money on its own cannot make one happy. _{(This has kind of been drilled into my head by psych class-- money is a conditioned stimulus that is linked with the unconditioned stimulus, which equals happiness and all the good things in life.)}

So, what to do? I'm still stuck on questions (2)~(4), lol. I've kind of given up on getting rich, because I've realized I can be reasonably happy even without all the luxuries that the other 4/5 of the American population has.


Anyway, to everyone else who is at a fork on the road, each to his own. However, I think the questions we're looking at are largely the same, so hopefully my compiling them will help... or maybe it will just help me. Haha. Whatver.


...This is nowhere near as organized and well-thought out as I wish it would be, but I'm tired from kendo and need sleeeeeep. Japanese and Korean invading my brain also do not help my English. OTL wah. Maybe I'll reply to the other comments later.






--Blizz


------

[ Warning: Personal problems rant. ]


I'm fairly certain I've written on this before, but circumstances have changed. This is bothering me right now because I'm trying to apply to summer programs/internships but am stuck because I have no idea what I'm actually interested in.

I am now officially a major in psychology with neuroscience _{(at an Ivy that you may/may not already know)}. I'm leaning towards the neurobio aspect of psych, rather than the social/economic side. At the same time, I am starting to think that I could be truly happy working in a video gaming company as a designer/graphicker/artist.

Does psych have anything to do with gaming? Maybe. Does neuro? Uh, probably not. _{Unless we're talking about BrainAge, which I am not particularly interested in designing art for... but hey, if it's research for it, maybe.}

I want to go back to Japan after I graduate college, buy a house, and get a permanent job (shuushoku). This doesn't work if I'm not committed. Commitment means having a relevant major, relevant experience, etc., etc.

So I'm trying to figure out if I should go into video game art or try to find something within psychology/neuro/research. I love the brain, but I can't imagine myself working in a lab for the rest of my life. At the same time, I don't want to throw it all away. My four years here... all lost? What a waste. It's supposed to be really expensive too. Also, a job in game art probably won't get me much money. (nor will research.) I have apparently no interest in finance or econ unless it's behavioral econ, so becoming an office lady for good pay is out.

How do people find out their interests? Just try out new stuff? I think I've found too many interests and need to cut down. OTL What's the "perfect job"? How do you find it? Is this just not possible in Japan because there's little wiggle room in careers? Or can I be a freeter forever? Can I live off of freeter pay? (probably not.) Am I about to contribute to the increasing number of freeters in Japan? (lol, whoops.) Is it possible to get rich in America and then become a rich freeter in Japan? (delusional? Ah, damn, I also want to get married in Japan.... my peak years would be gone.)

I hate decision-making... Life would've been sooooo much simpler if I'd just stayed in Japan. I probably would've just become a pastry chef or something. I want to live the simple life~~~~ TT_____TT

Any similar experiences? If you've gone through this yourself, I'd love to hear how you resolved it.



--Blizz