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Oct. 1st, 2003 08:20 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
vicarzSmart idiots.
Last night I sat in for a session with a former #1 in the class, current partner is big schmigg law firm, who was giving study and exam prep advice. This guy was the biggest loser I’ve heard from in some time. Study from 6 am to midnight, live off coffee. If you have to wait in line at the bank, use flashcards. Read each textbook 4 times minimum! His list of ways to be a complete law geek was endless. Being competitive, it did inspire a little flash of ‘despite the full-time job, I know I could work harder than I am.’ Being mature, this flash was followed by the realization that I have always chosen balance in my life, and while I might be able to achieve at any single goal I focus myself on, there is such a thing as ‘too much of a good thing.’
Someone who is a successful lawyer is as pathetic as an Olympic gymnast - perhaps more so. A former gymnast can live off their prior achievements, but while I share the hot gymnast fetish...so what? I mean it’s one hell of an achievement, you should be proud of it, but so what? Once you get your medal, how cool is it to run a gym or coach? What else did you do? What else did you learn? What kind of a person are you? Why is that obsession your goal? If you achieve the goal, then what?
I have a drive to compete, and I do well on whatever field I focus my energies on. At the same time, I have the ability to pull back and question the goal sought. How much money is enough? How much power? Why is X the goal? What does it represent? Is that assessment of its value accurate? Is that value to me or to someone else?
Perhaps it’s just the slacker mentality in me, but I’m not interested in being #1. #1 on any playing field means too many sacrifices on all the others. I suppose if you really enjoy some task, then it’s worth being #1 in it - but how often is it a good idea to let one part of your life overwhelm all the others? Me - I am happy with balance. Law school is taking far more time than I would like it to, but I see this as a short-term investment. I want to do well, but I’m happy to let the idiots claw their way to the top. My house will be smaller than theirs, but I’ll see more than the ceiling above my bed at night. I think it’s crazy enough to try and work full-time, go to school, still do the gym, and try to maintain my social life. At least that’s crazy in a diverse interests kind of way.
Last night I sat in for a session with a former #1 in the class, current partner is big schmigg law firm, who was giving study and exam prep advice. This guy was the biggest loser I’ve heard from in some time. Study from 6 am to midnight, live off coffee. If you have to wait in line at the bank, use flashcards. Read each textbook 4 times minimum! His list of ways to be a complete law geek was endless. Being competitive, it did inspire a little flash of ‘despite the full-time job, I know I could work harder than I am.’ Being mature, this flash was followed by the realization that I have always chosen balance in my life, and while I might be able to achieve at any single goal I focus myself on, there is such a thing as ‘too much of a good thing.’
Someone who is a successful lawyer is as pathetic as an Olympic gymnast - perhaps more so. A former gymnast can live off their prior achievements, but while I share the hot gymnast fetish...so what? I mean it’s one hell of an achievement, you should be proud of it, but so what? Once you get your medal, how cool is it to run a gym or coach? What else did you do? What else did you learn? What kind of a person are you? Why is that obsession your goal? If you achieve the goal, then what?
I have a drive to compete, and I do well on whatever field I focus my energies on. At the same time, I have the ability to pull back and question the goal sought. How much money is enough? How much power? Why is X the goal? What does it represent? Is that assessment of its value accurate? Is that value to me or to someone else?
Perhaps it’s just the slacker mentality in me, but I’m not interested in being #1. #1 on any playing field means too many sacrifices on all the others. I suppose if you really enjoy some task, then it’s worth being #1 in it - but how often is it a good idea to let one part of your life overwhelm all the others? Me - I am happy with balance. Law school is taking far more time than I would like it to, but I see this as a short-term investment. I want to do well, but I’m happy to let the idiots claw their way to the top. My house will be smaller than theirs, but I’ll see more than the ceiling above my bed at night. I think it’s crazy enough to try and work full-time, go to school, still do the gym, and try to maintain my social life. At least that’s crazy in a diverse interests kind of way.
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May I ask a question?
Date: 2003-10-01 10:45 am (UTC)I would like your advice.
When you realize that something in your life - it's value isn't that of your own but yet something that has been ingrained through your childhood. How do you fucking let go? How do you get rid of it? I truly feel differently about things but I feel these thoughts and feelings creep up about things and when I analyze them deeply they don't really belong to me yet they are a source of guilt or pain.
And besides you kinda of stated that you were good at pulling back and questioning. Any thoughts on moving forward?
I ask you this because you are a straight forward, tell you how it is kind of person (over the internet). You are a bit quieter in person. I met you at a party at Andrea's house one time.
Anyway, if you have an opinion or thought give it because I value it.
*signed.
a formerly olympic gymnast *lol*
Re: May I ask a question?
Date: 2003-10-01 11:55 am (UTC)How do you let it go? Um, you don't. Bad answer?
Ok, well, you do let it go but it takes AGES. What you learn first is how to quickly recognize when you are engaging in a thought pattern that isn't necessarily reflective of you and your values. You win with logic in the short term - and only in the long term do you work through the feelings. Guilt will creep up now and again regardless of how silly you find it. Remember most growth takes place like a mountain range - huge steps up, plunges back down, plateaus where you think everything is stable, then cliffs, then long painful climbs...it takes time and setbacks, but when you look back you can see how far you've risen.
That sounded goofy.
The other part of the answer is that you stay open minded enough to revisit your values and decisions. Maybe 'they' were right about some things! I mean, people focus too much on materialism in this country, but at the same time it's not a bad thing to have enough money to be able to afford a nice house in a safe neighborhood with good health insurance. It probably is a bad thing to die at 50 from an aneurism because you felt the need to work 80 hours a week!
I was quiet at Andrea's party because I barely knew anyone there, and other than Andrea no one well. I'm actually quite obnoxious a lot of the time! ;) Feel free to bug me though.
It did not sound goofy.
Date: 2003-10-01 12:58 pm (UTC)It's all about perspective.
And I may take you up on that offer to bug you. Unfortunately it will only be via the Internet as I moved away from the area.
And thank you.