I’m just turning 30. I spent my 20s in education (undergraduate and law school) and the Army. I’m now interested in technology and entrepreneurship. For several years, I was extremely frustrated that I didn’t know any math or programming: my humanities background felt like a huge waste of time. In other words—I really feel your frustration at being “behind the curve.”
However, even a third of the way through life isn’t too late to change course—remember, you and I are only a decade past the normal college years, when most people learn their trade. It’ll be challenging to catch up, but not impossible. I finished my legal job a few months ago, and now I’m living out of my home country in a cheaper location, taking MOOCs to learn to program.
(I couldn’t agree more with your definition of failure, by the way: if people find meaning in joining a corporate giant and working their way up, great, it is actually quite impressive, but it would kill me.)
From reading your post, it sounds as though you more-or-less know what you would like (am I wrong?): to make some more money, hold a more-or-less prestigious position, get published more, and/or get into a good graduate program in journalism (?). But you struggle with the effects of your past, and you don’t see a clear position forward, since you lack money and credentials. Those are real challenges.
I think posting your question on LW is a great first step. You, and your chosen path, are not “normal,” and family and friends often just are not open to alternative career paths. Many people simply cannot imagine legitimate careers that stray from the beaten path. Getting a sanity check by finding like-minded people can be encouraging and strengthening. I don’t know how many friends you have who are supportive of your desire not to work in a soul-crushing job for 30 years...excuse me, I mean, your desire not to “work responsibly”...but if you don’t have many, then please keep reaching out. There are lots of people like you. (feel free to message me)
In fact, perhaps you should travel elsewhere, long-term. In a new place, with new people, a different schedule, things might look different. Scandinavia sounds nice...
Finally, I have often read that daily writing is the single best practice for a writer. So you could set yourself the project of figuring out motivation/self-modding to get yourself to do that. The writer’s redemption: if you write something well, then who cares about the rest of your life?
I’m just turning 30. I spent my 20s in education (undergraduate and law school) and the Army. I’m now interested in technology and entrepreneurship. For several years, I was extremely frustrated that I didn’t know any math or programming: my humanities background felt like a huge waste of time. In other words—I really feel your frustration at being “behind the curve.”
However, even a third of the way through life isn’t too late to change course—remember, you and I are only a decade past the normal college years, when most people learn their trade. It’ll be challenging to catch up, but not impossible. I finished my legal job a few months ago, and now I’m living out of my home country in a cheaper location, taking MOOCs to learn to program.
(I couldn’t agree more with your definition of failure, by the way: if people find meaning in joining a corporate giant and working their way up, great, it is actually quite impressive, but it would kill me.)
From reading your post, it sounds as though you more-or-less know what you would like (am I wrong?): to make some more money, hold a more-or-less prestigious position, get published more, and/or get into a good graduate program in journalism (?). But you struggle with the effects of your past, and you don’t see a clear position forward, since you lack money and credentials. Those are real challenges.
I think posting your question on LW is a great first step. You, and your chosen path, are not “normal,” and family and friends often just are not open to alternative career paths. Many people simply cannot imagine legitimate careers that stray from the beaten path. Getting a sanity check by finding like-minded people can be encouraging and strengthening. I don’t know how many friends you have who are supportive of your desire not to work in a soul-crushing job for 30 years...excuse me, I mean, your desire not to “work responsibly”...but if you don’t have many, then please keep reaching out. There are lots of people like you. (feel free to message me)
In fact, perhaps you should travel elsewhere, long-term. In a new place, with new people, a different schedule, things might look different. Scandinavia sounds nice...
Finally, I have often read that daily writing is the single best practice for a writer. So you could set yourself the project of figuring out motivation/self-modding to get yourself to do that. The writer’s redemption: if you write something well, then who cares about the rest of your life?