There’s a theory out there that says that you should make your living doing what you love. I’m not sure, though, that I trust that old adage. I’m completely aware that this may be another convenient defense mechanism that I’ve contrived, but I do wonder if it isn’t possible to have too much of a good thing. Like when I was younger and liked chocolate so much that I would fantasize about swimming in a pool of melted chocolate. Now, with the wisdom that comes with maturity, I recognize this idea as being one that is both silly and remarkably impractical.
Charley likes to cook. It is something that brings him joy partly I believe because it’s a diversion. There’s no real pressure associated with a hobby. Jobs, on the other hand, typically involve at least a little bit of stress, and the business of food is known for being particularly stressful. How long would it take, I wonder, for most recreational chefs to lose touch with the initial joy that brought them into the kitchen in the first place, if cooking became a “have to” instead of “want to”?
Here’s another example. I like contemplating issues related to City Planning, thinking about the different ways we might be able to reorganize our physical space to address social, economic, environmental issues. But the day-in, day-out work of City Planning drove me a little batty; it wasn’t a particularly good fit for me. So I’ve decided to take a more playful approach to engaging in the City Planning conversation. My good friend K has suggested that we do a bit of kamikaze planning by creating a Traffic Jam demonstration — temporarily taking over some space downtown that is typically dedicated to cars, and filling it with music instead. A piano on wheels. A stand up bass. A set of drums. And voices. A new kind of Traffic Jam session — get it? Obviously the devil is in the details; the goal is to be evocative and not just, I don’t know, annoying. Anyway, I am all over that idea.
I think it’s important to like what you do. But I think it’s important to love the things that make you happy outside of work.
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Here is a link to a nice little piece from the New York Times on last year’s Park(ing) Day event — Putting the Park Back in Parking
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