Comments on: This Is Your Life: Don’t Settle

By: another jen

another jen — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:11:31 +0000

i never understood the concept of not wanting to do things for fun because you might not be good at it. especially classes — if you were good at it, you wouldn’t need to take a class in it! i suck at most of my bajillion current and former hobbies – surfing, skateboarding, playing guitar, knitting, dancing, etc.

i always feel like it’s the overachievers who have this attitude — who else expects to be good at every thing they do?! so the irony is that people like you who are afraid of not being good at something are usually the ones who are good at almost everything, while us mere mortals feel comfortable jumping into new things because we are used to sucking at most things.

By: Daylle Deanna Schwartz

Daylle Deanna Schwartz — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:43:03 +0000

Great post! It’s so important to spread the word in order to help others to empower themselves. Thanks for sharing some of my words.

By: mikkie

mikkie — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:49:43 +0000

I just booked a ticket to Australia to go backpacking there on my own for more or less three weeks.

On. My.Own. AAAAAAAAHHHH!

But I will be staying at a good friend’s place at the start for a few days and have heard from many people who have travelled there that it is incredibly easy to travel there on your own and meet people. Plus, I always wanted to go there and if not now then when? I have the money, I have the time and the freedom.

What works best for me if I am afraid of doing something: I just metaphorically tie myself to it without letting it sink in. Then once I can’t back out I can panic. For just a little while and then I’ll face the music and do it. And usually the idea in my head is scarier than the reality.

By: MizFit

MizFit — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:35:42 +0000

ooooh. thought provoking post.

Ill spare ya the trite “do something which scares me every day” :)

but honestly say FEEL THE FEAR & DO IT ANYWAY.

(of failure. I never got the concept of FEAR OF SUCCESS as isnt that what we’re all going for?)

By: Surfergrrl

Surfergrrl — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 18:36:21 +0000

well you know I’m totally all for that!! Life is not a dress rehearsal.

By: Marie D.

Marie D. — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:52:07 +0000

You have no idea how much I needed this post today: I just heard that my company is switching strategy and this is going to make my job go in a totally different direction, one I don’t want to follow. I don’t know what to do but I so don’t want to get stuck in a job that makes me do things I hate doing.

Now about the classes, I have tried a wide variety: from Portugese to web desing. Indeed, if you don’t like it, you can stop but if you are lucky you might just make new friends and have fun :-)

By: The Maiden Metallurgist

The Maiden Metallurgist — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 16:05:16 +0000

Good for you. A few years ago I decided to be more spontaneous, and I started doing little things that I’d normally shy away from. Fast forward and now I’m a newness junkie. Have fun in Tampa!

By: Kat @ The Burb Blog

Kat @ The Burb Blog — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:12:32 +0000

I totally agree with you idea about why younger people have so many jobs. I’ve tried many things and nothing seems right. Or, if it seemed right, I went back to finish school and now I can’t get another position unless I move. Sadly, im settling for a place to live (with my husband). Hopefully the job offer I recieved and accepted last week will be close to perfect and far from settling.

Also, your list inspired me to start my own (http://www.theburbblog.com/Home/tabid/36/EntryID/50/Default.aspx) back in November. You might even notice a few “copied” items that I felt inspired by your list to add to mine. What a great, life changing idea. 3 or 4 of my friends have made lists of their own! Thanks again!

By: Leah

Leah — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 15:08:18 +0000

you know what your Tampa thoughts remind me of? Someday, even if I just do it once, I want to show up at the airport with a small suitcase, talk to ticket counters, and see where I can fly. I’ll bring my passport and just go somewhere with a cheap ticket. I think that would be awesome.

And even more on the Tampa front, you should totally go. Carpe diem ;-) I think you will have great fun, and you’ll also cross one of the more difficult items off your list.

By: Jen

Jen — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 14:10:45 +0000

Ah, how very apropos for my current situation. The thing is, I know exactly what I want to do and should be doing (writing full-time), but I’m not doing it now. I’m “settling” for writing on the weekends and during sporadic moments of clarity during the week. My husband is looking for new jobs, and if he’s making enough, I’m going to start working part-time, which would give me mroe time for writing. I agree with you–there is NOTHING worse than settling.