Comments on: Do What You Want To

By: August Badagry

August Badagry — Sun, 11 Nov 2018 17:15:55 +0000

As I watched, I cried, then laughed, and was smiling by the time the video ended. Last month I saw the quote “Do what you what to do” in a Rolling Stones Magazine feature of Willie Nelson. It struck me in its profound simplicity so much that since then it’s a daily reminder on my phone. Here I see it again.

Yesterday, I decided I was going to leave the line of work I’ve been doing for a very long time, as it’s once again taking a toll on my health. I can’t ignore or grind through it has I have in the past. I don’t have “F-U” money yet, but I do have some “Ouch, that hurts. Let’s stop doing that.” money. I’m still going to take a financial hit and will have to postpone my FI date. I want to be around long enough to enjoy FI, but more importantly, I want to enjoy my today. Thank you THP and commenters. I’m off to do some ridin’

By: altadoc

altadoc — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 17:02:36 +0000

In reply to Christy Bayes. Beautiful and quite poignant. Thank you for sharing

By: TheHappyPhilosopher

TheHappyPhilosopher — Mon, 06 Mar 2017 01:10:55 +0000

In reply to Leslie. I love how you phrased that. I've watched this video so many times over the years I do feel like I have marinated in the spirit of it :)

By: TheHappyPhilosopher

TheHappyPhilosopher — Mon, 06 Mar 2017 01:09:17 +0000

In reply to Curt Morrison, MD, FACC, CFA. Some people did feel this way (if you read the comments after the video) after watching, but I felt like it was just about pure freedom and happiness. I'm curious though, why did seeing someone so happy made you sad? By all accounts it is harder to imagine a more happy person? If doing those things you mentioned made him less happy should he peruse them for the sake of living a life society thinks he should?

By: TheHappyPhilosopher

TheHappyPhilosopher — Mon, 06 Mar 2017 00:55:04 +0000

In reply to Christy Bayes. I love this! Thank you.

By: Tonya@Budget and the Beach

Tonya@Budget and the Beach — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 23:30:59 +0000

This was so good! I needed this today!

By: RTD, CFP

RTD, CFP — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 14:57:34 +0000

“I just want to get to the end of my life, without becoming an asshole again.”

Man, if only we can all find a way to achieve what he has, and then live out that idea.

By: Christy Bayes

Christy Bayes — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 14:41:07 +0000

One more thought; the poem that has haunted me for years and describes how I feel about full time work is called pursuit by Stephen Dobyns. Here are a few lines:
Each thing I do I rush through so I can do

something else. In such a way do the days pass–

a blend of stock cars racing and the never

ending building of a gothic cathedral.

Through the windows of my speeding car, I see

all that I love falling away: books unread,

jokes untold, landscapes unvisited. And why?

What treasure do I expect in my future?

Rather it is the confusion of childhood

loping behind me, the chaos in the mind

That’s how I feel my days go; each thing I do I rush through and the things I love are passing me by.

By: Christy Bayes

Christy Bayes — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 14:33:18 +0000

I also think the terminology he used to describe his prior working life is so interesting. He says he was institutionalized in his prior life. That resonated with me. It’s all about balance. Work is necessary but shouldn’t consume one’s life completely to the exclusion of everything else. He also says he felt like he was back on the farm shoveling piles of manure; which is a repetitive and thankless task. Perhaps if his job had not been so all consuming he would have had more relationships built with others by the end of his life. I get the message; do what you
love and don’t worry about what others think. There are always going to be naysayers. Ignore the naysayers. Our decisions always have consequences and life is about making the decisions we think we can live with. I am in the process of cutting back at work. This means I will have more time to do what I love but will affect me financially. But to me it’s worth it.

By: Curt Morrison, MD, FACC, CFA

Curt Morrison, MD, FACC, CFA — Sat, 04 Mar 2017 16:36:24 +0000

I’m in favor of quitting a job that makes you miserable in order to live a frugal life while pursuing happiness (been there, done that), but this video didn’t inspire me.

Perhaps this is just an incomplete snapshot of the man and doesn’t do justice to the richness of his life, but it gives the impression of an elderly man living out his days alone in a studio apartment. He skates, which is his passion, but apparently he does this morning, noon, and night to the exclusion of just about everything else. It makes me sad.

I’d like to see the sequel which shows a close relationship with his son, and a loving significant other, and perhaps his escapades with buddies in a local skating club who retire to the local pub after a day of skating.