Kezurou-Kai #39

Wondering why it is so satisfying. It tells that what you pursue doesn't matter. It can be a wood-planing contest or some silly hobby. What matters is that you are motivated to pursue it. You believe in improving that pursuit, you see others doing the same, you believe it is the social norm, you see that it is valued and respected. And most importantly you feel good about it.

Talk about things like investing in stocks, being known as a great techie or entrepreneur, exiting a great startup, running a venture capital, making a few million, becoming US citizen, having a great home etc. These goals are not bad. Just that they cost more, for the same returns (satisfaction). You are more successful when your happiness doesn't cost you a life-time running around or some herculean effort.

It is all about purpose and hope and expectations. It is why 90% of the satisfaction of a vacation is from the planning. We highly underestimate the mental health benefits of a hobby. They are also a great place to make friends and connect with others, especially as we get older. People deep in a hobby will gladly spend hours helping n00bs and will talk your ear off about all the ins and outs. There are also lots of hobbies that have almost no barrier to entry, just the willingness to try something new.

We'd all be a lot happier if we spent more time on a hobby and less time streaming shows.

These guys aren't privileged ruling class elites. They have no skills and paths and connections needed to see successes in such ventures. I actually think that is how China now has "football fields full of engineers", the competitive environment in Far East regions had been so over the top that qualities that should make somebody cream of the crop globally only float them halfway down the mug locally.

you're stating that vacation planning is 90% of the pleasure as a truism???

Yeah that indicates more about posters personality, especially since it’s phrased as a universal.

I’m more of a wing-it-but-have-a-backup-list kind of vacationer, planning is literally the least fun part for me.

edit the rest of what he says resonates with me though

I have taken up woodworking last year(so I am a super beginner), and in summary it nourishes my mind and soul in ways that tech world keeps failing to. Instead of getting instant gratification of buying things on Amazon, I spend weeks to build one item, and that item brings me unparalleled satisfaction, trains my patience, concentration, and unlike coding which does check some of above boxes it pulls me away from my computer which is responsible for half a dozen of my bad habits. In a way it takes me back to era before content overload, consumerism, and capitalism.

I know that this very vague but there is a lot that is coursing through my head as I’m reading your question. I am happy to answer any more specific questions. I also took up couple (black)smithing projects and they are very satisfying as well, just harder to start with.