I’d like to learn what people in their field think of when they see something good or bad when they’re not working.
I’m a health inspector, so when I am sitting at a table as a customer, I’ll watch people while I’m eating (not purposely staring, but having a look around the place). I recently saw someone swipe their finger under their nose then go to the self serve station to touch about 8 different handles before walking away. Thankfully, I was already done eating.
When I have to walk through the kitchen to the toilets, I take mental notes without meaning to.
As a ex-first responder, unconsciously doing an assessment of someone I’m speaking to (or not) and internally noting how nice and juicy their veins are.
What are some things you come across in your daily life and what do they have you thinking about?
I loved music growing up, so I got a degree in Music and went into the record biz. I loved it, but it changed music for me, from something that was fun, to something that was work.
Eventually the record biz collapsed, and we all lost our jobs, and I moved on from music.
Years later, during the pandemic quarantine, I picked up the guitar again, after having dropped it as a college student. Without having to rely on music for a living, I can just enjoy it. There is nothing more satisfying that sitting on the front porch at sunset, looking out over the pond across from my house, watching the birds settle for the evening, and fingerpicking through my favorite songs, in my own arrangements.
Music has become fun again, and has improved my health. By picking up the guitar instead of going to the fridge, my playing improved, and I’ve lost 100 pounds. It has also been amazing for my mental health, giving me sense of pride and confidence for having learned to do something very difficult.
That was the thing with me and cooking. I have had so many people tell me I should start a business, and I have firmly said no every time. I didn’t want a hobby to become a chore, and I may not enjoy doing it anymore. But if I were to bake bread every single day for a few hours a day, the forearm gains, though. 💪
I’m happy to hear that you’ve found your love for music again. I think it is such a huge part of everyone’s lives, whether they like it or not. Even if it’s not singing, language is song it itself. Imagine a language without intonations (I suppose the old computer voice would be this!). How boring would life be.
Yeah, it’s one thing to enjoy something when you are inspired, another when you HAVE to do it for money to pay the bills. It can make work life more tolerable, but it can also suck the fun out of something you love.