[pct-l] Contributing to Common Ground

[Tortoise]

Back in 1961 when I started at Iowa State. the University President (as I 
recall) repeated a motto carved over a doorway in the Student Union --
     We come not to learn to make a living,
     but to learn to live a life.

That is the gist. I may have mangled the words.

Or as others have said -- we don't live to work, we work to live.

Tortoise

Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable
President John F Kennedy,  1962

All content is copyrighted. Reproduction or use elsewhere is is expressly prohibited without the express permission of the author. Use within the PCT-list is permitted.


On 2012.03.10 17:27, David Thibault wrote:
> Hey Miss Information,  Day_Late here -  remember me from '09.
>
> I think this is a great idea but I did have one issue with what you said.
>
>   to quote:
>
> "There
> were times when I felt as if I wasn't contributing to the world around me
> though, and that bothered me. I imagine that there may be people who want
> to undertake a long hike, but may be stopped by a feeling that to do such a
> thing is "too selfish" to justify. "
>
>   All I can say is that if more people started contributing a bit less and
> instead went out and did something to improve who they are the world would
> need many less contributors.
>
> If I hadn't been thru hiking, like you in 2009, I would have been working.
> Works great and all,  but in the grand scheme of things every I do at work
> will end up in the landfill within 20 years.  Spending 5 plus months on the
> PCT (and 5+ on AT too) has transformed me into a better person.  The value
> to me and probably to society as well has been increased by my thru hikes.
>
> We thru hikers should realize that we are soooo lucky and privileged to be
> able to do what we do.  At my workplace I regularly have folks come up to
> me to discuss my ability to take 6 months off and go do something I love.
> With few exceptions most people just can't truly imagine the
> possibilities.  They haven't yet learned what is really important in life.
>
> Day-Late
>
>