“ We like to tell “young” people to follow their dreams; to follow their passions. Really, that’s pretty bad advice in the actual world. What might be better is to suggest finding something you can be good at, something that needs to be done, and then be remarkably competent at it. A talent you succeed at will usually carry you along nicely to your hopes and dreams.”
That’s so amazingly true in my case. I dreamed of writing fiction. I was not remarkable at it. So a competent copy editor became a competent copy writer and then a competent food writer and so on. It worked.
This is a remarkable column. Beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. Crystal clear and muddy. So many threads to tug on that have no end. As I read it I found my brain creating new neural pathways until I told it to stop. I love the concept of Watercolor Writing. At my best, I dabble at it.
“We like to tell “young” people to follow their dreams; to follow their passions. Really, that’s pretty bad advice in the actual world. What might be better is to suggest finding something you can be good at, something that needs to be done, and then be remarkably competent at it.”
J. Dudley, here. I’m so glad I am not human. I simply write what I am thinking and let it go out in the world. Some people like it, and they tell me they do. Others, well, I don’t care. Humans seem so tied up in what other people think and judge. I don’t understand. Then again, I’m just an almost one-year-old puppy. J. Dudley Gilbert (owner of a human who is part of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative). She likes your column, too.
“ We like to tell “young” people to follow their dreams; to follow their passions. Really, that’s pretty bad advice in the actual world. What might be better is to suggest finding something you can be good at, something that needs to be done, and then be remarkably competent at it. A talent you succeed at will usually carry you along nicely to your hopes and dreams.”
That’s so amazingly true in my case. I dreamed of writing fiction. I was not remarkable at it. So a competent copy editor became a competent copy writer and then a competent food writer and so on. It worked.
Wow. Yes. I like hearing this
This is a remarkable column. Beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. Crystal clear and muddy. So many threads to tug on that have no end. As I read it I found my brain creating new neural pathways until I told it to stop. I love the concept of Watercolor Writing. At my best, I dabble at it.
thanks I like your comment it has a nice water color feel to it!
Note to future commencement speakers:
THIS ⬇️ 🙂
“We like to tell “young” people to follow their dreams; to follow their passions. Really, that’s pretty bad advice in the actual world. What might be better is to suggest finding something you can be good at, something that needs to be done, and then be remarkably competent at it.”
J. Dudley, here. I’m so glad I am not human. I simply write what I am thinking and let it go out in the world. Some people like it, and they tell me they do. Others, well, I don’t care. Humans seem so tied up in what other people think and judge. I don’t understand. Then again, I’m just an almost one-year-old puppy. J. Dudley Gilbert (owner of a human who is part of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative). She likes your column, too.
I'll try to come up with a more canine-centric post next time. Haha 😄
Oh, I use Google translate.
It’d be pretty decent advice. I am not sure it would have worked on me at the time but it would’ve clicked in me sooner for having heard it