It’s not often that I write listicles, because they cater to the content market, rather than this kind of blog. It’s also not often that I use the notebook on my bedside at night to jot down a thought.
There are broadly four kinds of people when it comes to ambitions in life- some of them deplored by society more than others, though unjustly.
The first kind is of people who want a life of abundance or luxury. These are people who are clear that they want in life: money. They will take risks, drag themselves through tough working conditions, and aspire for a grand life. For this, they can compromise on health, friends, etc. They base their life decisions on numbers.
The second kind is of people who have found their inner calling. As this alone might not keep the bulbs on, they resort to a ‘one for the kitchen, one for the soul’ approach. They’ll preferentially take up work that allows them enough time to recuperate through their hobbies/passions. These people too are clear with what they want in life. Sometimes, they will save money for some time and then leave their jobs for something more gratifying. They base their decisions on how passionately they feel about their raison d’être.
The third kind is of people who are like sheep- risk averse and with herd mentality. These people have a wide social network and are dependent on this network to take decisions. They are not the most ambitious of the lot and are able to indulge in the small joys of life. While certainly not a biographer’s delight, their lives have stories of their own. They base their decisions on their understanding of what society is doing at large and follow the same.
The fourth kind is of people who are misfits. They aspire for greatness and despise mediocrity, but at the same time are stuck in life, either due to circumstances, or due to their own indecisiveness. Their aspirations don’t let social bonds develop, and they are unable to partake in the joys of everyday life. These people either end up finding their purpose and passionately following it, or end up with a life of could-have-beens. They base their decisions on impulse (pent up emotions) and careful planning.
Now, while there are these four kinds, there are of course people who seemingly fall outside of these categories. For example, people who earn money while doing things they love. Or people whose inheritance allows them a life of blissful ignorance. Or people who have limitations in life outside their control and they make peace with it. After some careful thought, it should be possible to trace at least a part of their life in the above categories (e.g., a professional singer might have started as a person of second kind).
Unwindings, Unfiltered 