I turn 49 this week and I'm more intellectually curious than ever before. I think there's a few things at work:
1. I'm financially in a good place.
2. I work hard but don't have an all-consuming job. I'm also much more focused on the work around me then looking only upwards towards the next promotion.
3. I've 98% given up the idea of going on to a PhD, which means learning is really fun and only on topics that I find super-interesting.
4. There are a lot of things that I never knew, and feel I should have learned much younger, but now I don't feel any shame in revisiting "first principles"
5. I have a balanced set of interests that are both technical and non-technical, as well as intellectual and physical.
6. I think I'm starting to understand that IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FUN!
3 is interesting. Why have you almost given up on a phd? If you are financially OK, and intellectually curious, would seem like you are in an excellent position to do a Phd on your own terms at your own pace, possibly self-funded so not have to jump through so many hoops and instead focus on the subject? Personally, I still harbour some desire to do a Phd, but not sure if I can be bothered 'cos of having kids and other interests, and like my day job too much.
Comments
I turn 49 this week and I'm more intellectually curious than ever before. I think there's a few things at work:
1. I'm financially in a good place.
2. I work hard but don't have an all-consuming job. I'm also much more focused on the work around me then looking only upwards towards the next promotion.
3. I've 98% given up the idea of going on to a PhD, which means learning is really fun and only on topics that I find super-interesting.
4. There are a lot of things that I never knew, and feel I should have learned much younger, but now I don't feel any shame in revisiting "first principles"
5. I have a balanced set of interests that are both technical and non-technical, as well as intellectual and physical.
6. I think I'm starting to understand that IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE FUN!
3 is interesting. Why have you almost given up on a phd? If you are financially OK, and intellectually curious, would seem like you are in an excellent position to do a Phd on your own terms at your own pace, possibly self-funded so not have to jump through so many hoops and instead focus on the subject? Personally, I still harbour some desire to do a Phd, but not sure if I can be bothered 'cos of having kids and other interests, and like my day job too much.