How Will You Feel?

If you were to go 20 years into the future and look back at yourself today would you be happy with what you've accomplishes? Would you be willing to say "I've made a difference in the world"? Can you look at your life right now and say that you've helped your fellow man even if it's in the smallest of ways?

Right now I don't feel I've accomplished much in life, but I do feel I've helped my fellow man by working in a soup kitchen before and also just by helping out the homeless even if i only have a dollar to give them.

Do I wish I could do more? Yes. Can I do more? Yes. Will I do more? You bet your ass I will. Which is why after culinary school and after I have a steady income I plan on opening a soup kitchen. I want my life to be remembered not just as "the guy who cooks" but as "the guy who cooks and helps those less fortunate"

I'll probably be dead from all the yay, booze, and bitches. Some people aren't capable of changing the world, and I aim to be someone who just doesn't give a shit. There is always someone to take my place, always someone who can and will do it better than me; so I'm going to sit here and enjoy myself to the best of my abilities, whether it be sitting on my ass or getting out there and changing the world. I'm not going to do it because someone else needs it, though. I'm going to do it because I want to, because it makes me happy.

To answer some of the questions, though: I've accomplished stuff in my life I'm happy about. Stuff I'm proud of. There are things in my life that I've pondered about, "did I do the right thing?" I know I've done things I shouldn't have. But I do know I've made a difference in the world, no matter how small it is. I've donated time and money to the less fortunate, I've spent time with the lonely and depressed. I've saved lives. I may sound cocky saying that, but I can't deny that I have been there for people who needed me in the moment. Some of those people more than once.

Looking towards the future, I'm plagued with thoughts and doubts about what I want to do for myself; I'm at a huge loss. What do I enjoy? I'm still trying to figure that out. I've got too many interests to be able to tame them all in one life. It keeps me up some nights, because it's really a shame no one can do everything they want in life. I've given up on some plans, and mulled others through. It's just a matter of being decisive, which I am not. I suppose you could just say I'm scared of wasting my life, and for that, I'm somewhat of a bitch. In the end, the only person who can say whether I've wasted it or not is me.

At the moment, I wouldn't be entirely satisfied with what I've done for my fellow man. Sure, I give a homeless guy a dollar every now and then... But anything significant, no. Actually, I'm more inclined to say that I've led a rather selfish life thus far. I mean, I'm great to my friends and I lavish my family and loved ones in affection, but often times there is an ulterior motive. I want people to like me because it makes me feel better about myself.

And if I look back on each day, I never really feel like I've done anything significant. The greatest accomplishment in my life thus far is probably climbing Mount McKinley, but who did that help? Who will remember that when I'm gone? Others have done it, and many more will. Hell, I won't even get my name written down in a book for that.

However, I am in a great school (University of Chicago) and I have plans to big things with my life. But what will that be? Even if I become successful in life, even if I make a million dollars (not that much anymore...) will anyone other than my family and friends remember that? I don't mean to say I wan't fame and fortune, but I want at least one stranger in the world to say "Remember him? Remember that great thing he did?".

In society, we live on through our legacy and in the memories of others. I don't want to fade into nothing, I want to live on forever, even if its only in the memory of a single stranger. Maybe that one stranger will tell their child about something I did, and maybe that will influence the kid to make something of themselves, to make a better world.

Maybe even now I'm being selfish, wanting to be remembered. I don't know...

Simply, no, I wouldn't be satisfied with what I've done whatsoever.

[12:36:40 AM] Space: i swear to god
[12:36:45 AM] Space: people are not answering tha thread
[12:36:53 AM] Space: because they don't know how to take long seriously
[12:36:56 AM] Space: and it's a fucking shame
[12:37:13 AM] Space: because i've come to respect some of his threads more and mroe
[12:37:18 AM] Space: this is like my fave

I think it's also because people don't wanna look at themselves as they are right now. Some may feel shame or some may realize that they haven't done much for their lives or the lives of others and that is hard to admit. It's hard to feel like a human when so many of us act like animals or the most primitive of creatures thinking only about our own well being never the well being of everyone. In the animal kingdom it's survival of the fittest but that is what separates us from animals that is why we are human so we can learn to live with one another and help one another.

I've always had a nagging in the back of my head, that feeling that i was born to do something great. I've always felt like i didn't want to be a part of the norm. I wanted to be remembered by somebody other than my friends or family, to be an Einstein or Martin Luther King of my age. But alas im just an idealist, separateing myself to achieve something extraordinary is just a fallacy of imagination. Needles to say who knows, perhaps i might to something that changes the world in the future. But right now im happy where i stand and what im doing.

As to looking to the past and future i have a very strong view on this philosophy. It can be summed up by this quote, “Here we are, trapped in the amber of the moment. There is no why or if.”

Also Long have you watched this video?

Of course I wouldn't and I don't really care.
I guess I'm as selfish as the next guy for wanting a career of something I enjoy doing, but at this moment in time it's just rudimentary. Am I happy? No, but I'm not really disappointed either. I am happy about the fact that I didn't continue to study a subject because I only wanted the money that would come from that field, but instead chose to go and study what I love.
I don't know if I'm ever going to change the world (even significantly), but I don't really care if I do. If I happen to do so by mistake/chance, then so be it.

I think I wouldn't be too proud of my accomplishments right now, but I'd be proud of myself for taking a risk and following my dreams instead of letting myself be shunted off into a money-making career I'd be seriously unhappy with. Going back to school for an unrelated course is always a risk, but I think it is worth it for me.

I do feel like I have made a difference in some people's lives. I used to tutor disadvantaged students--those who the system had given up on--and help them get through their pre-college requirements. It was always wonderful to see the concepts finally clicking for them, and I always made sure to let them know that I--that all of us at the department I worked at--had not given up on them and truly wanted them to succeed. If I would be proud of anything, it would be the time I spent in that department.

I'm most certainly not the best of persons, I've done a shitload of things I wish I hadn't. But, if I were to look back on all of it I don't think I'd regret it. After all, it's are actions that make us who we are, and if I hadn't done any of thous things I wouldn't be who I am today. I don't really think I've made a difference in the world, maybe to some people, but not to the world as a whole. However, it is enough for me to know that when I die someone, somewhere, will remember me for the little good I did. Someday I suppose I might go on to do great things, maybe even amazing things, but that day isn't today, and it probably wont be in 20 years ether.

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Props to Long for a great thread. It's been awhile since a SD post has perked my interest.

I haven't accomplished much at all, and are basically nothing more than a selfish bum. Sure even I give some cash to the homeless from time to time, and sure I've worked with raising money for humanitarian aid organizations, but did I do it to help? No, I did it because it was a job like any other. Have I really done anything to make a difference in the world, even a small one? I can't say that I have.

I comfort myself with the thought that I am still young, I will have time to go out into the real world to do great things later on, but even so I just keep on procrastinating. I see friends growing up, doing those great things that we were dreaming about in High School, they get jobs and they move to distant places to have a better chance at careers, they get engaged and already starts to plan for future as a family man; And what do I do? I go to college studying things that won't get me anywhere, just so I can procrastinate getting a real job and finally growing up just a lil' bit longer. I do nothing.

I don't really have any dreams of wealth and fame, that have never really attracted me, I just wish I can find something I can do and still be happy doing it and that in 20 years I'll be able to look back and say: "Yeah, I might not have changed the world, but I don't care, I'm fucking happy with my life."

Wise words there, Chlor.

Yes I actually watched it on CNN. That's kind of how I wanna be.

Absolutely not. I know I can do better, but I just don't have the motivation to go and do it.

Right now? I definitely could use some improvement on myself right now. I wouldn't say I would be completely disappointed. But I'm sure I would be upset with how much time and money I've wasted on what I see now was stupid shit.

I always would be disappointed with how little I've written recently considering it one of my major goals in life to be an accomplished writer.

But most people would probably feel the same way around the same age I am. Unless they are like, a fucking CEO or some shit like that.

As my current self i would've been disgusted by myself. Even so, i know three people who was doing self-injuring, and (this might sound a little big ego like) i helped them from it. They was down in the gutter, on the edge of suicide. But then someone cared for them; i introduced them to my friends, gave them a meaning to live. Giving them a new start.

But when it comes to poverty and hunger, i see myself as a egoistic fuck; that does not care for those who live poor. I would've been disgusted by my self, even though i've saved three people; there are a thousand more i can save by just giving away 100 NOK (16 dollars).

20 years from now? Fuck that. I'm pissed at the me from 20 years ago. I would beat my own ass from back then if I could.Past me may be beyond my reach, but future me will pay!

If you don't mind me expanding a bit, what are some things you are proud of in your life? (This is aimed at everyone.) What are some things you wish you hadn't done? Until now, it's just been Q&A with OP, but I'd like to hear more from people and actually open this into a discussion.

Anyone who doesn't want to answer doesn't have to obviously, but I answered expecting other people to want to discuss this stuff, not to just dump here like a diary.

I also don't find it wrong for people to want to be selfish with how they live. *fifteen minute pause* I forgot where I was going with this, sorry. I was distracted. Anyways, I don't mind being asked more.

Probably look back and see an immature little shit that doesn't know how to properly value his family. The things that I feel I've accomplished really don't make any significant difference in anyone's life but mine, and carry little relevance to others.

I'd see a little punk that was too unmotivated to reach half of half potential and wiled away his hours with overly-trivial pursuits.

To answer yours and the OP questions, and right now, I don't think I'm able to judge the me now with the me that I'll be in 20 years. Who knows if our standards of "right" and "wrong", if the concept of individualism in general will not have changed drastically in some way or another in 20 years...I honestly hope it does, in favor of a bit less individualist society.

But anyway, seeing how this is a hypothetical case, if I were to look I would say I haven't done enough at all. I do not regret anything I did to help people around me, and I know my dad and I once saved a man who went through a window door (his femoral artery was cut by the glass, and if my dad didn't hold his tigh in a garrot with his hands, the man would have probably died of blood loss -as for me I was 11 so all I could do is run around following my dad's orders about who to call and what to do-).

But a part from those little facts and events we all, at some point or another, take part in, I would also like to act on a bigger scale. Ultimately, and I chose to study law for that reason, I would like to be one of the millions of persons working to keep this world at peace, improve human rights enforcement, and guarantee a standard of living.

I can see however, how this can be a sacrifice, and many of us aren't willing to give up comfort and peace of mind to plunge into someone else's problems.



With all my respect, I strongly disagree, not on the fact that you will or will not do it, which I have no right to judge, but on the fact that you would do it only for it makes you happy. But in the end and in the case where you do get out there and change the world, what would make you happy is the fact that the world needed changes, and you were part of it. Would you change the world if you were the only one to think it needed changes? I think you would need to feel compassion, not only for yourself, but also for others, while they would also be some sort of support. It's my opinion, and this is strongly influenced by my philosophical "beliefs".

People have plenty of reasons to help others, they feel the need for it or wish to feel good helping others. I think that's where lies the difference between compassion and pity. I will be satisfied only if, when looking back , I know that I acted with compassion, and not pity.

I could go for hours on this topic, but this is already such a long text, but as Space said, I really wish this will be a real debate, and not just a list of personal opinions.

I can't say... Maybe I won't like it, maybe I'll be dead, maybe I won't care. Who knows? But the fact remains that no matter what we do, we can always do more. Is it the right thing to do? Yes. Is it easy? No. Is it feasible? No. However, I do hope to one day be a pioneering scientist on a Mission to another world, prefferably Mars. The mission will probably be one with no return, but it would be an honor to at least do something big for mankind. I think everyone can find some thing, one thing that will better mankind that they can work towards. I've found it. Will I achieve it? In the future, will I be able to look back and be happy? Who knows. I'll tell you when I get there. (Here's to hoping Fakku is here in 20 years!)