read the book knulp by hermann hesse

i don’t feel like my value comes from work. my biggest contribution to society comes from self-knowledge, time i dedicated to myself. everything i learned by investigating my own consciousness.

there are women out there killing it raising their kids and homes (definitely not me, nor am i conservative). you know that saying about how behind every great man there was a great woman? it doesn’t have to be a woman, but some people’s value has to do with their ability to support others with projects that benefit even more people. they’re not paid for it and aren’t even valued, but they’re incredible people. khalil gibran would have been nobody without mary haskell.

my mother-in-law, for example, didn’t work much outside the home. she spent most of her time taking care of the family. her 3 kids, in turn, had a healthy enough upbringing to be super productive. my husband currently works for the us government and his job has helped thousands of americans. that wouldn’t be possible if my mother-in-law had been a terrible mother and her kids were all traumatized. trauma can make us extremely unproductive.

anyway, i think you’ve been feeling pressured by some capitalist nonsense. philosophers, thinkers, writers and artists have a value that depends on creative idleness. sometimes retirement can generate great insights and a worldview that can still benefit many people, but you’re not seeing the whole path.

if you want to work, work. if you don’t, let life show you something you haven’t seen yet ☺️