Defining Decades

Introduction

It has been a long while since I’ve written a blog but I guess I’m on my dopamine detox and I seem to have a lot more energy to do things.

I also must say this book is chock full of interesting information pertaining to my current stage in life. My head has been spiralling non-stop on where to go and although, this book hasn’t answered any of these questions, it has given me a start or a direction to swim in the vast ocean of possibilities.

I know this isn’t a data science book but I’ve had a Data Scientist role for the majority of this year, since February so I haven’t had time nor the mental capacity to work on that.

Reading Guide

Research suggests that 80% of our most defining moments happen in our twenties. What are some defining moments that I hope for myself? All the common things such as having a well-established yet freeing career, a lifelong partner, a capacity to do good for community, exploring the world and understanding myself better.

Work: Identity Capital

The ten pieces of identity capital I have is my Data Science job, my hobby of drawing, my hobby of reading, I know a little japanese, I am very introspective, I enjoy exercising, I like writing, I love nature, when I have a purpose I can work very hard and am single-minded on that goal and I’m very health-oriented.

The three pieces of identity capital I want next are excelling in art, travelling for redefining experiences rather than just tourism, and …

Work: Weak Ties

My five weak ties are Tieran (my art teacher), my coworkers, alma mater alumni, online art community members, …

Why do you think the weak ties helped you learn or get something new? I have no clue, I just know that I could not have gotten my current job if it weren’t from my former manager who I haven’t talked to in four years and my course coordinator for my capstone project who I have only met face-to-face once during an embarassingly underprepared presentation.

Work: The Unthought Known

When you were younger, what did you want to be when you grew up? And what were you good at both in and out of school? Did what you wanted to be overlap what you were good at? When I was younger, I wanted to be many things: chef, writer, mangaka, game developer, actor, football player, engineer, watchmaker, entrepreneur, inventor, etc. I was good at mathematics and science mostly STEM fields and I was abysmal in English and the humanities. As for overlap, it would most likely be engineer or inventor.

Work: The Search for Glory

Imagine live over the next five years, what are those three jars of jam an why? Those three jars of jam are becoming an artist, progressing in my Data Science career, or becoming a monk.

Love

A lot of the author’s advice on love is from the viewpoint of getting relationships in the first place which at this moment of time and forever on isn’t likely. It has made me think of what I want in a partner and the timing of it all but I am powerless to do anything anyways. The “cohabitation effect” was an interesting concept though which stated that living together before getting married has a negative correlation with a happy marriage and usually led to divorce.

Your Brain and Body: Forward Thinking

Is there anything about your life now that you would like not to be doing in five years? Yes but I am doing much better now but they are Social Media reduction (especially YouTube), PMO, maladaptive daydreaming, constant mind chatter, and lack of purpose/direction in the day.

All in all, I have a lot to think about. I love this job I have now but sitting in front of a screen watching agents chat isn’t really speaking to me. I want a stable career but I also want to be good at it and be interested in the end result as well as having a big impact that I can see my work having. Art? I’m not too sure for now.