Leisure vs. Accomplishment

[dougo]

I retook the OKCupid Online Dating Persona Test because it had been over a year since the last time. (I've taken it three times now, and gotten a different result each time.) The following question is something I've been thinking about for a while now, though I had forgotten that this is where I saw it:

Which is more appealing?

• a life of leisure
• a life of accomplishment

I think I'm currently leaning towards accomplishment, but I don't remember what I answered before. A life of accomplishment seems to be the more responsible, admirable, heroic goal. But a life of leisure is also really appealing, especially now that I can afford it (assuming I can find a job at some point, which I'm pretty confident about for the moment). I have already accomplished something by getting a PhD, so maybe I'm entitled to just relax and enjoy the ride from here on out. But my dissertation is not something I'm particularly proud of—it's another in a long line of underachievements. But... maybe that means I'm just not cut out for achievement? And anyway, isn't accomplishment just a means to an end—the end being happiness, which comes with the rewards for accomplishment? I suppose general happiness is different from "a life of leisure", which connotes a certain hedonistic disregard for work. And accomplishment is its own reward, or so we're told. But really I think when it comes down to it, my ideas of leisure and accomplishment aren't contradictory: most of the things I would like to accomplish are both for my own leisure and forms of leisure. Now if only I could get someone to pay me for that!

Comments

[42itous.livejournal.com]

I think that what makes a life feel successful are satisfied memories, and you don't remember the leisure as much as you remember the accomplishments.

For instance, I took a summer off before college. I had a good time, I assume I hung out with friends, but my only memory from that summer is of making a quilt, a quilt that I still use frequently. In contrast, in December 2002 I had four part-time jobs, all doing things I loved to do. I didn't have any days off, or really any unscheduled time (I had Monday mornings off, so I worked in a soup kitchen). I have lots of good memories from that month.

So yeah, I'd definitely prefer a life of accomplishment, as long as my accomplishments are things I enjoy doing.

[dougo.livejournal.com]

I like that perspective, and I suspect you're right that leisure is mostly unmemorable. I probably won't be lying on my deathbed thinking "I sure am glad I watched every episode of 'The Big Bang Theory'". On the other hand, I'm not sure I want to live for the sake of what I'll think on my deathbed.