98. ALAN WATTS: What if money was no object?
Alan Watts (1915-1973) was an English philosopher and writer who played a large part in popularising Zen Buddhism in the west. He gained a wide following after moving to the United States where he published numerous books on Zen and Eastern philosophy. During the 60s and 70s he toured extensively on the college lecture circuit and became a celebrity among the growing youth movement. Watts had over 25 books published and recorded over 400 lectures, many of which have found a new audience on YouTube.
This is another example of my readers educating me. I had never heard of Alan Watts before so thanks to everyone who suggested I look into him and adapt one of his quotes.
– Watch the great YouTube video this quote was taken from.
– There’s a ton of Alan Watts stuff on YouTube, some of his lectures have even been animated by Trey Parker and Matt Stone.
– You can also get an Alan Watts app for the iPhone containing all his lectures.
– The official Alan Watts website.
– I’m finally on Google+, check out the new Zen Pencils page.
Discussion (433) ¬
I LOVE Alan Watts. This is a great quote and an excellent comic. I highly anticipate your new piece every week, this was a great one to kick off the new year. May you have a prosperous year, thanks for doing what you do!
This comic is actually my first direct exposure to Allen Watts, though I’ve encountered his teachings indirectly for years.
Maybe I should pick up a biography; seems like it would be a great read.
One of the things I’m thankful for is that I actually enjoy working with computers and technology. As long I’m careful about the kind of work environments I pick, I can do what I love and money is rarely an issue. I not only get to face interesting technical challenges, I also get to challenge myself in my ability to communicate. Sure, my coworkers are interesting and respectful, but we still disagree on stuff all the time.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, not all “office” jobs are dreary cubicles where you turn your brain off.
Heh. Acronym buddy.
I like that panel because I think it’s more a Rorschach test than you’d first think. It’s a cubicle, but that outfit is so a fast food uniform. One of the classier ones, like Sbux or something, but still.
I think if you take this lecture, and add to it Neil Gaiman’s commencement speech, and you’ve got a good compass. Just because there’s a computer, indeed, doesn’t mean the job is terrible if you like what you’re doing. My nephew wants to be an accountant. I would *die*, he thinks playing with math all day is amazing. And not all of us have the privilege of being a white north american healthy man in the seventies to become a Buddhist monk and survive by giving lectures. (And I love Alan Watts, but he reeks of privilege sometimes) But as long as where you’re going is *closer* to where you want to be, as long as you never give up on getting there, you’re going the right way. It doesn’t have to be a binary choice, you know? I think, anyway.
Gavin, your site has started making me want to cry. I think you’re sending me a message that it’s time for a change — maybe well past time for it.
Keep doing what you’re doing. And stay on the journey you’re on.
Great quote, and beautifully interpreted as usual.
The story starts of beautifully, then ends up where it began…exchanging one’s time for a fee. Surely the whole premise is that a life well lived is not correlated with “making a living”. We can all survive very well in simple homes, eating humble foods…perhaps sharing our knowledge and passions with others for love of it?
Lindsay – I don’t think the point is not to work; the point is to make sure the work you are doing is what you love doing.
Love it!
This really struck me. Beautiful work as usual but this one…made my soul burn
Gavin, first off, you’re amazing. Yes, “me and Jesus made sweet love” amazing. I’ve been a fan of your site for a long time now. But seeing the bit about Google+, reminded me a quote from a great man: “I’m constantly checking my phone, whether it be my email, Facebook or Twitter (I don’t think I could handle anymore, like Pinterest, Instagram or Google+), and it’s my security blanket when I’m alone in public. This can’t be good.”
I know I know, I’ve got quite a few requests to join Google+ and I always like interacting with readers. Everything in moderation 🙂
Such a cool comic and quote. I’ve got some googling to do do on Alan Watts now, thanks! Oh btw, I think you have the South Park guys last names reversed. You have, Trey Stone and Matt Parker and I think it’s the Matt Stone and Trey Parker. Anyways, love the comics!
Fixed that error, what an idiot 🙂
Trey Stone? You must have been tres stoned.
Wow. It’s insane just how much this comic and quote hit home for me right now. Great post, especially early on in the new year.
Amazing work, as always!
We have included a video edit of this quote in our curated creativity & inspiration video blog. Keep up it up!
OK, this made me cry, It’s perfect Gavin, I identify with it, totally. Thank you so much!
You know, this comic has me thinking about my decision to go to the college that I’m currently attended. Academically renowned, but I don’t enjoy the hard sciences and I have no time left for what I do enjoy – reading and writing. Maybe it’s time to rethink some decisions.
I think that you may be right. But, if you enjoy the long-term goal that studying those sciences will give you, then it’s worth it. What this comic is talking about relates more to long-term living, not short term. University is a short-term thing. You know that it will end. However, what you choose to do with the knowledge you gain…long-term life choices is what he is actually commenting on. It’s like going to the gym. Nobody really enjoys the pain, but in the long-term it’s good for you and you will reap the harvest of what you sowed into. Life is full of challenges and pain, but if the end result satisfies what we are pushing for, then it’s worth it. If the end result doesn’t, then it’s time to rethink things.
University is best used for something you enjoy, in my not so humble opinion. Its the opportunity to study in depth to answer curiosity that matters more than being qualified for a job. Earning enough to live simply without debt whilst doing work that has meaning is what matters at the end of life. Doing meaningful work that you also enjoy in itself is the icing on the cake. Money can pay for some things, but it won’t get you happiness in itself.
Can you use what you have already learnt to write to earn? Journalism, technical books, school books make much more money than academic books and they give you the chance to help others learn. Look at the Horrible Histories (funny books for British schoolchildren), I have a feeling that science has had a similar treatment but there is always room for innovation.
Is it early enough in your studies to change courses? I tell my kids to do their best for themselves, only they know what really makes them happy. Good luck.
Awesome story! Really inspiring!
welcome back Gav.
Happy new year.
Of course, I have to watch out for falling into the trap that last week’s comic depicts!
Contradictory huh? … LOL!
First off, I just stumbled over your blog and I love it. Sometimes I think that I got the meaning of a quote by just reading it, but that’s not always true. By adding pictures and a story to the quote, it’s easier for me to understand it on a deeper level and to keep it in mind in the daily life. So thanks a lot for that, I really enjoy your style and overall work!
To your post: I am exactly at that point in my life where I have to decide which profession to choose. It’s not hard to know what you want – but to clearly identify the reasons why you want it is challenging. Sometimes you realize only after you accomplished something that you actually did it for others (to earn their acceptance and admiration) and not for yourself, but in the beginnging it felt like you really wanted it.
AWESOME, Gav!
I would totally buy this print.
I think I would too 😀
Then just DO IT. That’s the way the artist will live with his art.
I would also buy a print if possible. Love it!
I keep checking back to check if it is available yet. Please. Please make it so! Even if it is just in a format that I could take and get printed. I dream about this being on a long silk style banner hanging down my wall.
This is quite interesting – the fact that eventually you get to do what you want and then money comes to you.
Hi Gavin what a FANTASTIC cartoon to start the year!! I think it’s one of my favourites. The message is so true, I sure have done my fair share of jobs for money which I’ve hated. Fortunately I’ve had some inspiring jobs too! Like working for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. These days I’m chasing my cartooning, writing and illustration interests.
I’d like to say a special thank you, to you Gavin, for helping to inspire me to get off my butt and start my own weekly cartoon blog (mainly single panels about life). I started it last year about 7 months after you started Zen Pencils.
I’m inspired by my small audience of readers and I am inspired to create good art!! Most importantly I am loving doing what I love to do which is hopefully make people laugh. Feel free to check it out lifeascartoons.weebly.com
Thanks again
Sonya
Is the 3rd from last pane supposed to say “feel” in “and then you’ll be able to get a good fee for whatever it is.”
Still a great quote 🙂
No, fee as in people paying you to teach it to them, ergo riding school.
Awesome comic Gav! This is exactly what I appreciate about you. You went out of your way and did what you wanted to…… 🙂
this is it, thank you once more 🙂
But, what about us, those sad, sad excuses for human beings who can’t even answer the question?
All my life i’ve been trying to figure this out, and i can’t find my answer, and i feel like i’m running out of time, working in something that gives me no satisfaction but pays the bills. It depresses the hell out of me =/
The blog is great, btw, went through the whole archives and enjoyed it a lot.
Try everything. If you walk past an art shop and see some canvas or paints on sale go in and buy them. Go home and paint. If you don’t like it do something else. When you see an awesome dish on TV try to make it on your own if it sucks throw it away and order Pizza. Trying is the only way.
I love your name XD
And yeah, go for it Jack!
I have that problem.. recently figured out that it’s because I want to do everything. I can’t focus! I’m about to start a new job, and as I’ve been packing, I’ve found art supplies, language books, journals (a.k.a. tiny novel segments), various musical instruments… And I want to do ALL of it!
OH MY GOD. I SEE A FIGHT CLUB REFERENCE.
OH MY GOD. I SEE A FIGHT CLUB REFERENCE.
Lovely quote, lovely comic! The part about “better to have a short life” made me a bit sad though… one of the reasons I feel intense pressure to stay in a corporate job (that I don’t dislike, but isn’t my passion) is the health insurance, which I can’t do without and can’t afford as an individual. Many people, especially in the US, might literally have a shorter life if they did not “do things [they] don’t like in order to keep living”.
That’s why I prefer the Bukowski quote on “Air and light”, personally.
So I recently found your blog while stumbling through StumbleUpon & I just love the comics & quotes you do. I even made your blog my home page so I can be refreshed with some wise words every now & then. I was so pleased to see you did a comic on Alan Watts. I recently discovered him a few months back & I’ve been in love with him since. I’m currently reading “Become Who You Are” by him, a lot of people suggested its a good starter book for him, I suggest it as well to you if you gain further interest. His philosphy on “Nothingness” is wonderful too.
Great comics, really, please continue!
Make that girl a brunette and that girl is me in the wheel of office work. It’s not fun, believe me.
Wow, I just discovered your site (thanks to a blog post on io9 featuring a wonderful comic/quote with Walt Whitman’s words) and I’m instantly greeted with an equally great comic/quote featuring my all-time favorite philosopher! I have quite a number of the best Alan Watts clips and lectures gathered on my the Youtubes channel:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6F3AC2A90A026ED8&feature=mh_lolz
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7gB0IA1jXx49aApqJWKDR5knzOuO7Hcg&feature=mh_lolz
Favorite clips include, “What Is It To See?”; “Life is a Dance”; and “The Way of Waking Up”. And here are two seasons of a television series he did back in the late ’50s/early ’60s (in order):
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7gB0IA1jXx5S24hnFT1j9CF_ou-4x9As&feature=mh_lolz
If you ever plan on doing another Watts comic, let me know! I’ve got a few choice quotes of his (they’re endless, really).
And now, off to the archives!
great comic eagerly waiting for the next one!!
Tranlated and adapted the comic book to Portuguese, and if you allow, I’m spreading it. An orientation like this should reach as many people as possible.
I am starting my journey to do what I love this year. Starting with baby steps, but moving toward my ultimate goal. But I only feel comfortable doing this because I got a low six-figure inheritance from my grandfather, and so I don’t worry about making enough money to do it. Then again, two of my cousins did crazy things and pursued their dreams last year, even without money on which to fall back, and it worked out well for them.
Anyway, it’s time to take my life back from mediocrity and do what I want to do, and your comics have been part of the inspiration for me.
Better to use your inheritance on doing what you love than frivolous things. Sounds like you’re doing it right.
Been following you for a while Gav, I love your work! I have heard this quote before but in this context it especially hits home. I studied astrophysics in my undergraduate and as much as I loved learning about it I couldnt really see myself in the field. The more I think about it the more I want to make a living doing what I love, climbing, backpacking, and mountaineering. This comic made me tingle all over, affirming that I need to take a leap of faith and do what I love.
Thank you Gav
inspiring… as always!
I do agree completely!
Wow. This comic is so relevant to me right now you wouldn’t even know. After getting back from SacAnime and meeting Kyle Hebert, Maile Flannigan, and Liam O’Brien, I have dropped my meh plan of becoming a police officer, follow in the old man’s footsteps, and am chasing my dream of becoming a voice actor. Then this gem appears in my inbox. Thank you so much, Gav.
Kickin’ logic to the curb to do the impossible!
Thanks everyone, I know it’s especially hard today where people are just grateful to have a steady job and support their family. I’m pretty lucky to have made my leap of faith in Australia, where the economy is stable compared to the rest of the world.
Brilliant comics! I keep saying your works gets me every time and this one’s the most striking yet. I keep saying the completely exact words of what your set of students said. I was able to merge my being into this comic since I think and feel the same way. Very reflective and effective comic you got here. Kudos to you Gav, you’ve got yourself a big fan here
I’ve been following your work for a good while now and I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your brilliant illustrations and your ability to convey such meaningful and powerful thoughts in such an accessible manner. I have really, truly thought about every one of your entries, and I believe it has made me a happier, healthier, and stronger person. I have told many of my friends about your site and I am always so stoked when you have a new post up. Thank you, and please keep doing what you are doing.
Crying now. Alan Watts–and this comics–somehow solved all my life problems.
Thank you for this !
This is important question for people who need to choose their college/uni. I wanted to study languages because that’s something I really liked. People were like what are you doing, that’s pointless etc. But I’ve decided to follow my dream and let’s see how that will turn out! Thank you for this comic. I love it!
LOVE this.
Seriously.
I want to write, and writing’s exactly what I’m doing. But I have to admit, I still get caught up in the money mindset sometimes. After all, those bills need to be paid if I want to keep a roof over my head…
Wow. Love this quote and the way you created a visual scenario, which then gave the words more meaning 🙂
The last line hits so hard.
Ha, that reminds me very much of something I’ve always said: http://www.annaspysz.com/about
Thanks! That’s pretty much the same way of thinking that made me leave my stable and secure job in 2012 and thrust into the unknown. Discovered the talent to voice act instead of teaching people (which was my specialty), now I remember with deep relief the times when I was getting up in the morning with “hope the workday ends soon” thoughts.
Great story. Remind me when I was coming to university, I just wanted to pursue thing that I love. You really give my motivation back. Thanks.
I try and hold back the tears of joy because this strikes me right in the heart again and again. Thank you so much and keep up the beautiful accessible comics!
Nailing down that desire is often not easy. I have been working on that for a long long time. I think I am on the right path now, but who knows?
Keep up the good work.
When I first discovered your blog I was instantly hooked, though even before that I was hooked on Alan Watts. I have listened to already many of his lectures and I am currently reading one of his books. I always have checked your blog every day just to read the latest comic again. So when I got on this morning to see two of my favorite things mixed together I was so enthusiastic I screamed. I want to thank you, I literally have been waiting a very long time (the first time visited your blog i immediately went to your facebook page and submitted an Alan Watts quote lol) to see this happen :D.
Love this. As someone following a creative path and with interests that may not always correlate directly to ‘sustainable employment’, I really like this message.
I’m actually in quite a dilemma with this. I love it, no doubt, it speaks to me like many of other similar quotes.
But right now I’m really just trying to maybe for the first time in my young life to be diligently devoted to work hard to achieving something. Meaning getting my college degree in social economics.
However much I’d like to work in a field that allows me to create more social justice and fight poverty, studying all the meaningless crap as it were in some subjects just doesn’t “itch” me, really.
I’m much more passionat about sciences like pyhsics (which I’m also taking a class in) and also doing extreme sports in foreign places, travelling and meeting locals learning about our planet and the different people.
But I just figure it’s not right to drop out and do that, I’ve got 2 years left till I have my degree and then I’ll do whatever the heck itches me. Unless, and that’s also one to consider, it get married first. I mean I’d look for someone who’s into travelling as well, but with kids and everything it doesn’t seem so reasonable to go ice-climbing, or learn base-jumping.
Anyone got some advice?
PS:
Thanks for the great comic gav, maybe it was the long break, but I just appreciated it more than the last ones.
Good to hear Charles, although you’re thinking about marriage and you haven’t met the girl yet?
Well, considering marriage is where I’d ideally have a relation go, it is something that I take into account. I’m done playing around in this area.
However you are right, before something definite emerges, it is too early to take it into account with present decisions.
I think I’m probably worrying too much anyway, I should be even more thankful for everthing that I do have. That always puts things into a more proper perspective
Awesome quote with an awesome comic, really well done! May I ask, where do you find all your wonderful quotes or inspirations?
As I said, my translation and adaptation to Portuguese: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10200417711864255.2206872.1199809835&type=3
Link not working Emilio 🙁 don’t have permission
I’ve just gone through all your arts. Great job man, one of the most precious corners of the internet. Wish you all the best, that’s awesome that you find yourself in doing it, please never stop
Going through the comments, I’m really surprised to see how many people feel the same way as I do. World travel seems to feature on a lot of lists haha. Here in India, a degree in engineering is the status quo for most middle class kids who are bright enough to crack the entrance exam (there are a lot of them). It is because it is considered one of the ‘safest’ things to do. You graduate, take a course in management, get a job and you’re set! Changes are happening in the way people think about careers but engg./med is still pretty much predominant. Right now, I am preparing for my school leaving exams and still really confused about what to study in college. I’d never really given serious thought to anything in this regard and just passively, meekly accepted a path in life. Now I feel like I was blind to and oblivious about so many things in the world. But I know this, I’m going to try my hand at a lot of things in college including – theatre, photography, writing and experimental physics! I’m open to a career in both academics and arts now! 😀
Yay!
Right Anmol ! 🙂
Gavin’s art is so inspiring and beautiful !
You’ve to trust your gut feeling, believe in yourself,
coz the world will make you feel like an idiot, a good-for-nothing person,
but you must believe, what you feel, deep down.
Believe in your insanity, coz later you’ll realise it was your genius.
And yes, have fun at college, make the most of the cultural activities !
Be creative.
I’m in my final year of engineering so i can understand what you fee 😉
Feel free to contact 🙂
Thanks to you I now know who Alan Watts is. I knew about some of his teachings from a professor but never really knew where he got it from.
I’m actually reading all this year so hard in order to pass the exams so I’ll get to go to college and after this I’m just sitting here crying myself out. this quote hit me pretty bad!
You can still live life your way, it’s never too late 🙂
We all have been, at times, most of the times, been sucked by the giant force of rat race, but if this quote made you feel ‘something’, then it’s great.
It’s nice.
Do not regret the past, just live ‘now’ the way you want.
And what you’ve learnt for you exams,
you’ll find some good use of that !
One of the challenges people face with following this advice is that our society is structured in a way to discourage it at the fundamental level. “Doing what you want to do” is considered a reward for having sacrificed the majority of your life to something you don’t want to do. Therefore, from birth, people grow up surrounded by a societal structure that strongly interferes with them deciding to go do what they want now, rather than after fifty years of running inside a hamster wheel.
Some people are fortunate – not because they were already born into wealth, but because they have parents who have already bucked society’s conditioning and helped put their child into a position to be able to more easily choose to do what they really want with their life.
Even so, doing what you actually want to do is more possible than many ever believe it is – but it’s not pain free. Because society is built against allowing you to do what you want, and really need, you’re going to be treating society like the enemy to a degree. You’re going to face resistance and backlash both from impersonal social structures, and from people who do not like it when others rock the boat. People can be come surprisingly aggressive when someone comes along and demonstrates to them that their world is not flat. I was once told “Do what you want to do, even if you have to live under a bridge”. We are currently, in general, conditioned to feel that as soon as we become adults our life path is already largely mapped out for us. We are told, even if not in these terms, we are prisoners already. We are expected to have a “career”. To start a family. Buy a house. Become “something”. Think about that. In this society “making something of yourself” means following a rather narrow set of pre-scripted choices that by and large, leave you with little freedom even if you outwardly look like a “success”.
Going off on your own is hard, scary, and you will often find little support or understanding from society at large. It can be especially brutal if your birth family is incapable of understanding and attempts to exert control to “put you on the right path”. Doing what you really want requires a level of independence and often bravery. You may have to walk out on people who don’t understand. You may have to find a new “family” – people who get it, and can offer real assistance to you. Help you take the path you actually want (and need) to take.
Well said Mori 🙂
Thanks for your insight.
Don’t agree with all of it. But I liked the paragraph about the parents.
And in my experience, one can slowly and with great patience influence the people around oneself. Sometimes to change their view on something, sometimes to change one own’s view of something (which I as many others don’t like doing as much, but is equally important) or at least get them to accept that you believe something reasonable.
I agree !!
“. Doing what you really want requires a level of independence and often bravery. ”
well said.
Maybe if we can strike a balance, we get to live life our way.
We can be revolutionaries too, but that’s like fighting, and taking the plunge, or we can just nibble on our passions.
eh…easy to say…
Noboy said it was easy to do either…
Both a corporate career or a great life will take much effort, dedication and, something I think I suck at realizing I’m not gonna make my paper-due in time, discipline and hard work.
Awesome! Excelent work
Allan watts!!!! My favorite author. I have not learned more from one person then him 🙂
Thank you thank you thank you. Although I was already committed to this kind of life, it’s really encouraging to see other people talking about it too. I love reading your comics and seeing you live your crazy dream. We’re about to start living ours too, by traveling the country and giving away free pie. Thank you again for all the motivation!
like it
Hi Gavin,
Thanks for this lovely comic. I discovered your site a while ago and have been an avid follower ever since. I’m in uni, doing something I love, and yet have faced some bumps in the road and motivation issues the past months. You’re comics often give me a spark of energy.
Many of your comics seem to imply that you can become ‘anything’ if you want it hard enough and if you totally devote yourself to it. In general I agree with it. However, it doesn’t count for everyone all the time. Any discipline (be it sports, art, whatever) can only have so many masters. Mastery implies that there are many people who won’t achieve that level of skill.
I’m on my way to becoming a journalist / documentary filmmaker, something I have loved all my life and I’m working hard to achieve it. It’s a very tough and competitive line of work, and several of my peers who started out in uni with the same ideal have given up on journalism and are going in other directions, because they feel they don’t want to make the sacrifices or are able to get that far in this profession.
That’s fine of course, but it’s a sobering reminder that not everyone can or will be a master in what they, in their heart, desire most. I do see many of them finding other things that they like a lot and are becoming masters at, but still.
Your work gives me an impulse everytime I look at it, so thanks!
Thumbs up from the Netherlands.
Thanks Maarten, you’re right – the real world isn’t as simple as I depict in my comics, but like you said – giving you an ‘impulse’ is better than telling someone they can’t succeed. Best of luck with your studies.
Great quote, great comic. Thanks for remembering us of that!
Alan Watts was a really genius.
Hey Gavin,
Many Thanks for all the great work you do I follow up every week many thanks 🙂 please check out my website and if I can help you in any audio stuff you need let me know keep on doing this amazing job!!!
http://www.fermaxdb.com
u got a really inspirational work , thanks for the great ideas.
What an absolutely wonderful post. I’ve only recently come to the point of being able to fully realize what I want to pursue and making it happen for myself, putting money aside. It’s not easy, but the emotional, spiritual, and mental rewards far outweigh any potential extra bills in my wallet.
Sir,
I would like to tell you something. I studied to become a mechanical engineer,a nd post my course even got a job. It was something I didn’t like. i always wanted to be a writer and in the six months that I had between joining my company and finishing my course I applied to the Indian Express for the post of a journalist. And by some quirk of fate I got it. I began to realise that I got a chance to do something I loved since always.
It is five years now, and I have moved on from a trainee reporter to a senior correspondent. Have been a published short story writer and life is fun on a daily basis for me…
This particular strip has a lot of importance to me because I lived my dream just because I couldn’t be sixty years old and then think I could have been a writer… I wanted to be one now… Good, bad or terrible… I live my dream as you do yours… and I think that is the essence of life…
Thank you for this strip…
Cheers…
and a happy new year….
Rohan Swamy,
India
I studied what I like, it’s a passion for me, but I can’t get a job doing exactly what I really love, and I’ve worked so hard in school (I was one of the best students in my career) and also worked hard in my different jobs to improve and hoping that someday I’ll get the job I want… still not getting there, I’d rather do nothing than what I’m working now but I do need to pay the bills… either way, it’s not only about studying what you like, it’s also about the opportunities that never came (at least not for me, not yet)
Gotta say I don’t really agree with this one. There can only be so many writers and artists and whatnot in the world. Sure doing what you love is important but so is keeping the economy and production going. Somebodies got to do the shitty jobs, nobody dreams of working on a production line, but we don’t all have a choice. I don’t do what I love, my favorite thing in the world is being out on the motorbike, but I don’t have the money and probably not the talent to do it for a living (very few do)…
Love that black-and-white thinking of yours. Yes, we do have a choice. Who says you can’t both do what you love AND have a day job that pays the bills?
I am an artist. I also have a paying job that I enjoy, where I am treated well and, as long as I get my work done, am allowed to do whatever else I want with what’s left of my day. Maybe at some point I’ll start pulling in enough money as an artist to ditch the “real job.” Maybe I won’t.
Either way, I don’t consider my day job “what I do for a living.” It’s not my living. It’s just what I do to pay my bills.
Well, the Alan Watts quote above is what sets the context of that whole black-and-white thing. Watts is the one pushing black-and-white theory here, and glossing over what that entails in practice.
@ Lord Assworth McThor: When you mentioned how much you love being out on your motorbike I immediately remembered this guy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Martin Maybe we can’t all be great artists or motorcycle racers but at least we can be inspired to try.
I couldn’t agree more with Alan Watts — I’ve modeled my entire life on this assumption, since I started working after college with 21 years.
It’s just now, with the never-ending financial crisis on my country, that I will, for the first time, abandon Watts’ philosophy and start doing something I utterly dislike just because the bills need to get paid.
I wonder how I will react to that.
(Disclaimer: aye, I’m a Buddhist practitioner as well…)
Hi, as a sweatshop worker I have to say that this work of art has inspired me to quit my job and to become an artist. Who cares if my family starves, right? This first worlder bourgeois told me that having a job that I don’t like just so I can earn money is a stupid idea, so I am going to tell my boss to get bent.
Do you have any idea how privileged your “comics” look?
You’re a 3rd-world sweatshop worker that frequents ZenPencils? Riiiiiiiiight. Or is this your pathetic attempt at satire or irony?
You just dont get it. Worse yet, you fall into the “all or nothing” method of thinking and so you learn NOTHING from this kind of paradigm.
So try this instead: inject some nuance into your world view. If you want to be an artist, then after you get home from your “sweat shop” job get off your couch, turn off your tv, put your beer down, and grab some paper and pens.
Whining about it online just makes you exactly like everyone else.
I think you’re missing Third Worlder’s point, that the viewpoint in this comic is coming from a place of privilege and, as a result, can’t apply to everyone. You are assuming that everyone has free time after work that would otherwise be spent with couch/tv/beer. Does the fact that your average sweatshop worker doesn’t frequent here make the fact that this can’t apply to them less valid? Or what about someone who works three jobs and spends literally all of their spare time eating or sleeping?
You also criticize all or nothing thinking, but the comic doesn’t say anything about doing what you love after (well-paying but unsatisfying) work. It says to get rid of that corporate job and go do something else, that will probably involve starting your own business. That can be unattainable for quite a lot of people.
The last thing, is that others have pointed out, that having a short life full of what you love vs. a miserable long life, is a different choice for people in the US who have chronic health conditions and need company health insurance to be able to afford treatment. I think that the point the comic was making is a good one, but there are going to be a lot of people it can’t apply to, sadly.
As far as privilege goes; sure, I share your sentiment. But I hope you won’t gloss over the other values that are expressed here.
Mainly, the importance of making a conscious choice. The importance of knowing your desire.
You chose to feed your family. Then I’m going to assume there is a desire of some sort to see your family well fed and living well.
That -is- a choice.
Of course, circumstances also played an effect. Already having a family probably make any career changes difficult despite your actual desire.
But that should not mean you should abandon yourself. That should not mean you should, you know, spend your life doing things you’re not happy with (or at least -content-) for the sake of paying the bills -forever-. And most importantly, people should not stew themselves in bitterness and grim acceptance of their situation; their places in life.
The students described here are lost. They don’t know what they want to do, thus this advice works well. For those who had both their feet set, this advice may not work. For those not living in that specific circumstances, like ThirdWorlder here, or like what Sophia said, this advice may not work, or worse; condescending.
That’s alright.
I positively love Alan Watts. He’s made many of my favorite lectures and I’ve been a fan of him for several years, so I’m glad to see this here. This is my last favorite webcomic, so if you’re interested in Alan Watts, you can find a few more his things, along with many other interesting lectures at this blog I listen to:
https://soundcloud.com/dreaminginthevoid
You should check it out. You might find some things you like.
If money was no object I would make comics based on inspirational quotes.
Better watch your back, Gavin!!!!!!!!!!!! (lol)
Yes, great quote, and so true. I hear everyone that keeps telling me that.
But there is an addition!
You have to keep thinking of what it is that you want to do.
Sometimes the things you want change, don’t be afraid to change with them. Then again I was lucky, I wanted to do Quantum mechanics when I was 15, now I work at the Niels Bohr institute. I can say one thing very clear. This quote is very true! (with the addition) 🙂
First off all great website a love these comics and yesterday found this page, i was always wondering who and where are this comics coming from because there always a repost from on several tumblr`s and blogs but never really find the source (and never search enough) second i finish reading all this day :3 ( got hooked!! ) and finally thanks because some of these comics help me realize that i can do better in life on myself also i can do a lot better on my family friends and of course this help me realize that i love my girlfriend (don’t ask me why) but i simply come to me and i know that i have to fight for her… but first i have to become a better man i don’t have any money that i can spend but some day i would like to buy some of your prints.
Thanks to all of you people keep the good work and have a great day.
Its good to know that there are good people out there with his dirty hands because off work and its shinning heart because its good actions and intentions.
Wonderful pipe dream, just not too feasible these days for everyone to be able to do what they love… Populations too high…
This comic is my mother’s exact life story. I’m not kidding! She’s worked several jobs she hated and is now a therapeutic horseback riding instructor!
ha ha nice coincidence
Hi Jillian I know it is a little intruding personally if i ask you what exactly your mother’s life has been and now is. I am inquisitive because some how i feel that this is exactly my story of life and i am still very undecided and unsettled. After changing few jobs and of a highly varitied nature, i ve landed into a well paying corporate job. But i am still dissatisfied and frustrated most of the times. Sometimes the frustration changes into depression and that causes utter medcal complications. So just wanted to know your mommy’s side of story. May be i can get some revelations….Thanks!
See but the problem is that money is pretty much a real object. So in this situation what if I don’t enjoy anything but making money and blowing it on sweet toys? I mean I have nothing against people pursuing their dreams of becoming artists and what not. But recognize that there is a life beyond your workplace people. I don’t mind my corporate job if it enables me to buy stuff like great wine, gadgets and family vacations. I don’t exactly love my work but I do love my life.
Thanks Gav. I really like drawing since childhood. My parents expected me to be an employee with an income every month. Finally my parents forced me to go to university that can guarantee me to get a job later.
But in my heart says otherwise, I will not lie to myself who love the arts. I learned self-taught graphic design and eventually I obtained both small and large projects. now I set myself to become a designer and serve my clients all over the world.
Artists do not need praised, abused, although he was starving, he would keep working. That’s a true artist. I believe that God will not allow humans to be hungry as long as they want to keep working. and I have proved it.
keep working Gav. 🙂
Thank you, good sir. This piece right here only further cements my view on living. Very well done.
it is awesome!
as always!
excellent and amazing coute!
I taught a class last year and started the unit by asking the students to list their dream jobs… we compiled all the ideas and discussed them… then I purposefully didn’t speak of it for a while.
A few weeks later I asked the students what their career plans were and again we compiled a list.
I brought out the dream jobs list from the start of the unit and not a single thing matched up.
It was a real eye-opener.
I’m teaching the same unit later this year, I think I’ll use this wonderful illustration to help get the point across
Thank you
What do you teach?
Why didn’t anything match up, what happened in that time?
Do you mean that our goals and aspirations are ever-changing?
However, nice idea
Hey Charles,
It was an English Communication class (kind of like English for students who don’t want or need to do mainstream) The unit was an introduction to communication in the workplace but I book-ended it with a few lessons on dream jobs and career aspirations.
I live in a very affluent coal-mining area (I’m by far one of the lowest paid men in town) and although most of the guys in my class had dreams of working as marine biologists, actors, athletes, firemen etc the reality was that they were all heading for careers as diesel fitters, engineers, mechanics and hairdressers – which is all perfectly fine but in our two top ten lists – not one item was repeated.
I tried my best to encourage them towards their dreams and I’ll continue to do so when they come back for their final year but their seems to be a real apathy here.
Thanks for your interest mate
Al
^there (oh dear!)
Thanks for replying. Too bad I hope maybe if they travel a little and get out of their town, they might see live’s not all about coal mining and dying wealthy.
Hi Gavin!
There have been SO many of your works that have touched me, but this one is the best. Any chance I can buy this as a poster??
Many thanks!
Sherri
very stupid comic. There are a lot of reasons why sometimes it just doesnt fucking work. It is not just do it, what if you love singing but suck at it? what if you have a family to raise?
In your example, you love riding horses but do you know that you cannot get one for free, right? how are you supposed to start or practice?
bullshit for naive teenagers.
you have to wait for the proper conditions, maybe have a secure job and do what you like in your free time, use your free time to learn and practice. Analyze your current situation and make a decision about your future. Saying just do it and dont worry about the money is fucking stupid.
MACHO –> Finally, someone with a brain here.
Two things:
True, there are hints of privilege; of reckless carelessness ever so familiar with youth. A significant part of people will suffer, have setbacks. Not everyone will receive their dues, and not everyone will arrive at the place they wanted to be.
But the point of this quote is exactly -that-. Which do you prefer, living a long, ‘stable’ life and lacking meaning? Or suffering– dying, for one?
There is no good or bad answer; people derive meaning from different aspects from their lives. You might feel it’s much better if your family gets food first, and that’s alright. Some people will choose not to have any family for the sake of their pursuits. Different values sown, different result harvested.
But there has been a culture propagating the former. Work, breed, live, support the system. Among many result is the sentiment you expressed; stigma of ‘naivety’. The latter, not-so-often.
This statement is not for everyone, but it’s one that bears repeating.
Hey Gav,
Just spent over an hour going through your site. These posters are bloody amazing. I really loved the one on Edgar Mitchell’s quote.
Fantastic stuff, really 🙂
What a GREAT idea to make a comic out of it! Much of my experience with young and ambitious people has shown me that it is not so much about what you do, or how you do it, but really that it is about “why” you do it. Thanks for this great post! Best, Chris
Game Programming. So scary, feeling like there’s no entry point into the industry with all the overflow from the mobile explosion, but it’s fun, so I’ma keep to it. Here’s hopin’! 😛
Great artwork and quotation. I don’t want to be the pessimist here, but speaking from experience, it isn’t always possible to just, “do what you love”. You have to have financial & familial support in order to keep doing what you love (if it doesn’t really pay the bills), and for a lot of us, that isn’t the case.
Horses are really expensive.
What comic so stupid! “Do what you want” Really? Most young people want to be actors, models, singers, … what they think is successful. Some teens may want to be doctors, lawyers, engineers, … Nobody wants to be a street sweeper, waiter, farmer, butcher, supermarket cashier, … The fact is that most of them do not work on something they like, work on whatever they can find. “If money was not important.” It’s the only reason I can think of to get up at 7:00 in the morning to work.
And that might be true, and reality might sets in and give a hard bitchslap. Ask any medical students; ask any professional model; ask any independent artist and graphic designers; that world is not easy.
But that doesn’t mean they should not pursue their idealized path. Failure is better than regret.
And for the last part, that is exactly the sad thing about the world. It happens, but that again, just because it happens doesn’t mean it should be left alone.
so…office space
Stumbleupon brought me here in a timely fashion. I’m serving my one month’s notice. 🙂
MY LIFE ON THIS PAGE. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
A friend of mine posted your most recent comic on Facebook, ended up going through them all. Just what I needed, keep it up!
What a completely douchey post. The entire concept is based on the idea of “what would you do if money was no object?” Well guess what you insufferable jackass, money is an object to most people because most people aren’t privileged. Most of these students know they can’t be artists or poets because they’re going to spend the next ten fucking years paying the prof’s salary via student loans. Thank god Watts is dead. I’m sure the sixties were great if you were rich and there were plenty of jobs to choose from. We’re now in 2013 and anyone who gets a liberal arts degree is either wealthy and wasting time, or a an idiot. China and India are are emerging economies where no one gets to do what they want, they do what they must. We used to do that, but we also had pride in society before greasy hippies decided that champaign socialism was the way forward.
Do you know what I want to do if money is no object? Ensure I don’t starve, have a reasonable home, live debt-free, attempt to save some money and (gasp) have the ability to retire before I’m 70 years of age.
There is nothing so parasitic and disgusting than a privileged hippy crying and moaning about how tough they had it. Their parents went through the Great Depression and the largest conflict in human history, but these smeared shit stains have the audacity to complain about “enforcing social paradigms.” I’m almost willing to forgo the social security they’re leeching if they’d just shut their fucking mouths and stop meddling.
The message here is to find something you love doing, and if it’s what you really love then you should pursue it. That’s all it means, and it’s what many of us hope for, so don’t get angry that someone once said others should pursue their dreams.
And it’s spelled “champagne”, you prick.
lul spell check. Maybe if money were no object I could have gone to univeristy and learned to spell all classy-like.
I suppose you would tell me, then, that my planned History degree is a complete waste of time – completely ignoring the fact that it does actually open up job prospects (not that most people ever bother to listen about those).
The fact is, if I go to university, I’m going to be doing it in order to do something I enjoy, to contribute to the world in a manner that pleases me. For me, this is teaching about history and making it more accessible. That’s what I want to do most badly.
I am not going to instantly quit my day job, get loaded up on student loans, and go to university to get a history degree and try to live purely off that. That’s just not sensible, and it’s not at all what the comic is about. The comic is suggesting that what you do with your life – your long term ‘career’ – should be something that is deeply satisfying to you. It’s not saying you should quit your job, not saying that you shouldn’t do work to /finance/ that passion, and not saying that you should live beyond your means.
There are people who keep telling me to go into medical school because I’m smart and I’d make a lot of money. I don’t think I would ENJOY that, however. So no matter how much money you offer me, I don’t think I will go for that. If I end up having a history degree and can’t be a history teacher, well, I guess I’ll go back to work – and I’ll spend my time not working talking and lecturing and teaching about history. Because that’s what I want to do with my life.
Let’s put it this way. What if the reason someone got that liberal arts degree is because they enjoy liberal arts? Have you considered that perhaps university wasn’t meant to be a job factory? I think this is the assumption that Mr. Watts is challenging. He certainly says absolutely nothing about starving yourself, risking your livelihood, or anything else that you’ve alleged – instead all he seems to be saying is that you should go to university to /learn and do something fulfilling/ rather than get a good job.
These are simply brilliant! Thank you!
You missed the “all retch and no vomit” part!
i wanna stay home play games console all day
Sounds great. Let me know when everyone can just go and do whatever they want and live for free.
Nobody is suggesting that you ‘live for free’. The comic is about structuring your career plans to gain job satisfaction. Nothing suggests you have to immediately quit your day job to go race horses. Work in order to buy a horse. Raise horses while you work. Eventually horses might become your career, but the point is, your choice of ‘what to do with your life’ should not be based around ‘what makes the most money’.
I want to spend my time living on a tropical beach in Bali and spending most of the year playing guitar for a famous musician.Okay,who’s going to fund my training ? The average Joe taxpayer.This is a dream,not reality based at all.I wish it wasnt but unfortunately money rolls the planet.
AJ Hoge brought me here.
It’s obvious that it’ll be cool to live with your dream. However, it’s not easy to have a life that we desire, we must pass all the obstacles such as: relatives, society opinions or the crowd. It’s hash to ignore all the words from these people. That’s why most people stuck in the ” Rat race”
If anyone desires to get out of the boring life, please visit my site, here I have some great methods for you How To Make A Change In Your Life
The sad truth though: It is an object.
Been there, done that and almost ended homeless because it didn’t worked out… guess money is still important after all…
Thanks GAV. I have been thinking the same thing as what Alan said for quite sometime. Thanks again for reminding this.
Hey I am so delighted I found your site, I really found you by error,
while I was researching on Askjeeve for something else, Anyways I am here now and would just like to say thanks a
lot for a tremendous post and a all round thrilling blog (I also love the theme/design),
I don’t have time to read it all at the minute but I have book-marked it and also added in your RSS feeds,
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lot more, Please do keep up the awesome b.
This is so wrong. It’s so easy for you G8 people, from rich countries and rich families to do what you like to do instead of careers. You have to have spotless minds to think it’s that easy.
Here, in eastern country we need to work very, very hard, YES, even doing the things we hate first to survive, then to do what we really like. It’s not stupid, or is it stupid to survive?
BTW, have you ever thought where did it come from, your countries wealth? Yes, smarter governments and hard working people is the one thing. But also – from wars. From slave labor. From colonies. Uncomfortable truth.
It’s painful and unfair for us – people from Eastern Europe. It’s even more painful and more unfair for Chinese people, yes, the ones which make you shirts and shoes, and all those little chips living in your computers.
You even don’t notice the price tags everything have. In your country you have to do… whatever. Get A job. Any job. And you can afford doing whatever you like.
If the thing you like is not being a bum here, or live in a small cage is not your kind of thing – any work is not enough here, outside G8. You have to make a career to earn anything else.
Well, I have a nice job doing what I like. I’m damn lucky. But it’s a career.
I mostly agree with Jimbo’s comment (and with Third Worlder and Sophia).
The problem is, in this world, not everybody can make this choice.
Differences in wealthness become limitations in your choices whithin this system.
Except… we change it all!
My choice is: take a job that pays my bills (and do not totally hate, since I can choose a little bit), and devote my free time to change this f*** world… To try to make possible that everybody has the same opportunities.
My greetings to all of you that make the same choice!
Do not agree :/
Well, not completely.
I would say “never give up what you really like/are” is essential, yes.
But the “forget the money”, as nice as it sound, is still fairyland.
For one friend who followed his dream and succeded, I’ve got nearly a dozen few others who didn’t make it, who ended up depressed with no job no revenue and no motivation to create anything anymore.
Oh, and that one friend that managed to find a job in drawing, and ended up hating his passion because he had to obey artistic and awfull orders from above.
Whereas I’ve got a job, which I neither love nor hate, but not too consuming. I’ve got less time for myself (I plan to find more), but I’ve got my freedom of mind to imagine new personnal project, and the money to buy the necessary supplies for those projects.
Never give up your soul, but never run into the wall without a plan either :/
I think you’ve badly misunderstood this comic. Nothing in this comic is telling you to “forget the money”. You need money to survive and fund your passions. What it’s telling you is to focus your life’s efforts ON your passion. Work should be a sideline, an afterthought, something you do to keep your passion (and yourself) fed – and you might be surprised that your passion eventually turns out to be something people will pay you for. Maybe.
A slight correction: Nobody is telling you to “forget the money” in the sense that you should forget about providing for yourself. My apologies.
Sometime, somewhere, back in the 1970s, Ron Livsey inherited a 1947 Teardrop trailer from a grizzled old prospector buddy of his.
Nowadays all are aware about the web forms visible in
various sites. Maybe you should look into thick bar training, it’s proven to be healthier and its used by bodybuilders, NFL teams and even the Special Forces.
You may notice that the concept of compensation plan may
seem to be common in the networking industry. It won’t take you extremely long to work out what way to employ it. The specific combination of reps, sets, exercises, and weight depends upon the desires of the body builder.
However, there are several online interfaces available where one needs to click on different types of
options to send HTML code in email or to generate HTML code.
He knew the system well enough to not pay many of his suppliers and sub-contractors, then would cover it up up by handing out fake lien releases to make it look like they were paid.
You can make corrections directly instead of having to search mistake through the
code, if something does not seem OK for you.
Thanks a lot, Gav! A million thanks! I’m now two months into my career as a McDonald’s cashier, raking in a healthy $7.25 an hour! I only have about $432.48 in my checking account (which I forgot to cancel for some weird reason), so it’s unlikely I’ll be paying my rent at the end of this month and likely that I’ll get evicted. I’ll come up with a new tune by using pennies as percussive instruments sometime soon.
Thanks a lot, Gav! A million thanks! I’m now two months into my career as a McDonald’s cashier, raking in a healthy $7.25 an hour! I only have about $132.48 in my checking account (which I forgot to cancel for some weird reason), so it’s unlikely I’ll be paying my rent at the end of this month, but very likely that I’ll get evicted. I’ll come up with a new tune by using the pennies in my Dixie cup as percussive instruments sometime soon.
This actually made me cry. So much truth in there.
This really Helped so much. I spent countless days and years thinking about ‘ What I want to do in life.’ I have never been asked ‘what is money didnt matter?’ The truth is I used to care so much about money. I own money not the other way around !!!
As long as we need a certain amount of money to survive AND we can’t live solely based on money from doing what we love YET, we have to have to a balance between them.
Some may say we don’t have to eat (and live) financially fabulously and give up dreams. It’s perfectly true. Just to remind that when people dream, their stomachs still call.
What if, what you truly want to do, takes money to start?
This is a beautiful and true sentiment. Yet….what if you love to do something that you are not good at. You still need to earn money to live!
Hi Gavin! I just started viewing your website today and ive read 10 comic posts so far, and cried 8 times. This one by far touched me the most. My boyfriend sent me a link to your website, because lately, he feels i’ve given up on what i really want to be. Thanks for reminding me that life is not all about your job or the money that you make. Please continue inspiring others through your work. I can’t wait to read all the other inspirational comics you’ve created. Again, thank you for waking up a part of me i thought was lost …. forever. Looking forward to more amazing works!
I loved this comic.
What is astonishing to me is how many negative comments there were.
Let me say first that I am neither “priviliged”, wealthy, or even (by some standards) young. I have lost nearly everything (home, work, and money) and am faced with starting over. People advise me to take various “sensible” jobs that sound like a jail sentence to me. Yes, I believe in doing what you have to do to pay the bills – for the short term. I have spent the summer working at different jobs for minimum wage just to survive. BUT – and this is my point- it does not mean that you have to give up your dreams and just “settle”. When I am washing cars or serving fast food, I never cease to dream and to plan a better way of life, and that hope is what gets me out of bed in the morning. Even if I never did reach my goals, I would still be better off for having them than I would for a dull resignation to my fate. Life has knocked me down many times in the last few months (up to the point of nearly killing me), but I still believe that success consists of getting up just one more time, and I will keep doing so as long as I am on this planet. If you meet the person who is still smiling at you while sweeping floors in her ugly polyester uniform, know that she is smiling because she keeps hope alive in her heart.
Heya i’m for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It truly helpful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to present one thing again and aid others like you helped me.
I watched a video clip with same words 2 months ago I guess, and as a result I started doing what I wanted to do all life……and now I am in business.
That’s pretty good advice.
And thanks for sharing this in a more interactive way.
Stay blessed.
I totally agree with you, the best way to be happy is do what you love. If you love something you will give your best effort for it and sure that you’ll live with this “job” and be happy, that’s the most important.
Well, People who identify their true desire are luckiest people on the face of earth.
Unfortunately, most people have the desire of having a lot of money, no matter how. Such people adopt any means for it and end up doing something they dont like.
But eventually what ever decision one makes has to make some sacrifice in order to fulfill the desire, which in it self is not anyone’s desire.
To one and all,
A fair weather friend and one prone to rage if you did not have memorized the Four Noble Truths once asked me the rather profound philosophical question of, “Do you think I am a drug addict?’ Since I was slightly on the manic side of manic depression at the time I answered him truthfully, “You can be anything you want to be.”
However, as for what I love to do and am most passionate about are actions which for the vast amount of time I am proud to say are not only extremely dangerous to engage in but highly illegal as well. From writing blasphemous articles to cutting edge and cruel satire that was so good it was seen fit to be deleted entirely from the Internet by orders of the State. From writing poetry that was so good it was seen fit to be burned by those professing love for me and by the fair weather friend who has memorized the Four Noble Truths.
So what about Watts? Had he written so much as one verse that was then or is even now so dangerous to the one world banking system that his writings are even worth the effort to censor them? I see absolutely nothing wonderful in deifying a pen someone once wielded from an ivory tower which is not forever greater than the sword or in today’s case weapons of mass destruction like depleted uranium.
So enjoy riding your horse, petting your dog or feeding your cat knowing that all of them have a better and longer life than the millions of children who die of starvation before they are five years old and who you have absolutely no responsibility for…because that is THEIR karma.
And for proof of non-Zen do not go to —-> http://scarsofwombenvy.wordpress.com/police-rush-anti-war-buddhist-on-main-street-in-westover/
So, the moral of the story is to liquidate your assets, go off and do something crazy, and die homeless and starving on the streets so that I can avoid having a job? Um… No.
Nice job completely failing to understand the comic. Alan Watts isn’t commanding anyone to quit their day job or risk everything financially, just to consider /actually going for the career they want to go for/ at some point, instead of structuring their entire career – all of it, until retirement – around what makes the most money. Go to university for knowledge, for history or english or whatever else you want to do, while you work your day job, and if necessary keep working that day job while you make your life about pursuing something you actually find makes you happy.
Nothing about this comic suggests that you “avoid having a job”. It suggests that maybe you should be looking at long-term career prospects that give you job satisfaction.
Wow! Everytime I read a Zen Poster, I get this urge to chuck my boring white collar job and pursue the thing that will give me the satisfaction.
Hats off Gavin 🙂 Way to go!!! /m\
Is this supposed to be enlightening?
“Do what you want & enjoy your life”? “Don’t think of the money”? Woah, we really needed a philosopher to get to that!
Sad truth is, you are going to need money because doing what you like won’t be free. A far better advice would’ve been “don’t live FOR money, but find a balance between what you like to do and what you gotta do”.
The comic is about making your /life/ about something you find entertaining or fulfilling, rather than spending 60 years of it working on something you hate. If that means working part time, or just even keeping a day job, WHILST you work on your passion, well, so be it. That’s financially necessary. Nothing in this comic is anti-work, or even necessarily anti-money.
I love this lecture.. Nice job with the cartoon.. I love this website!
Love this comic and this blog. Really great to see familiar ideas in new ways and get exposed to new ones (in some really kick ass comics, frankly). Thanks for doing this. It’s great stuff!
This makes me cry every single time I read it.
Thank you! It’s just wonderful!
giving up everything to follow my dream of being a filmmaker utterly ruined my life.
The comic isn’t suggesting that you give up everything in order to follow your passion. It’s just suggesting that you follow your passion, however is practical.
This quote has inspired me and all my decisions in life are based on this quote 🙂
Our viewpoint in out conduct most often changes how we see things. Sometimes this alteration is good and sometimes bad but it is our outlook that influences the way we feel.
Money is a tool to be happy, not a goal.
“Some people talk to animals. Not many listen though. That’s the problem.”
I just stumbled across your work when I was doing some research for the write-up for What if money was no object ~ Alan Watts . I hope you don’t mind I included a link to your post here on zenpencils.com!?
I just got reminded of the video including Watts’ thoughts and still consider it some genuine inspiration indeed! I mean it can be quite a tightrope walk at times, figuring out the ambiguity of the term “vocation”.
So well done expressing this “mundane wisdom” in this way too and help spreading the word. Well done and keep at it! 🙂
I want to dig up this Alan Watts guy. I want him back in his skin and alive, in his dirty thirties too old to rock to young to rollover, and I want to put his dead-before-Reagan hands and eyes in 4chan, in worldstarhiphop and buzzfeed. I want him to see cellphones in the hands of people willing to kill to preserve a medieval way of life.
I like the sentiment of this quote. What immediately struck me though, Mr. Watts seems to think that the education system is to blame.
I am a public high school physics teacher. I have your Chris Hadfield poster up in my classroom. Every year I talk to my students about this exact thing – do what makes YOU fulfilled. Live your life in the now and stop waiting until the stars align. And in my experience over the years, time after time it isn’t the schools that are doing this, but rather the parents.
There is enormous pressure from our culture to be “successful” – meaning make money. A lot of educators are trying to turn the tides… I just find it interesting that Mr. Watts pointed the finger so distinctly at education.
Just my 5 cents worth; I love your work and plan to continue getting life lessons to pass on to the next generation. THANK YOU.
nbm
Great quote, great comic! Thanks for remembering us of that! Here my translation and adaptation to Italian people… http://www.megliocrudo.it/desideri-veramente-gli-insegnamenti-alan-watts/ If you allow, of course!
Thank you Gavin. amazing work, as always.
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I’m 48. Wish someone would have told me this when I was 18. Or even 28.
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I first read this a little over a year ago when I first gave up working for others to pursue ‘I-don’t-know-what-I’m-doing-with-my-life-ness’. It really struck a cord with me and the visuals inspired me to keep going. I run my own business now and its all falling into place! Still made me well -up reading this again tho! Thanks for all your hard work, you may not see it but it does help others! Keep up the good work!
Beautiful words, but unfortunately they are just that: a beautiful speech. It’s hard to do exactly what you desired when you are already deep in the rat race wheel full of extreme bills and responsibilities to take care.
It’s WAY easier to follow what is taught in this speech by focusing on what you want from an early age, but then you get in the problem of not knowing what you want early. I, for instance, discovered only when I was 27. But then I was already so deep, so tied to bills and billions of problem, that here I’m leading a stupid life full of frustration and seeing no way of doing what I want and what I love, because I have to work 16h per day to pay my bills. The other 8h I’m so so so tired that I can’t think of anything else.
Weekends? Same. Is it a matter of correct allocating time? I don’t do anything else other than work.
So yes, all of this is just a motivational speech for whom is luck to have the chance to move with what they love. SO ENJOY THAT CHANCE! DON’T EVER MISS THAT CHANCE! YOU ARE BLESSED AND GIFT FOR BEING ABLE TO DO SO!!!
Either way this comic made me cry SO MUCH I almost died haha. Amazing work on transmitting Alan Watt’s message.
Oh Gavin…this was my first exposure to you and your work. And it is amazing (yes, I know Louis CK would roll his eyes, but it’s true). I think I’m having a midlife crisis and my sister sent me a link to this art. And seriously, it literally has changed my perspective on everything. That image of taking my brain out and getting on a hamster wheel….I’m at a loss for words. I want to cry. And then I want to DO something. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
One day this girl will realise that EVERY dream needs money to make it true. Especially horse riding, which is especially expensive sport. That’s why only rich people do it. And this girl will get back to work. So money is always object. It’s naive to try to live without money.
My wife had the same passion as that girl. Loved riding horses but was in the same boat. She got a job at a horse stable and did photography for horses for their owners. Later she worked full-time at the stable and she eventually got her own horse. She says that her “work” doesn’t even feel like work. I think that is the point. You don’t have to have it all right from the gate to get to that point. If you want to do something, do it. Don’t keep finding excuses. I quit my job and completely changed careers to chase my dream. Within 5 years, I own my own business doing what I love and I work from home making great money. It isn’t even work to me. I was able to master my skill so quickly to because I love doing it which is what Allan Watts was trying to say. People are so worried about chasing money and trying to impress people with some job title instead of doing what they really love to do. You can make money doing anything.
So true, but sometimes, even when trying to pursue something you like you can get stuck into the question of how to make money with this and still make wrong decisions.
Hi, everybody.
I barely started reading Zenpencils and I love this work. It truly inspires and challenges my person.
Yes, I am currently the unremarkable average man. My work consists of making reports in Excel, which I hate. Zenpencils slapped me in the face during my work (well, procrastinating on 9gag), shook my shoulders and shouted at me: “COME ON! BE THE BEST JASON G. YOU CAN BE!”. I am barely 24 and have enough time to direct my life to what I want.
The problem is, and I don’t think I’m the only one with this problem… I don’t really know what I want in life. Or worse, sometimes I think that I don’t want anything big.
I do have minor wishes and daydreams like learning German or Japanese, running my own business, become a university teacher, marrying the girl I currently love, live in the US (or Canada… by the way, “saludos desde México”), compose and publish some songs, and so on.
But what about those big dreams? What is it that makes you decide: “this is what I REALLY want to do with my life”?. I see that some of the people cited in these comics knew what they wanted in a moment of inspiration (e.g., TV during their childhood). But I just haven’t felt that in life.
I just thought about my experiences (being a mechatronics engineer, being raised in a family auto parts store) & things I like (videogames, singing, martial arts, relaxation & concentration music). But I just erased about three paragraphs of BUTS I was about to write in this post (I don’t like this, I fear that, this is bad for the world, I don’t see myself doing that…) which makes me sad.
I believe that when you really want something, you don’t care about the ugly parts of the journey. But I haven’t started & I’m already quitting on everything.
I haven’t found something that would give me the engagement to forget eating and sacrifice sleep, to flip the bird to whoever judges me for what I’m making, to dream and smile day and night about how awesome my life is thanks to what I am today & what I will be tomorrow.
My question is: ¿how can I find my true passion?
The simple fact I wrote this long post helped me a lot. I thank zenpencils for allowing me to do so, & in advance I thank you for your advice. Gav, your work is awesome, & I guess your life, too. I salute you for finding what you really want to do with life.
By the way, I recommend you to draw something from Eric Thomas (http://etinspires.com/), a former professional football player who is now a motivational speaker. He suffered homelessness during his youth, but I find what he does now amazing. He has a bunch of good quotes:
http://www.etquotes.com/over-200-inspiring-quotes-from-eric-thomas-and-the-secrets-to-success-blueprint-to-success-mixtape-tgim-and-more/
That only works if your students are young and haven’t started families yet. If you plan on only ever being financially responsible for yourself, this is a viable life plan. My college advisor would advise me to travel, teach abroad, and do all of these exotic things. “Why don’t you do such-and-such?” he’d ask me. Well, in order to live in such-and-such for a few years, you need to already have enough money to get by because they don’t hand out work visas like candy, you know. After awhile, he realized that you can’t just do whatever you want if you’re poor and/or have kids. He just lost touch with reality because he actually has money. My other professor said it’s stupid to travel without money. You need enough to do the things you want to do. She is actually from the country I wanted to see.
Whoever thinks that you can live out your dreams without money is full of shit. I spent my entire adult life either in poverty (before kids) or struggling (after kids). Even before kids, I could never make it to events and weekend trips because I couldn’t pay for gas, exchange favors/goods, or buy a ticket. Actually, there were long stretches in my life when I couldn’t even afford enough to eat (and I am NOT the kind that eats to excess). People who think that you don’t need money to live your dreams obviously never went without.
By the way, my husband and I are both artists on the side. We could never, ever get by on the income we get from our arts. He has a day job to keep us going. Unless you get lucky, it’s insane to rely on your income as an artist.
I love the illustration
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illustrator and story is very interesting. Who is the originator of the idea of this story?
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Thanks GAV. I have been thinking the same thing as what Alan said for quite sometime. Thanks again for reminding this.
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Who is going to dig the ditches and clean the toliets?
I have subscribed to your food which must do the trap! Have an awesome day!
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Now I feel like I was blind to and oblivious about so many things in the world.
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It’s difficult to sort the great from the awful now and then, yet I think you’ve nailed it.
Awesome work! That is quite appreciated. I hope you’ll get more success.
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yeah, abandon anyone who carried you through, may they struggle on their own, you have fun and that’s important.
I’d struggle, I’d learn, I’d achieve notoriety and then fame, I’d finally get luxuries… but I’d never bring back to life these, whom I’d have to abandon to achieve that all.
I can see that you are genuinely enthusiastic about this ?
You know, it’s very rare when I comment on someone’s post. Unless I like it useful or unique I comment then and there. And this is what has happened with this post. Absolutely fantastic.
I seriously appreciate , thank you . Keep Good Writing Alan Watts
Hi,
I know that this is a bit weird, esp as this comic is a bit old now.
I just wanted to let you know how much this comic inspired me along with Alan Watts’ quote. I spent years in and out of temp jobs, unable to pay the bills and feeling so rubbish about where my life is heading. I eventually decided to become a freelance marketer and this comic really helped inspire me. nearly 3 years later, my business is going fantastically, more than ever could while working for someone else. I still re-read this comic and send it to friends who also feel low about their situation. I even teach in universities and tell them this quote to help inspire them.
So basically, thank you. 🙂
This is so idiotic. If people could go out and do whatever they wanted of course they could. Believe it or not, you need money to live. Sure, you wanna ride horses or whatever the fuck, go on and do it and starve. How does this guy think world works…
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i really like the idea of the comic… doing things that you love would be so fun. don’t put yourself in a horrible jail.
just be creative!
sorry my english is not good 😀
Your work here on this blog has been top notch from day 1. You’ve been continously providing amazing articles for us all to read and I just hope that you keep it going on in the future as well. Cheers ! rebelmouse
Just do what you want and forget the money.
I love this message.
It’s not even difficult as someone said, once you grasp the gist of it. Actually, it’s easier to live a life you love starving, than to curse a life you hate (but with a full belly).
And here we see a prime specimen of someone who’s never had an empty belly a day in their life
i love comic and tas rajut
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You keep feeding the delusions of people. Except the problem is that money is an object. You need a job that an actually support you. The amount of people who “follow their passion” and succeed is abysmally low. Stop making it sound like it works because it doesn’t, not often enough to warrant the illusions you spin to people.
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Thank you Gavin for your Alan Watts comic post
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I discovered, to my amazement, that all through history there had been resistance … and bitter, exaggerated, last-stitch resistance … to every significant technological change that had taken place on earth. Usually the resistance came from those groups who stood to lose influence, status, money…as a result of the change. Although they never advanced this as their reason for resisting it. It was always the good of humanity that rested upon their hearts.
Technology is dominated by two types of people: those who understand what they do not manage and those who manage what they do not understand.
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. ~Arthur C. Clarke
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Some of the quotes are visualized to let you easier share them in social networks. A bit of reflection on how deeply we depend on technology is good for anyone, especially the one who spends too much time in social media networks.
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Absolutely fantastic inspiration 🙂 great illustrations.
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind
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What a beautiful comic. Thank you for sharing!
Why we need money? For living? I think most of use are working to bring a better life for ourselves and our children. If we had children, we will have to work harder.
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