two more days
There are many reasons in life to care about things. Sometimes we care about things because we can't help it. These can be people: relatives, friends, and loved ones. They can be hobbies that for some reason come straight from the depths of our being so that it's impossible not to be interested in them. I have a theory that it's even possible to be passionate about one's paying job.
Sometimes we care about things because it's the right thing to do. For example, we're supposed to treat all people well and with love no matter who they are, whether we know them or not, no matter their station in life, family background, and whether we're close friends with them or not. Obviously this doesn't mean spending inordinate amounts of time with people that we would never naturally be close to. But it does mean treating everybody with the courtesy and compassion that is due to every human being. Paying taxes, knowing a thing or two about politics, and keeping one's word fall into this category too.
In two more days, I will no longer have to care about the products, people, and goals of a random computer company because they are paying me to do so. To me this seems like one of the least noble reasons to have to try to care about something, and while I know that it is a necessary and normal part of most people's lives, because working and having money is a lot better than the alternative... there comes a point when having to work up the caring when you're not really interested just wears a person out. I'm counting on my next job being different (see point number 1). Anyway, if I weren't so busy (a) preparing for spontaneously volunteering at a summer camp, and (b) trying to finish the work that I really should do before I go, I would feel relieved already just from the anticipation of not having to care about these things any more. In some sense I already do feel that way. In the mean time, I have a job to do, if only I can manage to be responsible enough to pull it off (see point number 2).
Sometimes we care about things because it's the right thing to do. For example, we're supposed to treat all people well and with love no matter who they are, whether we know them or not, no matter their station in life, family background, and whether we're close friends with them or not. Obviously this doesn't mean spending inordinate amounts of time with people that we would never naturally be close to. But it does mean treating everybody with the courtesy and compassion that is due to every human being. Paying taxes, knowing a thing or two about politics, and keeping one's word fall into this category too.
In two more days, I will no longer have to care about the products, people, and goals of a random computer company because they are paying me to do so. To me this seems like one of the least noble reasons to have to try to care about something, and while I know that it is a necessary and normal part of most people's lives, because working and having money is a lot better than the alternative... there comes a point when having to work up the caring when you're not really interested just wears a person out. I'm counting on my next job being different (see point number 1). Anyway, if I weren't so busy (a) preparing for spontaneously volunteering at a summer camp, and (b) trying to finish the work that I really should do before I go, I would feel relieved already just from the anticipation of not having to care about these things any more. In some sense I already do feel that way. In the mean time, I have a job to do, if only I can manage to be responsible enough to pull it off (see point number 2).