Spend two years thinking

I spent my high school years doing this instead of trying to conform. Things missed: lots of friends, lots of makeup, lots of parties, lots of commmunity spirit, lots of boyfriends, lots of straight As. I gained my soul and my fire.

I had the opportunity to do that, when i first moved to Israel (after i left my homecountry)....it was a very difficult time for me, but i took the opprtunity i had to take my time and just think. About myself, about what kind of person i want to be, about my life, about everything. It gave me the chance to make huge changes in my life, my attitude towards life, my personality…...definitely worth doing.

Infact I enjoyed it so much I do it all the time.

I sort-of did this whilst living in France for two years. Although I had distractions and work for part of the time, it gave me the opportunity to think up ideas to embark on a [potenial] new stage of my life. But to do it properly I’d really need to find a hut in some beautifully desolate place, and that I’d like.

i spent three months thinking once. it wasn’t long enough.

I guess this is only possible if I find a job position (or an excellent PhD) where this is my main jobrole. It would be great, just thinking – any ideas? Is this possible? Has anyone done it?

With no other daily concerns to worry about!

I resigned from my previous job at the beginning of 2003 to spend some time travelling, observing and thinking. Over that time I ‘lived’ and thought in a number of countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Phillipines, Hong Kong, Malaysia and China. I thought about people, how they lived, what they did and eventually about the importance of a little device that most people in the west ignore. Mobile phones.

When I left my cushy yet frustrating job I had no idea what on earth I would do next. I was angry, disillusioned and basically apathetic about everything. Upon returning I found that I had a renewed interest in everything and a unique insight on which to move forward. It did however require a signifcant change in lifestyle as my wife and I basically lived off of our savings during that period.

The key for me was to let life guide me – trust in fate. The times when I tried to force an idea or a specific direction I often found I ran into roadblocks.

Lastly, in order to think (process) you need sufficient experience (input). Do new and different things while you are thinking. Without these you’re only rehashing old thoughts.

...that it was impossible to be a philosopher while you’re digging potatoes (or something to that effect). Well, if I don’t keep digging the potatoes, I can’t pay the mortgage. Yet there are days when two years in a monastery seem very appealing.

Doing is better than thinking. You can only think about an hour a day anyway.