JONTILLMAN.COM | part of the problem since 1976

As I posted yesterday, I am trying to create something in my life that is more than just “going to work” and “being an adult”. I am attempting to develop for myself what I am calling a Found-Object Lifestyle. Let me explain…

Over the course of the last few months, while at my most depressed, I read a lot of philosophy. A lot. I have always been a fan of philosophy, but I went at it like an over-achieving graduate student on cocaine. My wide-ranging delving into the subject brought to mind quite a few new insights about myself, and about philosophy in general. Most of them will have to wait until later, but I thought I would mention some of the more interesting and inspiring pieces of writing that I came across online.

On October 14, 2005 Paul Ford wrote about the two types of distractions that people face, and on the 21st of that month, wrote a followup about “good distractions” at 43 Folders. That got me to thinking about the possibility that pretty much my entire existance had become a distraction, and not the good kind either.

On October 24th William F. Vallicella, the Maverick Philosopher, wrote about Work and Money, Living and Livelihood, and the train was on the tracks. When I ran across what Mark Slouka wrote in “Quitting the Paint Factory” in the November 2004 issue of Harper’s Magazine, I was sold, but not sure how to even talk to Jenn about it.

I finally got up the gumption to do so after reading “Work: No amount of money makes it worth doing“by Fred Grazton and amazingly enough, she was really supportive of the idea, which is not really the response I expected to “So, honey, I was thinking… Maybe I just won’t ever go back to work. Maybe I’ll hang out here and grow my hair out long and bind books and make art journals. Whaddaya think?” I don’t know how I got so lucky…