Short thoughts

Hello everyone, I've finally been able to figure out this blog thing. At first it was only showing up in Chinese, but now since I have a limited knowledge of about 100+ characters I was able to figure out how to change the language. Anyway, hopefully I'll be writing a little more now.

I feel like I've been able to think so much more clearly while I've been over here. Maybe it is the new environment, the spirit of adventure I've been forced to acquire, or maybe the persistant need for discipline that is necessary to be able to do all of the things that I want to. Or maybe they are just blessings from above. I think thoughts are a unique thing. I can never quite be certian that I am the author of my own imaginings.

One thing that I've been thinking about lately is the purpose of work. I've read a little lately from this guy I respect called Mortimer Adler. He wrote a book called How to think about: The Great Ideas. In it he has a few chapters on the topic of work. He got me thinking about how when there is a personal-moral component added to any type of work then it immediately becomes much more tolerable. Here in China, work is often done for the work unit, or for your family, or for the country. These things tend to make any sort of position a little more honorable, even one where you are cleaning up someone elses mess. I haven't studied the Western business world much, nor have I participated in it, but it seems to me to lack much of this personal-moral component. I'm not saying that what I just mentioned before is what I see as the best means to a motivation for work but, nevertheless it is more tolerable. Our motivations for work are often more simple, and often more selfish. "I work hard to keep my job."...or..."I work to make money [to spend when I am not working]." I believe that there is One truly satisfying, intensely personal, and beautifully moral component that we can add to work so that it could even seem as if our work is doing itself.

Personal note: Next post on truth vs. wisdom.