I mean I can see that. I worked at a small computer repair shop and the way people would react sometimes when we managed to save their family photos or PHD thesis off of a failing disk made me feel like I was genuinely making someone's life better.

I left my political communications related job and now I work in a specialized lingerie/bra-fitting shop to stretch my savings while I figure out what I want to do next.

It's far more satisfying, and I don't hate humanity after every shift.

Unfortunately, it's not a long-term way to make a living.

writing code professionally (in corporate america) is almost the definition of being a cog in a machine to me. at a startup not so much; but burnout is real.

writing software as a hobby is fun and rewarding.

i went up to a jobsite and asked for a job. learned framing.

im a quick study. and i had the benefit of a good teacher.

once i get a foothold of basic fundamental knowledge i supplement it with reading, just like i did when i wrote software professionally, and anything else.