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Comment by chany2 | Hacker News Reader

I actually agree with your post. And subscribed to you afterwards.

I often encounter the same issue.

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Typical Example: Friends ask me what I am doing over the weekend? I said I got some work to do. I have to learn NodeJs, figure out how to parse BCC address off an email, focus on my UI and UX design for my email app, go do more research on hashtags for emails, etc...

What I cited there are not "work" per say as coined in most people's mind as the dreary 8 hour work life.

What I am actually saying is "I GOT A PROBLEM I AM PASSIONATED IN SOLVING. I AM GOING TO SPEND MY WEEKEND AND NIGHTS RESEARCHING TO SOLVE IT BECAUSE ITS FUN. IT IS MY VIDEOGAME, AND MY WAY OF GAINING SATISFACTION TO IMPROVE MYSELF."

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So basically if you replaced "In 2014, if you want happiness, choose work" with "In 2014, if you want happiness, choose PASSION". No one would unsubscribe.

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You said it well:

"What I cited there are not "work" per say as coined in most people's mind as the dreary 8 hour work life."

And yes, I understand your point: work can be enjoyed to the point it feels like a videogame!

Anyhow, the words and the tone I choose maybe weren't the best to communicate what I mean.

Thanks for the feedback (and thanks for subscribing!).

For me, that's the gist of it. When you say 'work' I associate the word with 'job work'.

I enjoy programming and reading about programming. And I do it. And I know the same reactions like "You're programming outside your job??". Now the main difference between you and me is that I do these things because I enjoy them, while you do them for the benefits they bring (knowledge, portfolio, etc).

I am a bit of an hedonist, and try to do stuff I ENJOY, regardless of the benefits they bring. Example: I like good food. And I like experimenting new kinds of dishes. But I don't like cooking. SO I rarely make elaborate dishes (I usually eat something quickly made). I don't go for the good dishes because I don't enjoy to process to get there! (In university it was common for me to lose way too much time in a project or subject that I enjoyed, and then having to pull one nighters to study for another)

Now regarding job work. I am Portuguese, and I believe we have a cultural bias that "job work" is not enjoyable. I share that opinion, in a weird way. To me, I shouldn't love my job. I'm not saying I hate my job, in fact, it has it's fun moments. But it's not my ideal way to spend a day. The momentss where you don't want to get off your bed to go to work, our your, once again, implementing something tedious, that's when I realised what having a job is like.

But not loving your job, to me, IS A GOOD THING! It keeps me focused on my objectives. I have hobbies and a girlfriend. My jobs gives me money to travel, buy stuff, and pamper myself and the gf. And eat tasty and expensive food :)

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