No you haven't.
Just thought I'd start out with that.
The fear that you have wasted your life is incredibly common, particularly among non-parents. If you are a parent, you usually realize that your children are your legacy. If you don't have children, it's harder to believe in your own legacy.
Part of the problem is we compare ourselves to others we see on the news. We didn't start a major up and coming corporation, we didn't become President, or even Governor. We didn't make some grand new scientific discovery.
But consider the person that wholeheartedly researches a scientific theory and proves it false. He gets no accolades. He was just as smart as the guy that by pure luck choose the right theory to test. Yes - it was luck. If he knew it was right before he tested it then someone else already did the important research and proved it right. It just turned out that by pure chance that his theory was false - and also did not by pure puck provide evidence indicating the true theory to be investigated later.
He worked just as hard, thought just as much (and as well), but by pure luck failed to pick the right theory to investigate.
He doesn't get the credit, but his work is also just as important. Only by doing the research and discovering that the theory did not work did mankind learn the truth.
His work saved someone else from having to investigate the false theory. It freed other people up to investigate other theories that may turn out to be accurate.
And so many many people have hidden issues. Yes, Einstein became an incredible scientist. He also had a horrible family life (in part due to his popularity with the ladies- http://www.nbcnews.com/id/13804030/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/new-letters-shed-light-einsteins-love-life/ )
The far majority of people NEVER do earth shattering work. Some may never raise a child. That doesn't mean you wasted your life. If you worked a job - even a "meaningless" one, you have contributed to society.
The guy that placed the first brick is at heart just as important as the guy that placed the last one. Similarly, the people that made the brick, tested the brick, moved the brick, tracked the brick, advertised the brick, bought the brick, or simply fed those other people ALL contributed to the brick.
I have seen very few people actually waste their life. What we do as a group depends on many little things, and those of us that do them COUNT.
Just thought I'd start out with that.
The fear that you have wasted your life is incredibly common, particularly among non-parents. If you are a parent, you usually realize that your children are your legacy. If you don't have children, it's harder to believe in your own legacy.
Part of the problem is we compare ourselves to others we see on the news. We didn't start a major up and coming corporation, we didn't become President, or even Governor. We didn't make some grand new scientific discovery.
But consider the person that wholeheartedly researches a scientific theory and proves it false. He gets no accolades. He was just as smart as the guy that by pure luck choose the right theory to test. Yes - it was luck. If he knew it was right before he tested it then someone else already did the important research and proved it right. It just turned out that by pure chance that his theory was false - and also did not by pure puck provide evidence indicating the true theory to be investigated later.
He worked just as hard, thought just as much (and as well), but by pure luck failed to pick the right theory to investigate.
He doesn't get the credit, but his work is also just as important. Only by doing the research and discovering that the theory did not work did mankind learn the truth.
His work saved someone else from having to investigate the false theory. It freed other people up to investigate other theories that may turn out to be accurate.
And so many many people have hidden issues. Yes, Einstein became an incredible scientist. He also had a horrible family life (in part due to his popularity with the ladies- http://www.nbcnews.com/id/13804030/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/new-letters-shed-light-einsteins-love-life/ )
The far majority of people NEVER do earth shattering work. Some may never raise a child. That doesn't mean you wasted your life. If you worked a job - even a "meaningless" one, you have contributed to society.
The guy that placed the first brick is at heart just as important as the guy that placed the last one. Similarly, the people that made the brick, tested the brick, moved the brick, tracked the brick, advertised the brick, bought the brick, or simply fed those other people ALL contributed to the brick.
I have seen very few people actually waste their life. What we do as a group depends on many little things, and those of us that do them COUNT.
