(DIS)CONNECTED (for those who are having self-doubts)

Opinions are my own.

Recently, I read an interesting story about a boy who gets himself lost in a dark forest, talking with a horse:

– “I can’t see a way through,” said the boy
– “Can you see your next step?” said the horse.
– “Yes.”
– “Just take that.”

Book, Charlie Mackesy, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

The story reminds me of my generation, who was born in 1990s and early 2000s. We have with huge communication gaps, feeling lost with too many options but lack of appropriate mentorship & guidance, and mental burdens. In my personal perspective, this is due to at least 3 determinants: (1) the expansion of Internet and Virtuality, (2) the hectic pace of life, and the (3) overwhelming information overload.

VIRTUALLY TOGETHER, BUT LITERALLY APART

I appreciate that technological advancements have been making life so much easier than before. Nevertheless, some people say that virtual meetings are just modern seances. It’s a bit exaggerated, but let’s think about it. You may find it similar:

– “Hey! Anybody’s here?”
– “If you can hear me, please give me a sign (in the chat)?”
– “We can’t hear you, seems the connection is weak!”

Personally, I’m all for face-to-face chats whenever possible. Video calls just don’t cut it for me. I can’t shake hands, hug, or really connect with someone through a screen. Online learning through COVID-19 had shown a prime example.

It’s so much better to be in the same room. Building trust feels easier in the flesh, and getting to know someone over coffee is way more enjoyable than endless texts.

I’m really in two minds when someone trying to persuade that virtuality brings people together.

A HECTIC WORLD: DROWNING IN INFORMATION AND PRESSURE

• “Dr. Moss, please tell me how you came to be an epidemiologist.”
• “I wanted to do something quantitative. I looked at economics and city and regional planning, and somebody suggested epidemiology. They had fellowships, and I was a single parent, so I needed the money. So I did epidemiology because it was in my range and it was fundable. I wasn’t particularly interested in it. […] nobody was in those days.” (when antibiotics were invented and infections were largely wiped out). Qualitative + fundable, that’s it.

an Interview with Professor Andrew R. Moss (it’s super long but worth-reading)

Professor Andrew Moss then turned out to be a world-class researcher in infectious diseases and HIV/AIDS research. The way he explained about career choice is quite simple but practical.

In contrast, many among my generation don’t think so. As considered the most educated and well-prepared generation, we are (un)fortunate to be living in a world with such an overwhelming amount of options. We tend to overthink and make things complicated, especially if we have more options. We started to take interest into consideration. Peer-pressure adds up.

I wonder what advice he’d give his mentee these days if they came to him saying, “Professor, I’m unsure which field to pursue.” Too many opportunities to be considered!

SOLUTIONS?

In this noisy world, I tried to (dis)connect myself writing this status, and I failed. I also believe that a little repetitive and boring at work or life is inevitable – just like sharpening the axe, so I don’t push myself too much. I learn to be patient, not lash it out on people and I don’t measure my value by the way I am treated (I said learn, which means I may not be able to). Perhaps they are just having a bad day.

But serious solutions? I don’t know. I just know that we have to seek it within, not without. And I believe that life is a game, and the thing about games is, if you get good at one game, you can be good at any game! Life is fully unexpected, but there will always be a place somewhere for you.

Que sera sera.