Music and Life - Alan Watts
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN commenters post it in threads about purpose, ambition, burnout and career anxiety as a reframing that life is a dance, not a march toward eventual happiness.
What it is
A two-minute animation of an Alan Watts talk arguing that life is like music: it is meant to be danced to in the moment, not rushed toward a final goal. It is a short, accessible take on living in the present.
Recommended by 11 HN commenters across 11 different months, 2010 to 2022.
What Hacker News said
Strong rec dstein · 2010-12 · on “Ask HN: Finally have loose change and spare time, but no sense of purpose. Help.”
The following video, narrated by Alan Watts, and animated by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, eloquently describes exactly what you have figured out: [this video] You essentially have come to the realization that the things you have been lead to believe (career, wealth, social status, possessions) are not what will make you happy. This realization can go down a dark path of depression if you're not careful, so be careful and stay level headed. Definitely take time off, pursue interests you never had time for and completely stop worrying about the future. That's the important part, to stop thinking there's some sort of end goal that you're working toward.
Recommends noidi · 2010-12 · on “Winning Isn't Normal”
This blog post reminded me of Alan Watts' Music and Life, which is great food for thought when pondering your goals in life: [this video]
Recommends blhack · 2011-12 · on “I'm turning 30 and I've produced no amazing art.”
Alan watts has something important to say about this... [this video] You haven't been failing, you've been dancing. This is the point. Enjoy it and stop waiting for the payoff.
Recommends chubbard · 2012-05 · on “Are Stanford Students Just (Really Excellent) Sheep?”
No generation ever knows what its all for until they're 40 possibly 35 because you're outside the holy grail of advertising demographic. Coincidence? Yea probably. If you haven't figured it out by then your not paying much attention anyway. There's prescript of zoloft by the door for you. Anyway, This essay is much the same that Allan Watts articulated in the 60s and I think he did it with much more panache and charm. [this video] I find its best to laugh because it really has been a well executed practical joke.
Recommends dcolgan · 2013-02 · on “Dream, but don't forget to live”
Having grown up as a Christian in the Midwestern US, we were always taught that heaven lasts forever, and therefore I never felt any time pressure. This life can be spent building character and struggling with self improvement and you can enjoy yourself in the next life. As I've come to consider the possibility that life ends when it is over, that mindset no longer makes nearly as much sense to me. Yes I want to improve myself, since self improvement and achievement brings increased opportunities, but why am I striving to find more and more opportunities and achievement? Is there some mystical end point after which I can finally relax and be happy? Why not just decide to relax and be happy n
Recommends tripzilch · 2014-01 · on “How a Math Genius Hacked OkCupid to Find True Love”
Alan Watts said: (paraphrased) Life is not a journey pilgrimage with an important goal at the end, it is a musical thing and you are supposed to laugh and sing and dance along the way. For the full text, check out this cool youtube animation made by the Southpark folks from his lecture: [this video] (animation style is Southpark-like, content is Alan Watts)
Recommends daGrevis · 2014-02 · on “Life is a game, this is your strategy guide”
I would like to share my opinion on living life. What is the main goal? Some may think that it's getting better at something to get a raise and more money. First there is a school, then there is the 1st job, the you try to get a better one and you are trying and trying and trying to get higher. In my opinion, that's not the main point and it's just a side-effect of the life. Article suggests that 1st 15 years of life is a training or a tutorial, but I disagree. They are as much as important as any other time period. Person should do what makes he or she happy. If it's playing video-games or spending time with friends at a bar, it's okay. Of course, it won't affect your skills on getting a be
Recommends chris123 · 2014-07 · on “Matt Cutts: Gadgets, Google, and SEO”
Glad to hear Matt is finally questioning his priorities and taking corrective action. Better late than never. Work-life-balance means now, in the present moment, not 15 years from now. The younger we are when we realize that, the better. This is what Alan Watts has to say about it: "Music & Life": [this video]