What Did You Do For Fun When You Were 10 Years Old?

From Walter Murch, an Academy Award-winning film editor and sound designer:

"As I've gone through life, I've found that your chances for happiness are increased if you wind up doing something that is a reflection of what you loved most when you were somewhere between nine and eleven years old...At that age, you know enough of the world to have opinions about things, but you're not old enough yet to be overly influenced by the crowd or by what other people are doing or what you think you 'should' be doing. If what you do later on ties into that reservoir in some way, then you are nurturing some essential part of yourself. It's certainly been true in my case. I'm doing now, at fifty-eight, almost exactly what most excited me when I was eleven.

"But I went through a whole late-adolescent phase when I thought: Splicing sounds together can't be a real occupation, maybe I should be a geologist or teach art history."
-- from The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• happiness
• work
• fun
• leisure
• childhood
• youth
• career
• passion
• Walter Murch
• job
• hobby

[GretchenRubinNY]

The thing is, it's a lot easier to develop your talent and build your skills when you're enthusiastic about what you're doing. Over time, it's hard to push yourself hard, if you're going against your own nature.

[GretchenRubinNY]

I know a lot of examples when an unlikely childhood occupation turned into a job. Or if not a job, a deeply held hobby. Hide and Seek....maybe you can find other grown-ups who would want to play.

[SenorCajones]

@lakewalker11 That's a psychosis, not a source of joy.

[hansfryko]

talent and ability is as important as passion is in't?

[hansfryko]

@ankursalsa haha

[TheFeelGoodCafe]

I really like this video - it is so true.

[ankursalsa]

@annegret1985 - u cud b in the CIA...

[Takiyarts]

Well this is interesting. I just came across this video from a suggestion on my home page here on YT. I love this idea for a resolution. I know this was for late January/early February this year, however, this is making me want to go back in my mind to figure out what did I enjoy doing for fun at 10 years old? Hmmm.....

Thanks. ~Tameko~ 

[annegret1958]

Hmmm - can you turn playing Hide and Seek into a job?