Last night I had a talk with a friend. She / they have a very capable young man in their son and a very capable young woman in their daughter.
Their son dreams of MIT. And this is an option. However, when I suggested that she buy him a copy of Think Like a Monk (not necessarily because it's the best book, but because when I read the first part, I thought "hmmm... if I had this type of intuition... to go to India and see what it's like to live like a monk while competing for some breakneck career in business... I wonder how I would have turned out...")
She says "he'll be fine". And I agree. But who decides whether or not he should challenge himself to be "more / less than fine" in this one life that he has? Is the risk "worth" it?
Well we have to start with "the Question": "What makes a good life?"
I sent a follow-up message to her. Let's see what her reaction is. Probably to "play it safe".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGvUDvZ7KyU This is what I wrote to her:
If I could give [X] one piece of advice, it would be this: Giftedness is not the ability to do, because enough practice can allow anyone (in theory) the ability to do. Giftedness is the ability to predict, and then having the courage to do when no one else can or will. It is clear from his marks that he knows what he must do now, but giftedness lies in an ability to predict what he must no next, and pre-empt it by doing now what he believes he must do next. "Captain Underpants"? Or "Think Like a Monk"? The choice is his to make.
Of course he will be "fine" either way. But it seems like he wants to be more than fine. I have given you some idea of a way that he may do so. And I will always be happy to give suggestions. What does the world need? More "fine" people? Or more "new" people? Think about it. I will pretend like this conversation didn't exist. I will not speak of it again unless you wish me to.
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