Quality - not Quantity
Quality, not Quantity
I was looking for information on using CSS instead of tables (as one does) and for some reason came across the Death Test which I know you will take for just for a laugh. According to my test results, I am going to die at 80 ( and got this rather naff icon).
I could be wrong but I guess that most people think that they are going to live to a similar age. Until the beginning of this year, I used to think that living until an old age was important. But what I learnt was that the duration of being alive is not important. What is important is the "quality" of ones life. An example: if you could have one of the following two for free, which would you choose?
1. A bowl of the worlds finest purest caviar.
2. Five Tons of the worlds finest caviar infested with maggots mixed in poodle poop with a sprinkle of dried baboon saliva.
I watched an extremely moving documentary about a girl who had a particular condition (cant remember the name) where her body aged 13 times faster than a "normal" human being. There are said to be only 8 or so known people on this planet with this condition. A person with the condition normally dies at the age of 13. She just had her 14th birthday and she knew that she was going to die any day. She said that she was prepared to die and that she had lead a great life up until now - it was all about her experiences, the friends she was able to meet and generally being happy. Living a longer life was not important.
We watch the news and see people dying left right and center - people being stabbed, run over or just plain dying in everyday accidents. I also think that many of us think "well that's not going to happen to me", and most probably most people who we see dying are amongst those who thought the same thing.
I was talking to my estate agent at the time we purchased our house - I asked him how I should go about writing my will - he looked at me as if I started to grow horns and said that people don't usually write their will until they are about 60. I was thinking to myself "apart from being a lair, this estate agent is an idiot too - bafoon."
This may seem the obvious but the thing is, none of us have been given a guarantee that we are going to live until we are golden. One could live in the "safest" part of the world, be healthy and still die from whatever.
Meaning
There is not a single day that goes by without me thinking about what I should be doing to get to my destination and I have been like this for the past few years. Being like this has enabled me to improve my quality of life and generally do anything that I have wanted to do based on my current monetary situation.
Thinking about the meaning of life is important because it helps you to discover your destination - without a destination, we would just be driving around in circles - occasionally going beyond that circle.
Worms exist to be eaten by Birds, Birds exist to be eaten by Cats and Humans exist to eat Cats - well only if you are in to that kind of thing. But you know what I mean. I have obviously simplified this idea (because Worms are actually Earth Warriors who protect the stratosphere from evil Space Spiders) but there is nothing around to eat Humans (not yet anyway). There must be a reason as to why humans exist - apart from polluting, destroying and in general being greedy (perfect description of a politician there).
I decided after many years of thinking that there *is* no reason as to why we are here and that we have to make the reason/the meaning ourselves.
I came to the conclusion that my meaning in life was to make our (her indoors and me) lives as pleasant and comfortable as possible - at the same time live how we want to live, buy what we want to buy, go where we want to go and eat what we want to eat.
Money Matters
Many people say that money cant buy happiness - but in our case, we think it can. No matter how you slice it - money is a fact of life. Maybe it should not be that way but the sad truth is that it is.
I came to Japan with two suitcases and with about 500 quid in the bank - 5 years on, my total income is about 15 times more that it was before we came and now own a chunk of land in Tokyo and most importantly - I am able to purchase Gundams and gadgets without being beaten up by the wife (well only sometimes). I account my mid term success to being constantly focused on my destination. Being in a state of focus is something that any of us can acheive but may be difficult without a destination or realizing what ones purpose in life is.
As for whether I will live to see my destination - that's another matter but at least I will die with piece of mind knowing that I tried to get there.
My wife was reading this as I was writing up this post and said people may think that I am bragging. Indeed - there is actually nothing to brag about - there are a ton of people who are doing much better than I am who earn in a blink of an eye what I earn in a year. All I want to do is to share my thoughts and hope that my thoughts serve as food for some of you.
So what are the takeaways for this post? Well for me its...
1. Make as much money as I can while I am alive so that I can...
2. Do what I want to do while I am alive.
3. Buy what I want to buy while I am alive because....
4. I could die tomorrow - don't know how much time I have remaining but use time well and enjoy it while I still have some left. Which is why its important for me to....
5. Gain as much skills and knowledge as possible - especially skills and knowledge which contribute to generating money.
6. Stay Focused. Losing focus means that I get lazy, forget about my destination and end up thinking that I have all the time in the world and "work on it tomorrow." 
Above: One of my goals is to have one of these - I am not sure which one to get but I like the propeller bi-wing type. But I also want my own runway too. Nobody is going to give one to me for free and I probably wont get far by stealing one. Stealing a runway would be tough too.
I used to be a stand-in and was a member of Richard Starnowski studios back in the UK. We were filming a documentary about fireworks in the countryside. T'was a beautiful evening. During the middle of a break, the owner of the land that we were filming on flew his propelled plane at a low speed and altitude around us - it was an amazing site that I would remember to this day. I felt something ignite inside of me. There was a sense of exhilaration and a feeling that I could take on the world. It left me with a giddy tingling feeling that this poor student was going to make it somehow.
If dannychoo.com goes down for more than a month - it means that I have died and did not get to my destination or buy one of these planes - if I don't die before then however - watch this space for pics of my new toy :-)
If you are interested in reading about life in Japan, seeing photos taken daily around Tokyo, like Japanese subculture (anime, manga, figures, Dollfies) then you may want to start delving into the Japan or Figure categories for a start or have a gander at all photo articles.
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Design Consultant
Thank you for your words of inspiration, I know you wrote this a long time ago, but even though I think about it every day, this helps me to re-focus on my goals. Im sure that I wont live to be 80 (even though most men in my family live past that), but I really want to die knowing I didnt miss anything. I guess a trip to Japan is in order then.
Being human/Student
Although you've written this post a few years ago, I would still like to comment if you don't mind.
I really liked what you wrote, and I kind of envy you...Well I guess not 'kind of', but REALLY envy you. Because you've got a goal, and you strive to do your best, me on the other hand...I KNOW that I need to strive my best, and I KNOW that if I don't I will get nothing done and when my time comes to leave this hell I will dissapointed by what I've done, and what I haven't, and I also know that I can and probably WILL any day now, but for some reason it just doesn't get me going anywhere...just sitting here and letting time float by. Hah hah! Wow, it sounds like i'm telling my life story. That's kinda sad. Well, i'll just leave now. =)
It's good o have a goal in life
Hikikomori in the making
http://supermariabros.deviantart.com/
Aww man... Mine says I'll die at the age of 74... And I'm younger than you LOL~
Otaku
http://www.n00bless.net
Danny, I would really like to say your experiences are really inspiring, you are living the dream of a lot of people here, and still you try to teach us and try to make us grow, or so I feel. Keep up the good work, hope I meet you in person someday ^^....
Otaku
http://www.n00bless.net
Oh I forgot to say that I also got that I shall die at the age of 80 :O
Aspiring Comic Artist
http://rhodavoxie.blogspot.com/
Woo, I got 90, that was surprise!
Danny, I liked reading this article very much, and the other one on "destination" also. I'm 25 and my sight of destination is apparent, however still blurred. I know what I want to do, I know what I am capable of, but it is not exact. For the last few years, I have felt peace in simply "feeling" my way through life, using my intellect and capabilities at hand, or sometimes not. Once you know what you can do and like, you can do it, but I find when trying to become an artist, there are so many ways of going about it. I'm still not entirely sure what *kind* of artist I want to be, I just know that I'm good at it. I also like to write, but I had not been entirely sure what to write until lately. I'm following that feeling now, and it feels good, but I still don't know exactly where I'm headed. But I do feel like I could make a good future from what's contained inside me. It's not clear, but it's a warm feeling.
To put it short, (if you're an artist) I think the motto is not to see the destination, but to feel it. If it feels uncomfortable, not in your heart, try something else.
dannychoo.com の読者
way to go danny.
let us all put all of our strength and determination to get to our destinations.
danny, you better show me those picture of YOUR plane and i know you will
System Administrator
http://www.thedoitsujin.com/
I think that everything someone can tell you about with passion inspires people. This article sure did inspire me. Actually i've read a lot of similar "stoys" as of late. You always hear to make small goals to accomplish a much larger goal. That may be the path i'm on right now. For me until recently it was always, complete that school, complete that exam, complete that job apprenticeship..now that i'm through with it and work a 9to5 job i feel kind of lost. It's storys and everyday posts like yours that helps one to re-focus on what is (or what you want to be)important if you want to accomplish a higher goal.
I may have plans made up, but the uncertainty, which job to work to get the rent paid, it's hard to come by with making harsh decisions.
Just wanted to let you know that your positive energy re-ignited some of my determination to become what i 'm looking for. Keep up the good work!
IT
If only we have a choice.. that our warranties won't expire. Everytime an individual dies a whole library vanishes. ..puff! Technological advancements are too delayed to counter this at the moment. But remember a time when no human can fly and soar the skies, look back to now, hoards of us are flying...
Come to think of it, there's nanomachines on the way, cyberization as an option (a la Raiden MGS4) I'm waiting for my Raiden RAH to arrive though. It symbolizes possibilities to me... http://www.functionalisminaction.com/2007/05/ethic
and Cloning is just around the corner. Hopefully before our warranties expire immortality is going to be a real option. For now, I reminisce what Naomi said to Snake at the end of MGS1 "...you must live Snake..."
IT
My bad, here's the working link:
http://www.functionalisminaction.com/2007/05/ethics-of-cyberization.html
Software Engineer
http://thebiggestadventure.com
If dannychoo.com goes down for more than a month - it means that I have died and did not get to my destination or buy one of these planes -
Or perhaps you did get to buy one, but maybe crash and burned on the first test flight? :D
Just kidding... I hope nothing like that happens to you Danny!
Digital animation
I always appreciate hearing different peoples views on this type of subject. Ever since I first started coming to this site regularly, Ive found myself envious of your lifestyle, and have thought to myself "What are the principles, and beliefs that drive this guy to such a successful point, without sacrificing modesty and happiness?" Im really glad you wrote this article, it's pretty inspiring.
Artist
http://www.bridesoferos.com
According to that test, I'm going to die at a really advanced age.
Student
<a href="http://www.nerdtests.com/ft_dead.php?im">
<img src="http://www.nerdtests.com/images/ft/dead.php?val=9711" alt="I am going to die at 96. When are you? Click here to find out!" border="0">
</a>
Lurker, and part time super-villian.
http://burfordus.wordpress.com
Apparently i'm dead at 86. Pretty optimistic.
Student
http://www.vocaloidism.com/
me too xD
I got the exact same result =3
Informatics(ComSci-ish) student/self-taught graphic designer and illustrator
http://picchar.cerestia.net
I don't know what I'm going to do with my life. I actually have similar interests as you do, I just don't know how to go about doing something about it... Though I will check out your articles for tips ^_^
Informatics(ComSci-ish) student/self-taught graphic designer and illustrator
http://picchar.cerestia.net
Oh, and I got 95 years XD
in case you didn't know: Humans are eaten by.....worms !
Student
http://shockerz.wordpress.com/
I am going to die at the age of 93 I'll be a very old man by then. haha.. I'll become an experience old anime fan of the days. Everyone must have a goal in life that where we need to head to we can't just wondering in our daily life.
Sony Games Tester
heheh.. I'm gonna die at 82... that sounds excellent to me :D
I have a goal that i was going to be in Japan at 25 (hopefully if i get accepted at SOAS i'll get a years visit to japan in my third year which by then I'd be 25)... then after SOAS I'll be moving to Japan which gives me roughly 55 years of Japanese experience (beginning in Tokyo ending somewhere like Osaka)
If i stay true to my goals then this dream will be no problem! Only problem i have now is trying to write a personal statement for my application to Uni. :(
Student / Software Engineer
yay, I'm living until 83
"jack of all trades" (master of none)
http://japanweloveyou.blogspot.com
84!!! hell effing yeah! In your face, Choo! Woo!
Just kidding! How weird were those questions???
Thanks Danny. Thanks.
Really nice and correct words.
Commission artist/programmer
http://www.pacthesis.deviantart.com/
Sweet! Hopefully I'll really live a happy life until 95.
Student
apparently, I'll be living till I'm 99. haha
University Student; Full-Time Tiger, part-time Geneticist. (One day, the alligator-puppy will be mine...)
87!
neet/single parasite
will die at 84 but i think it will be sooner currently at mid 20's i think ill die maybe at late 20's
Student
I'd just like to say...Danny, your series of articles on Japan and Philosophy, geez, they've motivated me so!
I mean, really...I used to be a random kid, floating around in the world. I never studied, as the tests were easy enough that I didn't have too. But this series has gave me a plot, a goal, a meaning...
So, hell, in 10 or 15 years time, if you ever get a job application from a [married? hopefully...] couple of Upenn alumni...then I've made it in the world.
Genius at work
http://gashapon.com.mx
Aaron in New York, I want to say something about your comments:
I think it´s not about have a "trick" to keep yourself motivated. There are many, many things to do until you get to your final destination. You cant say "I want to have a plane" and then, when you finally have one, die or feel like your life is over because you fulfill just ONE dream.
I used to think... "even if I have the time to eat a different good food every day, see all the good movies, read all the good books, write a lot of good novels, sleep well, be the best in anything I do, even if I can travel to each place I ever want, even if I can have the money to enjoy all the good things the life has... I have no time to do it. Even if I live until 79 (as the test say it ;)), I really, really think we didnt have time to enjoy all.
So, there is no reason to not to do what you want and enjoy it, now and until your life ends.
I am not a native speaker, so excuse my english. Just be happy!