Topics of (dis)interest – End of the Day for February 7, 2014

Life is full of changes and one of the most striking is when something you once found so interesting and important no longer interests you. There are even times when you become so burnt out on a particular topic, you actively avoid it in the future. When you are deeply interested in something, you can never really foresee the day when it won’t hold your attention any longer, but I can almost guarantee that it will happen in some way, to some of your interests over time

For me, technology still holds a deep fascination, but there are certain aspects of the technology world that actively annoy me. I love what technology can do for us, but the machinations of the technology business world appall me at times. Trademark battles, copyright claims, FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) campaigns, PC vs. Mac, Windows vs. Linux, this vs. that battles are just some of those annoying elements. I want to use technology, not fight about it. I want to use the tool, not debate the ethics, responsibility, intelligence of its designers.

This increasing dislike of certain technological aspects has been troubling for me over the last several years. To immerse yourself in the technology world means immersing yourself in these less enjoyable aspects, too, at least if your work involves supporting that technology and training others how to use it. I grew tired of telling clients that there was no easier way to use their computer because that was the way it was designed and implemented. Windows 8 frustrated me as much as my clients with its new interface all were forced to use regardless of how well it fit their needs or even the design of their computers. After a while, you don’t want to fight those battles anymore, and that is one large reason I ended that part of my career. I want to go back to being a technology user and move away from the, no longer fun, challenges of supporting it.

While this is my own, personal, example of disinterest, you might find that you also find those moments when something fascinating turns into drudgery. It can happen with more than just technology, of course. Anything you do, given enough adversity, can drag you down and leave you feeling worn out instead of invigorated. I recently had a friend whose volunteer work had descended to the level of a really bad job and she decided that enough was enough. It took her a long time to come to that decision, though, even though I thought she needed to leave a long time ago. I’ll tell you what I often told her…if the job, volunteer position, hobby, interest, whatever is no longer fun or interesting, find something that is. Don’t linger. You owe it to yourself to go out and find a happier place, a more fulfilling hobby, a better world to spend you days.

Change is inevitable in life and change in your interests is inevitable, too. Recognize that fact and remember it when change comes knocking on your door.

Previously on End of the Day:

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