My oldest daughter- she's 5- is running around the house, screaming and kicking and wailing about not wanting to eat breakfast, not wanting to brush her teeth, not wanting to get dressed. In essence, she doesn't want to go to school.
She wants to stay home and groom her toy horses and then set up a pretend horse corral (animals are her passion right now... she wants to be an animal rescuer like Diego- from the kid's tv show-when she grows up).
And here I sit, listening to the ET soundtrack, working on an amazing creative project with an amazing creative team, and doing exactly what I love to do. There is nothing else I want to be doing other than what I am doing right now. This work is my passion.
And it occurs to me: When I was a kid, I was JUST like my daughter.
Sitting here typing this, I am having vivid recollections of my own childhood, of me reading a behind- the- scenes/making of magazine for INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM before school one morning. I so did not want to go to class. I can see the magazine in my mind so clearly, see myself, sitting at the kitchen table and looking at those pictures, the pictures of the people who got to wake up and - instead of going to school- got to go and MAKE the movies I loved. And I remember LONGING, FANTASIZING about getting to wake up and go do those sorts of amazing,creative jobs, instead of going to school, where I had to study stuff I had no interest in at all.
And now, my youngest- at only 5- is doing the exact same thing!
Granted, she likes school more than I ever did. She gets that from her mom, thank God. And hopefully- because she's she's a good mix of me and her mom- she'll be a lot more balanced than I ever was/am :)
And she'll also have parents like I had: parents who totally allowed me and supported me and encouraged me to follow my passions.
But man...right now? Right now I so feel her pain. I so know- to this day- exactly what she is feeling.
And at the same time, I am so lucky and so happy and so grateful to be doing what I do, doing what I love.
And if I could- and perhaps somehow in writing this, I am- I would love to reach back through the years and whisper in the ear of that kid pouring over the Indiana Jones magazine: 'hang in there kid...you'll get to where you want to be...I promise....'
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19 comments:
great little story, nice way to start the work day.
thanks for sharing...
cheers!
Hey David.
Thanks for this.
Right now I'm in one of those situations of "very little money, but doing what you love" which pretty much cost me a much beloved girlfriend these days and here I am hoping that in the future someone is whispering for me to hang on.
This is what I needed to hear.
Working FT in the medical field and PT college student paying my own way through school. Self-teaching myself C# along with XNA Game Studio, playing games, and reading anything I can get my hands on dealing with the game industry.
Here's to hoping that I can get my foot in the door at a studio like EatSleepPlay someday!
Keep up the great blog Jaffe.
Edit: I need to check my spelling more often. =P
DID YOU STRUGGLE TO GET TO WHERE YOUR ARE?
A GAMEDESIGNER
IF YES HOW? OR IS IT LUCK WITH WHICH HELPED AS WELL?
WERE YOUR PARENTS SUPPORTIVE?
i am just thrilled to hear about your 2 kids.
Thts the only reason i visit your blog
^^^wow, that's a little creepy. visiting just to hear about his kids? ... okay, anyway, It's good to here from you David. Nice to see things are coming along good. Cain't wait for your new game. I sure hope it's Twisted Metal.
I assumed the Anon was being sarcastic...if not...VERY CREEPY
Glad to hear your parenting skills are better than those parents that let their kid drop out of school to play Guitar Hero Kotaku linky
otherwise you would have that horse corral all set up right now :)
Great post Jaffe. Been running around like a crazyman today trying to get stuff working and feeling pretty tired. And then I read your post, and feel much better. I work in the greatest business in the world, doing what I love to do, even if I haven't gotten much sleep this week :)
For me though was staying home from school and playing with GI JOE... much more fun than school. I hated school just as much. I gradauted high school with like a .5, then when I found that games is what I wanted to do, I went to college for it and graduated with a 3.89, with a bachelors degree... amazing what passion can do. Been doing what I love ever since... :)
Having supportive parents is key. I got in trouble all through school for drawing or "doodling" in class all the time. My parents backed me, and let me be creative. I hope to do the same for my kids.
I am probably far worse than both you and your daughter when it comes to school... I hated it waking up at 5:30am to take a shower and walk to school? Not for me.
I only lasted 6 months in highschool before I dropped out I'm a guy that likes 9-10 hours of sleep when I can get it and I was NOT getting it.
Yeah dropping out is a pretty bone-headed thing to do but I'll be finishing up my schooling sometime soon so I can get somewhere in life.
I have dreams too ya know =)
Good message at the end for all seeking that light at the end of the tunnel.
Good post
The blog is great, thanks!
I know what you are talking about. most of it anyways since I have yet to be able to support myself through my passion (writing/storytelling).
Thanks for the post, I feel inspired (and I've had a long writing block since I lost my job, which was in networking).
Awesome to hear man, seems you're in a great place at the moment.
Hey David. That's a cool story man. I think that to myself a lot. But, I haven't gotten where I want to be yet as I'm still getting my college education. Take a quick peek at my blog about game and movies when you get a chance one day. Don't expect much though. You were a huge influence on me when I made it. I hope you like it. Anyone else is welcome to deliver feedback, as well.
rockmanblues.blogspot.com
LOL! I was the other way around! my older brother started programming on the commodore computers. he was a gamer and wanted to be a programmer. so did I. as a kid I wanted to be a programmer, so I can create games. but typing codes was torture for me. I was always more of a visual guy. went from graphics to photography and maybe, some day, I might even try the movie business!
good stuff Mr. Jaffe, good stuff
Sorry for hijacking this post but our country is heading to a depression. :(((((
The culprit is the head of the democrats: Chris Dodd and his friends.
It is pointed out in this latimes' piece. We all know latimes is a liberal media but things need to be said sometimes.
latimes
courant
If you really love this country, you need to know what causes our economic crisis.
This video on youtube has been removed at least 3 times. The video just stated the truth but I guess the media is in bed with the democrats somehow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRmB93McZeI
haha.. damn you and your epicness! like your thoughts on all that.. i always like i've been in the same boat my whole life and being only 18 i am still kinda feeling that tentative feeling that maybe i won't make it into what i love, this made me feel like it was that much more attainable thoughh!
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