Around anything cool you want to pursue, you will find a Moat of Low Status. Each moat is different, but they are never pleasant to be in. They’re always scummy, cold, and terrifying. The Moats that surround prestige industries are guarded by beautiful people with blowguns and scathing witticisms. They will delight in your failure. Perhaps you will be their intern in a bitter winter. Once you’re successful, they’ll suddenly start liking you. Weirdly, this won’t give you any satisfaction.
The moat carries another problem equal to that of low-status shame. Boredom. In the same way that great artists must strive through the moat of knowingly creating bad art, any person departing their life as a mud person does so because they want a more interesting, meaningful life. But moat life is often *more* boring and *more* tedious than mud life, which is comfortable full of cheap dopamine.
I've crossed many low-status moats, and I may soon enter another one, but I often reach the other side out of luck rather than a plan to conquer the tedium of boredom and low-status. Comfort kills your dreams.
A vitally important concept you have related, here. I like the use of metaphor and 1st person active phrasings. Keeps it feeling vital and prompts my mind to engage/maintain broad spectrum attention.
For no reason other than "synchronicity is fun":
I literally wrote a short story to relay this concept just yesterday. I used mud/valley->?mountainside/climbing-> mountaintop vs mud-> moat/crossing-> island.
Thought to write it because I wrung myself out 2x over the weekend using too many words to describe what you describe here.
Sasha, I’m so glad I found this piece. I’m in the middle of a moat with writing while all my friends are living in the city together with high income jobs. I’ve felt like turning back to the common tread path more than ever.
This was a much needed reminder to trust in what is difficult.
"If you turn back, it’ll be okay. You will find yourself in your familiar mud, being a mud person. And you can have a fine life as a mud person. A long, fulfilling life. But many mud people gaze out across the treacherous water with longing in their eyes."
Absolutely love this line; I think some writers create it as a do-or-die moment. But really, you'll be OK and that longing will remain. So it's up to you to decide how badly you want to cross the Moat or not.
The moat carries another problem equal to that of low-status shame. Boredom. In the same way that great artists must strive through the moat of knowingly creating bad art, any person departing their life as a mud person does so because they want a more interesting, meaningful life. But moat life is often *more* boring and *more* tedious than mud life, which is comfortable full of cheap dopamine.
I've crossed many low-status moats, and I may soon enter another one, but I often reach the other side out of luck rather than a plan to conquer the tedium of boredom and low-status. Comfort kills your dreams.
A vitally important concept you have related, here. I like the use of metaphor and 1st person active phrasings. Keeps it feeling vital and prompts my mind to engage/maintain broad spectrum attention.
For no reason other than "synchronicity is fun":
I literally wrote a short story to relay this concept just yesterday. I used mud/valley->?mountainside/climbing-> mountaintop vs mud-> moat/crossing-> island.
Thought to write it because I wrung myself out 2x over the weekend using too many words to describe what you describe here.
Again, great post. Thanks!
Sasha, I’m so glad I found this piece. I’m in the middle of a moat with writing while all my friends are living in the city together with high income jobs. I’ve felt like turning back to the common tread path more than ever.
This was a much needed reminder to trust in what is difficult.
Thank you (:
"If you turn back, it’ll be okay. You will find yourself in your familiar mud, being a mud person. And you can have a fine life as a mud person. A long, fulfilling life. But many mud people gaze out across the treacherous water with longing in their eyes."
Absolutely love this line; I think some writers create it as a do-or-die moment. But really, you'll be OK and that longing will remain. So it's up to you to decide how badly you want to cross the Moat or not.
Great piece Sasha :)
Thank you. I really needed to hear this lesson.
This was beautifully written