The Generalist Life

In traditional monasteries, the monks led quite multidimensional lives. While prayer and study were large components of the day, monks also spent significant time growing their own food, crafting and in some instances, even brewing beer.

There's something about living the life of a generalist that is sometimes lost in our modern specialised workforce. Rather than do a little bit of everything, we are often encouraged to double down on one thing, get good at it and invest all of our time doing it.

It's satisfying to do things for yourself. Simple mechanical repairs on your car, like changing an air filter or changing a tail light. These little jobs increase confidence and often save disproportionate amounts of money.

Tending to the garden, making a painting to decorate your walls, baking a cake - these are all central to living a well-rounded life.

There's a joy and satisfaction that comes from a diverse lifestyle, one that connects us to the foundations of the life we are living.

Connection with our food, shelter, transport, entertainment and art.

Diversity, like the ancient mystics have always known, is the key to a life of wellbeing.