Some thoughts

I was sitting with a bunch of people at lunch. A discussion went on about what new project Sondra should do next. I was once again overcome by how little I know and how little I'm interested in all of that. I do understand now how people can afford to be cynical - by going through intense studying, gaining insights and completing publishable work, which is a process I haven't been through. Thinking about what I do, what others do, why things are the way they are - just questioning and thinking - is something I'm so not accustomed to do. Perhaps cynicism isn't everything and the fact that I trust so much is not a sin. Perhaps it's even totally to do with cultural differences. It still doesn't change the fact that there're enormous amounts of work I need to do, for example read an article in its completion or come up with something sensible for January's group meeting talk.