A person who dedicates his or her life to a pursuit of contemplative ideals and practices extreme self-denial or self-mortification for religious reasons. While my meaning isn't strictly religious, it got me thinking about other than this aspect, much of my life could be considered ascetic.
I joined winter drumline as a sophomore in high school, with much prodding from my father. I played the cello, and they needed a bass guitar player (something that is easily transferable), and so I joined. I immediately loved the military-like atmosphere, the long hours perfecting our art, and the performances that stole away every weekend since between the months of October and April. I have been asked several times by many different people why I do this activity. My honest answer? I have no idea. After high school, I wanted to continue this hobby, so I joined Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps, whose season lasts from January to September, and Minnesota Brass Indoor, a winter ensemble whose season lasts between November and mid-April. At one point, when the seasons overlap, I have rehearsals and shows that last anywhere from 4 hours to 12 hours, 3 to 4 days a week. It sounds crazy right? For a musician, I believe that this is a dedication to a pursuit of contemplative ideals, which includes a lot of self-denial. Our members have to miss "normal" life activities in order to be a part of this organization. Not to mention, summer costs $450 just to march, winter is $800. This portion makes it so that members can't really even afford to do anything else. I see the Protestant work ethic written all over this activity: having a strong work ethic and willingness to devote oneself to their calling. I never really thought of this activity being capitalist, as my understanding was that capitalism strove to make as much monetary income as possible, but Weber describes it somewhat differently, "Capitalism may even be identical with the restraint, or at least a rational tempering, of this irrational impulse. But capitalism is identical with the restraint, or at least a rational tempering, of this irrational impulse." (p. 17)
At the end of the day, I'm ok with this because I'm doing what I love. I'll never make a lot of money doing it, but it is an activity that forces a strong work ethic.
I joined winter drumline as a sophomore in high school, with much prodding from my father. I played the cello, and they needed a bass guitar player (something that is easily transferable), and so I joined. I immediately loved the military-like atmosphere, the long hours perfecting our art, and the performances that stole away every weekend since between the months of October and April. I have been asked several times by many different people why I do this activity. My honest answer? I have no idea. After high school, I wanted to continue this hobby, so I joined Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps, whose season lasts from January to September, and Minnesota Brass Indoor, a winter ensemble whose season lasts between November and mid-April. At one point, when the seasons overlap, I have rehearsals and shows that last anywhere from 4 hours to 12 hours, 3 to 4 days a week. It sounds crazy right? For a musician, I believe that this is a dedication to a pursuit of contemplative ideals, which includes a lot of self-denial. Our members have to miss "normal" life activities in order to be a part of this organization. Not to mention, summer costs $450 just to march, winter is $800. This portion makes it so that members can't really even afford to do anything else. I see the Protestant work ethic written all over this activity: having a strong work ethic and willingness to devote oneself to their calling. I never really thought of this activity being capitalist, as my understanding was that capitalism strove to make as much monetary income as possible, but Weber describes it somewhat differently, "Capitalism may even be identical with the restraint, or at least a rational tempering, of this irrational impulse. But capitalism is identical with the restraint, or at least a rational tempering, of this irrational impulse." (p. 17)
At the end of the day, I'm ok with this because I'm doing what I love. I'll never make a lot of money doing it, but it is an activity that forces a strong work ethic.
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