#bomans

uitzichtloos te bedrinken.

Ik wou dat ik twee schuitjes was,

When it’s all said and done, will you have said more than you’ve done?

It'd be fun: never to announce anything, then out of the blue come up with the most amazing results. A columnist - writer Godfried Bomans - once pointed out a noteworthy difference: the one between Russia's and America's approach to aerospace "PR". He favored Russia's. I went along.

The USA boasts about the things not yet finished. New rockets, future inventions, upcoming milestones. Then, they postpone and postpone. Meanwhile, the newspapers get bored and find a different subject to write about. In the end, America may or may not live up to its promises. The world, by then, just shrugs.

Russia, on the other hand, works in secret. Curiosity rises, but ssshhh, the scientists keep their mouth shut. Then, BOOM, a rocket launches. In awe, the people applaud.

So far Godfried.

...

Would the cheering audience care about the actual progress? Would they give a shit about the naked science?

And should NASA, conversely, care about the common appreciation, when developing something important? Should they give a shit about their "boringness", busy taking steps towards discovery of new life?

I don't mean to pick America's side in this. I've got no clue which country has contributed the most. What I mean to say, is that cool impressiveness is fun; instead of meaningful. Keeping your goals a secret can be enjoyable for once. Yeah, I totally say: learn to play some song on your mothers keyboard and suddenly perform. Keeping your life goals to yourself though, in hope of impressing your friends after several years, speaks of discomfort, distrust and disapproach. (The latter, I fear, is no word; "wrong approach" however, interfered with my rhetorics.)

The people close to you (also: people who want to help you and people who yóu want to help), should be a part of your process and struggles. It's the climb that matters, remember? The view from the top is cute, but it means the most when it's looked upon tired and together, with the people who've clambered along by your side. Posting boastful facebook pics, without having involved someone in your journey, won't give quite as much joy.

So.

Is it superfluous then, to stop and consider if you say more than you do? Nope, it's not. For years, you've been doggedly struggling with your well-paid job, telling your insufferable colleagues about your prospective world tour and novel. Yeah. Please start those two and let your dilapidated boss kiss your dilapidated ass.