Be useless

Most traditional Asian parents wants their kids to be doctors, lawyers, engineers, bankers, in that order. Every culture has their version of this hierarchy of the best jobs to have.

Anything else is “useless".

But being “useless” is better:

曲树自生，直树为材
“A crooked tree lives its own life, but a straight tree becomes timber.” – Zhuangzi, ancient Chinese philosopher

What society labels as “useless” might just be what allows someone to live freely. Because you’re useful to no one, and no one can use you. Only you can open that door as to when you want to be useful.

Sometimes, being too useful is a bad thing.

Be useless.