Тонкое искусство пофигизма

           Itwashissimpleabilitytobecompletely,unflinchinglyhonestwithhimself—especiallytheworstpartsofhimself—andtosharehisfailingswithouthesitationordoubt. 

           ThisistherealstoryofBukowski’ssuccess:hiscomfortwithhimselfasafailure. Bukowskididn’tgiveafuckaboutsuccess. Evenafterhisfame,hestillshoweduptopoetryreadingshammeredandverballyabusedpeopleinhisaudience. Hestillexposedhimselfinpublicandtriedtosleepwitheverywomanhecouldfind. Fameandsuccessdidn’tmakehimabetterperson. Norwasitbybecomingabetterpersonthathebecamefamousandsuccessful. 

           Self-improvementandsuccessoftenoccurtogether. Butthatdoesn’tnecessarilymeanthey’rethesamething. 

           Ourculturetodayisobsessivelyfocusedonunrealisticallypositiveexpectations: Behappier. Behealthier. Bethebest,betterthantherest. Besmarter,faster,richer,sexier,morepopular,moreproductive,moreenvied,andmoreadmired. Beperfectandamazingandcrapouttwelve-karat-goldnuggetsbeforebreakfasteachmorningwhilekissingyourselfie-readyspouseandtwoandahalfkidsgoodbye. Thenflyyourhelicoptertoyourwonderfullyfulfillingjob,whereyouspendyourdaysdoingincrediblymeaningfulworkthat’slikelytosavetheplanetoneday. 

           Butwhenyoustopandreallythinkaboutit,conventionallifeadvice—allthepositiveandhappyself-helpstuffwehearallthetime—isactuallyfixatingonwhatyoulack.