This is what's happening with me right now. Last week I took a test and had no idea what to do, until I remembered a key step in a process that was needed to find solutions. I remembered this step with five minutes left. That was a bit more than frustrating. I want to care, but I simply don't. Thanks for sharing your perspective, I'll think on it today. Technique vs. work is something I hadn't considered.something solely relegated to the world of Buddhists, people who meditate, and musicians.
Funny you say that. I passively read Buddhist texts to get my dose of philosophy, and I'm a musician.I used to go in math class, learn a concept, get it, walk out and forget it. I would forget what concepts I was supposed to apply on a test because, bam, right out of my head. I didn't care about my math homework. I rushed it whenever I could. I did it in homeroom or at lunch.
I mean, the difference may not help you if you don't care about having that information available to you in the long run. However I'd posit that: 1) It's always nice to feel smart, and if you do it right you can remember these things for life 2) I'd rather know something than have to look it up online 3) Even if it's not directly related to what you want to do, doesn't mean the knowledge might be not come in handy one day. Oh, being a musician totally converted me to the idea that practice will get you nearly anywhere. It also makes me somewhat tyrannical about it, as in "You don't practice every day? Well what do you expect without work! Success?!?!" I've always been thankful for that though. It helped teach me self-discipline and see that hard work does reap rewards, and the way to do it is hard work, every day. Personally, I found it a lot more difficult to care in high school than in college - but in college I seesawed a bit and went the other way into "crazy grade-obsessed control freak," which ultimately didn't end prettily either. Don't go overboard. I think kb mentions that below. But you know. Caring is good. If creepy.