Dear David, I feel your indecision, unease, and (maybe) even desperation. They are the feelings of any and every person pondering emigré or refugee life (leaving **home**), felt by wandering humans over eons. At least you still have the possibilities of **choice** before you at this point in time. There is great freedom in that. The world is chaotic and becoming increasingly hostile to reason, common sense, peace, and human altruistic fellow feeling. However, the world has always been a dangerous place. Even absent war, famine, pestilence, and plague—in a relatively **safe** city or country (if there is such a thing right now)—you could step off of a curb somewhere and be hit by the first bus, or taxi cab that comes along. Life is precious and fragile. Choose whatever is the best thing for you **and** you family. Go where you **all** might live and thrive. In the end, family is **the** most important thing. Career development, advancement, and accolades are **not** unimportant. But trust me, no great achievement is worth the sacrifice of family. I speak as one who for many years made wrong choices in this area, and now look back on a personal history that I wish had gone much differently. And it could have, if only I had had my priorities in correct order. I hope this advice from a random stranger is not an affront. I am only a **fan** of you music and podcasts. I know that I have no right to give any advice. But the world is a painfully messed up place, and my first impulse now in life is to do whatever I can, whenever I can (however small), to try to make it a better place—tikkun olam.
Thank you for your words. I completely agree with everything you wrote. However, it's hard to imagine that a war could start. In my city of Prešov, a large military hospital is being built. We live 80 km from the Ukrainian border. Our Prime Minister was on an unofficial visit to Moscow. He has a pro-Russian narrative, and I feel a bit worried that he is pulling our small Slovakia away from the European Union towards Russia. I am horrified by this, but on the other hand, I believe it won't happen, that he doesn't have that much power... Career and awards are the last thing on my mind, if at all... I wrote this because I live and create here, and now I have to consider the possibility that I might have to leave...
Again, please accept my apologies if I stuck my words and opinions in (ignorantly) where they were not wanted. In the US, we do not hear a lot about Slovakia. I can only imagine that it is a stressful situation for you. And here I am, an ignorant American, offering advice (or appearing to). I wanted only to offer solace and encouragement. Peace.
Dear David, I feel your indecision, unease, and (maybe) even desperation. They are the feelings of any and every person pondering emigré or refugee life (leaving **home**), felt by wandering humans over eons. At least you still have the possibilities of **choice** before you at this point in time. There is great freedom in that. The world is chaotic and becoming increasingly hostile to reason, common sense, peace, and human altruistic fellow feeling. However, the world has always been a dangerous place. Even absent war, famine, pestilence, and plague—in a relatively **safe** city or country (if there is such a thing right now)—you could step off of a curb somewhere and be hit by the first bus, or taxi cab that comes along. Life is precious and fragile. Choose whatever is the best thing for you **and** you family. Go where you **all** might live and thrive. In the end, family is **the** most important thing. Career development, advancement, and accolades are **not** unimportant. But trust me, no great achievement is worth the sacrifice of family. I speak as one who for many years made wrong choices in this area, and now look back on a personal history that I wish had gone much differently. And it could have, if only I had had my priorities in correct order. I hope this advice from a random stranger is not an affront. I am only a **fan** of you music and podcasts. I know that I have no right to give any advice. But the world is a painfully messed up place, and my first impulse now in life is to do whatever I can, whenever I can (however small), to try to make it a better place—tikkun olam.
Hi Ted,
Thank you for your words. I completely agree with everything you wrote. However, it's hard to imagine that a war could start. In my city of Prešov, a large military hospital is being built. We live 80 km from the Ukrainian border. Our Prime Minister was on an unofficial visit to Moscow. He has a pro-Russian narrative, and I feel a bit worried that he is pulling our small Slovakia away from the European Union towards Russia. I am horrified by this, but on the other hand, I believe it won't happen, that he doesn't have that much power... Career and awards are the last thing on my mind, if at all... I wrote this because I live and create here, and now I have to consider the possibility that I might have to leave...
Again, please accept my apologies if I stuck my words and opinions in (ignorantly) where they were not wanted. In the US, we do not hear a lot about Slovakia. I can only imagine that it is a stressful situation for you. And here I am, an ignorant American, offering advice (or appearing to). I wanted only to offer solace and encouragement. Peace.
No ignorance, your words are great. Right in the middle. Thank you.