Eric hoffer is one of my favorite writers of the 20th century. He could not stand intellectuals. One of his main theories was that for people to be mentally healthy and happy, they must work with their hands. They must incorporate into their lives, something physical that gives them joy.

For instance, gardening. It is not physically exhausting, although it can be, but the fruit of labor is visible after harvest. This gives much greater joy to a person than a stock investment that gives a 100% return after 6 months.

My wife's mother is 97 years old. She was a dairy farmer but retired in 1978. If you know about dairy farming, my lord. Hard work.

Anyway, she has a small garden behind her house. Small by her standard, lol.

20' x 60'.

At each end of the garden are stools.

She works the garden once she has went 60 feet, she sits down on the stool, once she has regained the strength to work the length again, then sits back down.

Rinse and repeat.

Her body is breaking down, yet she is mentally as tough as when she was 40.

Pretty amazing, to be honest and mad respect for her.

Her sister by contrast, is 4 years younger and worked her whole life at a company at a desk. She has dementia and is in a nursing home.

To be healthy is not just about hitting the gym, it is about purpose and seeing the fruition of labor.

Intellectuals have no true purpose. Their labor is worthless at the end and they suffer for it.