emotional frustration related to my knife stuff

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Why can't you go to school? I have ADHD, Bipolar Depression, and seasonal affective disorder. I have managed those conditions well, and have had a very successful career as a family therapist.

I am in a position where I am considering career opportunities. Knife making is not one of them, even though I make reasonable knives. I have enough in savings to support me for the next 2.5 years while I finish my Masters Degree. I am a quick reader, so I have 1/2 day every day to play in the shop while working on my education :). To make 100,000.00 per year making knives is a rare thing. Its a great hobby, and can even make you some pocket change if you develop your shop smartly.
 
24 yrs (23+1) of your dad love & nurturing, frustration over this knife making is mutual. Project yourself 30 yrs into the future when you are a dad and try to tell/insist your kids to avoid iffy career. Your dad guidance over this, whether right or wrong - years later you may see that it takes a big loving person to gave and expect nothing but hope to help shaping a bright future for you. Knife making is quite easy in compare to life making, having an ability to be self critical from a 3rd person perspective will add depth to whatever-endeavor making.

If my blah is off-base or misguided, just ignore it.
 
I don't know what kind of relationship you have with your father, but at 23 you should be in a position to be making major life decisions independent of his approval. I don't mean that to be harsh... we all seek the approval of a father figure, even when we become fathers ourselves. It's never too late to start a career path. I was in my mid 30s with a bachelor degree under my belt before I realized I needed a different path. It's a scary chance to take, but in the end worth it.

Ultimately people need your permission to make you feel bad/insecure/etc. Your father may seem unhelpful or hurtful but his intentions may be purely to help you become independent and successful. It could be that he doesn't understand the passion of a knifemaker... few non-makers do understand the obsession. In the end, whether he is right or wrong, you have to decide was is right for you and live with the choices.
 
I'm 23 in two months. My father was very harsh and strict with me between the ages of 15 - 18. A lot of it had to do with my future. When I was 15, I wanted to drop out of school at the end of grade 9 and do something in a technical college. He would have none of it. Stay in school he said. That same year, if I stayed in school, I didn't want to further my school education with mathematics and science. He would have none of it. Finish school with mathematics and science he said. We had huge arguments, souring our relationship for about two years. At the age of 18, I didn't know quite what to do after I finished school, but my dad told me to get a science degree first before venturing out to do whatever, because I'm young and dumb and don't have a level head at the age of 18, but he always saw me leaning towards science, and I admit I always did have an interest in science. So I went to university and got a bachelor of science degree in geology. I did well enough in my degree to be accepted to study further, doing honours, and I'm currently in my honours year now. After those last 8 years, I now see that he was just looking out for me, and used his experience to guide me on a better path. I thank him for that. He pulled me away from making potentially stupid decisions. Your father is just trying to do the same. I also make knives, but for fun. I would never try to follow a career in it now. I'd never be able to support myself. I'll maybe sell my knives later on in life as a hobby, or will most likely give them away. There is so much competition out there. You obviously enjoy working with metal, so try do a trade in it, and do knives on the side. Lets be honest, at 23, we don't know much, we still have a looong way to go. So follow you father's advice. He most likely isn't trying to put you down, he's trying to help you
 
Hey, just thought I'd throw another option at you... if you want to go into the trades, join a union. By the time you turn out as a journeyman, you'll have learned a skill and possibly have an applied science degree... at least that's the way it works in some unions like the sheet metal workers union...
 
I can share my experience that is perhaps similar to yours.

I wanted to start my own business in this handmade knife/ tool/ art world since I was 13. I got jobs in machine shops and attended School of American Craft up at Rochester, NY. I dropped out b/c I found that pursuing something artistically and having to make a living from it too just didnt jive!

Now after 10+ years working at a machine shop that can pay my bills and most importantly provide health care for my family and I , I can finally pursue this knife making thing in addition to my day job. It is much more enjoyable for me this way.

Just develop your self a realistic long term plan to achieve your goals.
sincerely,
tim
 
The advice to pursue a career and make knifemaking a serious hobby is good advice. The most well known makers are often people who are successful in other careers...or used to be. We have rocket scientists ( Batson) engineers, electricians, sculptors, carpenters, seamen, fishermen, goldsmiths and jewelers, truck drivers, rock musicians, psychiatrists, therapists, and many others. What these guys all have in common is reliable employment, often with good benefits. A working spouse with good benefits is also a big plus. Being fully employed allows one to pursue the hobby of knifemaking without starvation or stress over bills. Paying the bills, and health insurance are the two biggest reasons full time makers quit. No retirement is another.
 
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