Typically the first question that is asked when you meet someone new in a social setting is, “what do you do for a living?”. I was bombarded with this question all day long as I was in a room with nearly 70 strangers.

It’s such an awkward question to answer because my life isn’t just about my “occupation” of trading time for money (the assumed response), but comprised of my writing, the philosophy group I co-organize, the marathon running, the swimming, the rock climbing, the drumming, the go have a beer once in awhile, and the masters student in psychology. 

My response today as it felt most natural: “I’m a philosophical engineer.”