Altoids by the Fistful Published September 21, 2025 --- The article is a reflective narrative blending a quirky anecdote with deeper thoughts on work, motivation, frustration, and personal growth. The Altoids Anecdote The author meets Jim at a bar, who enthusiastically demonstrates eating Altoids in an unusual way: he half-chews one and then a mysterious "cat turd"—a term Jim uses metaphorically for unpleasant tasks or burdens. Jim claims Altoids, particularly spearmint, help mask the unpleasantness completely, making difficult parts of work easier to endure. The author is both fascinated and horrified, observing Jim’s deliberate and theatrical consumption of these "cat turds," symbolizing a ritual for coping with unpleasant, unavoidable tasks. "Cat Turds" as a Metaphor Throughout the article, "cat turds" represent the tedious, frustrating, or soul-draining tasks we must endure in work and life. These include: Difficult technical problems (e.g., the challenging YAML template problem the author struggles with). Bureaucratic or pointless tasks that seemingly serve no meaningful purpose. The grind of mundane day-to-day obligations. Reflection on Work and Passion The author contrasts past enthusiasm for programming and learning with present-day exhaustion and disenchantment. Younger Self was passionate, memorizing trivia and showing pride in technical mastery, sometimes exhibiting arrogance and intolerance. Present Self recognizes flaws in that attitude, including gatekeeping knowledge and unfair judgment of others. There is an internal conflict between caring deeply about quality and feeling drained by tasks that seem pointless or forced. The Burden of Unwanted Responsibilities The narrative captures the weariness of continually facing "cat turds" without respite. The author expresses frustration at complex, fragile systems, endless meetings, and unclear work goals. Despite moments of wanting to opt out or delegate (e.g., using AI tools to automate boring tasks), the author struggles with the feeling that these responsibilities are personal burdens to bear alone. This sense of alienation is intensified by observing colleagues who outsource effort and seemingly avoid genuine engagement with their work. Thoughts on Care and Motivation The author recalls influences from their father’s meticulous care in household tasks and wonders how care factors into professional identity. They grapple with possibility of "selectively caring"—investing effort only in meaningful tasks while letting go of trivial ones. The metaphor of painting cabinet backs, where unseen surfaces might not need full attention, illustrates the dilemma of where to expend effort. AI and chatbots are seen as potential helpers in managing "cat turds," though relying on them conflicts with the author’s sense of personal responsibility and pride. Closing Scenes and Mood The article ends with quiet, contemplative scenes: a late train ride where the author observes another struggling with slow, tedious document creation aided by chatbots, likely dealing with their own metaphorical "cat turds." A late-night walk home accentuates feelings of isolation, exhaustion, and loss of former ambition. The author reflects on aging, legacy, and the slow fading of care in both familial and professional spheres. The narrative closes with a poignant moment inspecting a cookie tin filled with unwrapped chocolates—indistinct and slightly grimy—mirroring the haze of disengagement and numbness. --- Themes: The metaphor of "cat turds" illuminates the universal experience of unavoidable, unpleasant work. The tension between caring deeply and preserving energy against burnout. The challenge of sustaining passion in a technical career fraught with frustrations. The role of technology (AI) as both aid and existential threat to personal engagement. Personal growth through acknowledging past