“Cascading waves of change – events we think to be inconsequential – can effect the future unintentionally. What if you had the power to effect monumental change? Would you let fear consume? Or would you overcome? We can send a message – a warning – of man’s inept understanding. We have that message. Though the story is not inevitable, and a society does evolve, we can change our fate. We can change our future. We can change the past.”~The Starset Society
I like to challenge myself mentally. A lot of people enjoy a political or religious debate. I have beliefs on both but they are pretty cut and dry and I don’t let others dictate my opinions on those particular subjects. On the other hand, I have a lot of spiritual and existential thoughts and questions. I guess I have an interest in “existentialism”, in general. As I was doing some reading, studying, whatever you want to call it, I came across the following description of an existential attitude ~ “a sense of disorientation or confusion in the face of an apparently meaningless or absurd world”. Philosopher Søren Kierkegaard proposed that “each individual – not society or religion – is solely responsible for giving meaning to life and living it passionately and sincerely.” We are individuals and we are what we stand for and what we live for. Why do we depend on others to tell us how to feel or what to believe?
I spend a lot of time trying to figure out what is real in this world. That’s where the absurdity comes in. Whether we accept it or not, most everything we do is controlled by someone else. There are laws, rules at work, rules to games we play, costs associated with our freedom and happiness. To be clear, these things are needed to prevent chaos but that chaos comes from our own kind. What is it about the human race that necessitates a law to prevent shoplifting, assault, rape or murder? At times, the law doesn’t even prevent it. What are we doing? You don’t have to be religious to understand right and wrong or good and bad. I don’t question why these things are a part of our lives but I question that which makes them have to be.
We all have been ingrained with the way things are supposed to be. We are often scared to question it because it can be viewed as dissension or would place a label on us. I admit that I’m guilty! The fear is driven by another bane of existence ~ the need to be liked and accepted. We will constantly change our opinions and feelings to satisfy the people we want to be accepted by. I’ve reached a point in my life where I have thrown in the towel on that and am much happier. I like my music, my movies, my clothes, my hobbies like baseball cards, my routines and my opinions. The people in my life fit into those things. Not because I changed to like something they like or vice versa but because those things helped us gravitate toward each other. If that’s not sincere or authentic, I don’t know what is. I’m not perfect by any means but I know what makes my heart beat now more than I ever have and I immerse myself in it as often as possible.
Take a look around you. We are in a shitstorm. Politicians are killing us. Terrorists are killing us. Our jobs are killing us. Money problems are killing us. We are killing ourselves. There was a debate on my Facebook page this week about which politician was the lesser of evils. Does it matter? Really, deep down, does it matter? Do we have any control? Will we have any more or less under a new regime? I’m not trying to play the doomsday card. I’m trying to convey that now, more than ever, is a time for individualism. I’ve had to accept the world for what it is to fully embrace that notion. It’s “absurd and meaningless.” Don’t jump off of a cliff – The entire world isn’t meaningless to me. But many of the things we’ve made important as a society are meaningless.
The media, politicians, govt leaders, preachers, the Kardashian’s, Lady Gaga, Kanye, Trump, Cruz, Hillary, Bernie…..all flawed and unworthy of the attention they are given. Not aiming for a political theme here but let this sink in. We are in the middle of deciding who the leader of the free world is between (1) a socialist who thinks the harder you work, the more you should pay to those that don’t, (2) a real estate tycoon and tv personality who pitches a fit and calls people names when faced with a tough discussion, (3) a script reading, slogan slinging politician that touts his faith and religion who may or may not have slept with half of Washington and (4) possibly one of the worst human beings I can think of that is married to someone who actually did sleep with half of Washington. All of them would be a step up from our current situation. As Alicia often says, “Jesus people!” Man, I’ve gotten sidetracked.
Back to my point. We are responsible for our own happiness. It’s clear from all of the above that there are major aspects of our world that are beyond repair in our lifetime. We define ourselves and that should be our focus. One of the tenets of existentialism is that while we are responsible for our actions, we are also defined by how we act. By default, the way we choose to act defines us. If you do unsavory things, you are an unsavory person. If you do well unto others, you are a caring person. Your situation can’t define you. Poverty can’t be a reason for crime. Fear can’t be a reason for solitude. Pain can’t be a reason you inflict pain on others. Authentic living is the ability to invent yourself and then live as yourself. Not necessarily as you were raised or as someone “like you” should live. Most likely these things help shape you but ultimately the decisions you make should be your own. When you start making decisions with your own heart, your true self is formed and you are projected onto others.
I know, quite a rant filled subject for a Saturday night but sometimes it all becomes too much in my head and it’s got to hit the paper. This helps it all fall away. It’s also part of my evolution. I’m trying to break free of the clutches of the culture that we have created over the last couple of decades. In doing so, I realize that I don’t need to do it alone and I need to try and bring as many people with me as I can. We might have to rebuild this place one day….possibly sooner rather than later. There has to be more of us out there than them, right? I envision this futuristic scene where the world is decaying and the population is fighting for what they want and need with no regard for others. A small group of strong, kind, honest people will travel from place to place helping others that can’t help themselves. By virtue of those good deeds, the group grows in numbers until they are large enough to take back society and their world. It reminds me of Fallout 4, a video game set in a post nuclear world. The truth is without my knowledge of that game, it would remind me of the actual world we are living in today. All we really know is ourselves. We have to understand that and grow from there. That’s how we take back our own world. And in the least selfish way I can mean it, our own world is the most important. When we control that, we can start to make more profound changes around us.
Joey
Well said and “well” thought. Joey for President!