I’ve been thinking—in other words dwelling to a likely unhelpful degree—about the unnecessary and peculiar nature of a great many things. For example, haven’t we made enough cars? There are probably more than enough to go around, but we go on making more. We probably, and in fact, have long since passed the point where we have enough of a huge number of things, but we go on, and on, and on. More, and more, and more. Do we just lack that setting of ‘enough’ completely? Did we lose it along the way? Did we sell ‘enough’ to the devil in return for decent internet connectivity? Most probably.
This reminded me of Sally Rooney: “all the various brands of soft drinks in plastic bottles and all the pre-packaged lunch deals and confectionery in sealed bags and store-baked pastries — this is it, the culmination of all the labour in the world, all the burning of fossil fuels and all the back-breaking and work on coffee farms and sugar plantations. all for this! this convenience shop! i felt dizzy thinking about it. i mean i really felt ill. it was as if i suddenly remembered that my life was all part of a television show — and every day people died making the show, we’re ground to death in the most horrific ways, children, women, and all so that i could choose from various lunch options, each packaged in multiple layers of single-use plastic. that was what they died for — that was the great experiment. i thought i would throw up. of course, a feeling like that can’t last. maybe for the rest of the day i feel bad, even for the rest of the week — so what? i still have to buy lunch. and in case you’re worrying about me, let me assure you, buy lunch i did.”
Thank you for your words, Ella. As far as I know, nature is the antidote (and I'm hoping most people aspire to something higher, better, smaller than what we are told we should want).
I think to be truly happy in life (on earth), one needs to be self-unaware, like animals and small children. They enjoy things without thinking and self-reflection. The more aware and open to feelings and impressions, the more pain. Yes, also a more intense enjoyment of certain things. But to me the sadness and pain always overshadow the joy. Thus the hermit crab mentality of me and my kind.
I’ve formulated it for myself: To live (on earth) is unnatural. It is not our true home. I’ve known this since I was a small child. Human beings blunder along as best they can in this strange habitat. They claw and scrape and battle and fight for scraps of joy, thinking (or rather, unthinking) it can be bought or won or acquired by effort. Most wear a rubber skin of unfeelingness to aid survival.
Well, do I have the answer? Not really. Or maybe: Accepting that life (on earth) is an extraordinarily difficult business; looking forward to eternal life after death (the joyous relief); having intense conversations with God; crying often; sleeping and dreaming much; writing and painting and reading; avoiding malls (I call them mads) and loud places; having light contact with most people; and accepting that you just cannot fathom the workings of the world.
..and yet we use technology which exploits children in foreign countries to dig cobalt with their tiny, bare hands. All of us have the opportunity to muse on a different life. They don’t. They will never play the piano, the violin, sing an aria, or learn to oil paint. Walking more softly on the planet, and being a supplicant of nature, might improve your perception of life, but AI is here to stay. And it will suck more resources out of this planet then all the hostess Twinkies, pre-packaged sandwiches, and cars ever could. It’s trademark? A heat signature you can see from space.
This reminded me of Sally Rooney: “all the various brands of soft drinks in plastic bottles and all the pre-packaged lunch deals and confectionery in sealed bags and store-baked pastries — this is it, the culmination of all the labour in the world, all the burning of fossil fuels and all the back-breaking and work on coffee farms and sugar plantations. all for this! this convenience shop! i felt dizzy thinking about it. i mean i really felt ill. it was as if i suddenly remembered that my life was all part of a television show — and every day people died making the show, we’re ground to death in the most horrific ways, children, women, and all so that i could choose from various lunch options, each packaged in multiple layers of single-use plastic. that was what they died for — that was the great experiment. i thought i would throw up. of course, a feeling like that can’t last. maybe for the rest of the day i feel bad, even for the rest of the week — so what? i still have to buy lunch. and in case you’re worrying about me, let me assure you, buy lunch i did.”
Thank you for your words, Ella. As far as I know, nature is the antidote (and I'm hoping most people aspire to something higher, better, smaller than what we are told we should want).
I think to be truly happy in life (on earth), one needs to be self-unaware, like animals and small children. They enjoy things without thinking and self-reflection. The more aware and open to feelings and impressions, the more pain. Yes, also a more intense enjoyment of certain things. But to me the sadness and pain always overshadow the joy. Thus the hermit crab mentality of me and my kind.
I’ve formulated it for myself: To live (on earth) is unnatural. It is not our true home. I’ve known this since I was a small child. Human beings blunder along as best they can in this strange habitat. They claw and scrape and battle and fight for scraps of joy, thinking (or rather, unthinking) it can be bought or won or acquired by effort. Most wear a rubber skin of unfeelingness to aid survival.
Well, do I have the answer? Not really. Or maybe: Accepting that life (on earth) is an extraordinarily difficult business; looking forward to eternal life after death (the joyous relief); having intense conversations with God; crying often; sleeping and dreaming much; writing and painting and reading; avoiding malls (I call them mads) and loud places; having light contact with most people; and accepting that you just cannot fathom the workings of the world.
Go well, my fellow spirit people, and God bless.
..and yet we use technology which exploits children in foreign countries to dig cobalt with their tiny, bare hands. All of us have the opportunity to muse on a different life. They don’t. They will never play the piano, the violin, sing an aria, or learn to oil paint. Walking more softly on the planet, and being a supplicant of nature, might improve your perception of life, but AI is here to stay. And it will suck more resources out of this planet then all the hostess Twinkies, pre-packaged sandwiches, and cars ever could. It’s trademark? A heat signature you can see from space.
Thank you for sharing this. It deeply resonates.
Always a perspective worth reading snd digesting.