Hey guys!
You are likely here because you followed the link on my finsta, or maybe you are here simply because you randomly stumbled across my humble blog while surfing the interweb. Either way I would like to do a little 'splaining about what this is!
I struggled for a long time with my infatuation with having a blog because sometimes I think it can be harmful for me to overshare details of my life with a large audience. I can be super sensitive to criticism and others' opinions, and logically having a public blog would open me up to that sort of thing. I also really admire soft-spoken people who can be so peaceful and introverted. I sometimes don't like that I rely so much on other people to think out loud and decide how I feel about things; however, I realized that it is pretty unproductive to try and change or suppress the way I am because I wish I operated differently. I am the way I am, and that's ok! So eventually after some thought, here we are: I have succumbed to the desire of making a blog. Please feel free to comment or message me what you think; I really appreciate feedback!
On the other hand I realized some pretty cool things that come with having a blog! I get to practice my writing, document things I can giggle at later, organize my thoughts, and, perhaps the most important thing: connect with other people. I'm a big believer in the idea that everyone is a weirdo. I think that sometimes people don't want to seem like weirdos because they aren't sure that other people are also weird or they fear that other people won't accept them. I make a big effort to be as honest as possible in my writing, and by being my fully weird, unapologetic self, I hope to help people feel like they can be themselves too!
A few years ago around November/December, I started to get really peeved with the commercialism of the holidays. It felt like all the advertisements catered to, "getting ahead of the game this (insert holiday) season," which implies that the holiday season is all about checking off a list of things to do, all about buying/receiving presents, ingredients, and decorations. I think it's a pretty dangerous track to start thinking, "it would be a great Christmas if I could just get this new pair of shoes." Though the thought, "it would be a great Christmas if I could just buy everyone everything they want," is much more selfless than the first, both are usually pretty good indicators of a certain way of deriving happiness; one that is rooted in material value.
I started to feel like the whole year was just a cycle, a routine that everyone needed to get ahead of. It felt like every year was so busy that people were just constantly going through the motions of appropriate things to do at each time of the year. There is a card in the game Cards Against Humanity that reads, "Getting married, having a few kids, buying some stuff, retiring to Florida, and dying." Though extremely savage, is probably true for a lot of people, which saddens me deeply. I 100% reject the idea that humans were put on this planet simply to go through these motions.
So why are we humans here then? Are we here to better our environment? To organize into political systems? To be happy? Bettering the environment is definitely something we should aim to do, but I would argue that the only reason humans really better the environment is to be happier, or to increase the earth's carrying capacity of life. So if our purpose is to better the environment, what is the result of that? More people or animals existing? I like to think our purpose involves more than just existing. Organizing into political systems is also similar to bettering the environment in that it is a tool we use to increase quality of life or better support more life on earth.
I am willing to entertain the argument that we are here to be as happy as possible, on the most consistent basis. But, a major key (DJ Khaled where you at?) in being happy is other people! I did a thought experiment and thought about all the things that I could go without besides my basic needs like food, shelter, etc. I could do without my closet full of clothes, house that I live in, my car, and lots of other things lots I take for granted. But there was one thing I am positive that I would go crazy without, and that was other people! If I could everything I desired, even in my wildest dreams, I would be wildly unhappy if there was no one to share my success or material wealth with. Similar to Plato's argument against a tyrant's lifestyle in the Republic, I don't think anything really has much value without good relationships with the people around you. I believe humans' main purpose in life is to coexist and lift each other up through connection and compassion.
The thing is, I don't think this belief is unique to me either. I think that if a lot of people thought deeply about this, they would feel the same way. This whole train of thought that began with my Christmas story brings me to my point: I am here to find happiness for sure and gain self knowledge, but this is all only possible because of YOU. Because of every single person walking down a random street in a random place, at a random given hour. Because of all 20,000+ students and faculty at NC State. Because of people who live in different places around the world. I have endless love for every person on this planet, so much love that it sometimes is too much for me. It fills up my little heart, and it often makes me sad when people don't love themselves.
So yeah, that's what I have for today. I mainly just wanted to let all of you know that I love and care for you more than you know<3
This is a really beautiful perspective! It's also kind of sad when you realize that we, as the human race, will never achieve this purpose. There's good in everyone but there's also evil, selfishness, malice, etc. built into each person and it's always prevailing somewhere in someone. As it applies to individuals, though, it's definitely a good goal to strive each day to put as much love into the world as we can.
ReplyDeleteAlso, if our purpose really is just to survive as a species, strong relationships with one another is actually crucial to that goal and our desire to bond with others is what helped our ancestors survive!