The concept of the “big break” pervades our society. It is what the lottery system thrives on – just one inexpensive ticket and you will receive Nirvana (1) forever. It doesn’t happen quite this way, does it? The post-Millennial generation, more than ever, however, is addicted to the “big break theory,” to use my terminology. We see it in the instantaneous superstars, the successful bloggers, and the, so-called, influencers. They seem to have achieved success effortlessly. This is a generation that has seen this illusion thrust upon it, but it can’t be so. (2) It is a false and misleading perception.
Be different, be yourself
What happens when you are unconventional? You become different: you step into a world that is distinct from your confreres. Now, this presents a wide kaleidoscope. This uniqueness can extend from acts of criminality to simply wearing unorthodox clothes or dying your hair green.
Our capacity to think
A person sits in a curious position in the current era. We know that the end of civilization is upon us, or at least that is what we are told. Environmental collapse, social implosion, and runaway terrorism are the bedfellows of modernity. In fact, there are two militants hiding under my desk as we speak. All of this is, of course, pure and utter nonsense. Not that the world is not in dire straits: it is! We have arrived at the “biosphere emergency room.”
The simplicity of life
The other day, I bought a new vacuum cleaner. The box was inordinately large for such a small item. Trying to do my duty as a good citizen of the earth, I asked if I could leave the packaging behind. “No,” I was quickly admonished. “What if you have to bring it back: what about the warranty?” There are logical flaws in this line of thinking. Firstly, I don’t want this much cardboard to clutter up my personal recycling system. Secondly, do they not make a product that is good enough to withstand failure? Should their product, it is only a vacuum after all, not be of such quality that it can withstand collapse for a year?
The alienation of having a job
The other day, I watched a group of disheveled and obviously disgruntled construction workers performing their perfunctory tasks: their efforts were without ambition or, could one say, love. Should not our endeavors be stimulating and enjoyable? The answer from the vast herds of humanity is, “no!” This led me to reflect on the idea of work. What is a job and what does it entail? A job, essentially, is a contract between two individuals; a business may be one of these entities: in the United States, for example, a company is considered a person. (1) This, unfortunately, is a relationship that many people do not want, once they realize the truth.
Sadness as energy
If all happiness lies within, then all sadness must reside there, as well. We live in a society, however, that never wants to discuss melancholia and, in fact, tries to bury it like a dirty little secret. The superlative is always lauded – the fastest, the biggest, the most beautiful – but seldom do we hear – the slowest, the smallest or the ugliest. It would follow that one cannot exist without the other, as we have spoken of before. You need comparisons to give everything context, life and death being the most telling. Why are feelings of isolation and despondency quickly vanquished and sent to the “happy farm” of stimulation — drugs, alcohol and “rock and roll” — so these feeling cannot be truly experienced? In this fictitious world, everything is always sunny and filled with joy. There are no crises; there is no pain. This is just not reality, is it?
The joy of discovery
It is not hard to know the difference between the seeker and non-seeker in life, is it – those who acquiesce to a dutiful role and those who yearn for excitement and adventure? The latter are the ones who receive all the glory and fame, and the former are faceless and forgotten by history. Both groups, however, have their moments of pain, their moments of solitude. (1)
Seeking the true you
I spoke with one of my former students the other day. She is now going to university to achieve a professional medical degree. She remarked, in passing, that her fellow students were very good at science and math but seemed to lack the capacity to think critically about philosophical issues. Her statement is actually borne out by numerous studies that suggest that a STEM degree (science, technology, engineering, and math) must be buttressed with critical thinking skills, some literature and a dose of history. (1) The capacity to think is our one and only gift to the self. A person is an empty vessel at the beginning of consciousness and must slowly fill their “spiritual bottle” with the knowledge of a lifetime to have any chance at life fulfillment and peace.
Love in all its magical ways
We all search for that moment of kindness and thoughtfulness, for we are naturally loving and caring. It is a pernicious reality that faces us for the most part, however. From the time we open our eyes in consciousness, we are presented with situations that belie this fact. They cast doubt of this truth. Negative imagery, angry cars, and gruff people are like foot soldiers reinforcing the gloom in society – its lack of empathy and caring. But just when it seems overwhelming, there is a spark of hope. We come across that refreshingly honest individual, that happy clerk, and the ever-present joyous child.
Your moment of peace
Sometimes when I step out into a light rain, I feel as if I am captured by the moment. One foot proceeds the other and soon I am on an adventure to somewhere – I am not even sure where. I am foraying into my time of peace. Can you feel it? I am sure everyone can. This magical period does not come often enough. I believe that when we discover that instant, we want to stay with her and see where she takes us. The other umbrella-laden figures seem like a blur as we continue on our journey. Like oarsmen in a rowboat, we want to stay with the flow. The speed intensifies and we are lost in our own thoughts. This is our own temporal span of nirvana, our own moment of tranquility. It is often claimed that we live in a violent world. When the mist touches our face, we realize that this is just not true. But, how do we come to this assumption when the average person has never been physically traumatized — neither shot nor stabbed or nor blown up? We adopt this position because of the news and social media. Their non-stop “streaming” has a profound influence on how we view the world.