I am often amazed at how similar we all actually are. There is very little that truly differentiates man from one another. Yes, we do have different cultural upbringings, different skin color, and different religions. But, in the end, we are motivated by a deep desire to be loved, to be respected and to make the world a slightly better place because we have been a part of it. What does distinguish us, from one another, however, most decidedly, is the way that we perceive the world through education, especially moral education – the concept of what is right and what is wrong relative to ethics and propriety. I am troubled that we are coming to accept certain behaviors as horrific and disgusting but still within the parameters of the understandable: vile but understandable. One of these has to be violence. On a daily basis, I am exposed to hundreds of murders and assaults: a car bomb here, a suicide attack there, the violation and harm to a woman, or to many. Brutality that we read about in the many annals of history: the Mongol Invasion of Europe, (1) quickly comes to mind. The difficulty I have with all of this is that none of it is real. “Why?” you may ask. The answer is because I, for my own part, don’t experience any of this. In fact, I have never personally been exposed to the events that we read about on a day-to-day basis. I only know what I know!
Now, this does that mean that world events are not real — of course not. They exist in the world as much as I exist. That does not mean, however, that I can take them out of context and place them in my reality. As Emerson (1803-1882) tells us in his essay entitled Experience, “Dream delivers us to dream, and there is no end to illusion. Life is a train of moods like a string of beads, and as we pass through them they prove to be many-colored lenses which paint the world their own hue, and each shows only what lies in its focus. From the mountain, you see the mountain. We animate what we can, and we see only what we animate. Nature and books belong to the eyes that see them. It depends on the mood of the man whether he shall see the sunset or the fine poem.” This means that we should see the world as a dynamic and exciting reality if we want to experience life in that way; if not, we can choose a more nihilistic and negative approach. The choice, sadly, seems to be up to the individual. The caveat would have to be unless you have psychological problems. The mind is many faceted and it behooves the individual to decide whether there is an existential crisis of perception (3) to be dealt with or something much more serious. (4) The important point in all of this is that you are very much “the captain of your own ship” in your navigation of life’s events. The phone could most certainly be criticized for damaging the world of imagination. (5) When you have infinity at your fingertips, it is hard to believe that something exists beyond that illusion – but, it does. The secret is to “wake up.” Everyone is different so this my personal approach to problem-solving. I find that to be panicked and confused is a normal part of living in the world and being alive. What I do when I feel this way is to go for a walk, “alone,” in nature or in a park, and assess how lucky I am to be me, to be alive. I “count my blessings,” as the churchmen say. I then review my options and I make a decision. I believe that any decision is better than no decision. I then act with the full realization that I can alter or ameliorate my decision at a later date. Later, because I acted, I will have more information to make an even better decision. An example: when I was young, I decided to leave my little town and move to another city. It was horrible: I was very unhappy and lonely. At my new job, however, I met a man who was going to Hungary. I went to Europe with him and it changed my life. Action is the elixir of life. Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) leaves with a thought: It’s the action, not the fruit of the action, that’s important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there’ll be any fruit. But that doesn’t mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.
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A closing thought: We are always alive with thoughts and frustrations: some large and some not so large. In all of this, I am asked to keep my mental focus, work hard and contribute to my family, and society as a whole. Some days my mandate seems overwhelming. I have learned that if I accomplish these three initial tasks, my day has a better chance at success. Firstly, when I open my eyes, I thank the good Lord for another day of consciousness: Wow! At sixty-one you are appreciative, let me tell you. Secondly, after I do my exercises, I make my bed. Thirdly, and finally, I wash: I wash my face, shave and brush my teeth. I now feel, tentatively prepared to face my family, though not yet the world.
To sum up: This week, we spoke about being corrupted by the world, a world that most of us do not know. We must inculcate our life with “upbeat” and optimistic energy: why not? We also spoke about our need to protect our mental health and some of the methods that we can use to begin our day positively.
A philosophical question: If I look at the world in “a positive light,” am I just being naïve? “But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.” Ephesians (5:7-14)
Just for fun — Dr. Hook – Sylvia’s Mother
This week, please ponder how you start your day.
Every day look for something magical and beautiful
Quote: One of the greatest truisms of life is that the way I perceive the world is ultimately how it comes to exist: not always, but usually.
Footnotes:
2) Experience by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Essays: Second Series, published in 1844. The essay is preceded by a poem of the same title
3) 9 Uncomfortable Signs You Are Going Through an Existential Crisis.
4) Suicide
5) Smartphone addiction causes an imbalance in the brain that makes people tired and anxious, study finds.