Vivacity - Don't Be A Wage Slave

We are becoming a dour people, aren’t we? The news media fills us with pain and suffering. The Internet explores the deepest crevices of evil, and AI is often treated as though it were adumbrating God. Am I to forgo the experience of the joy of simply being alive — just existing?

No, of course not. The answer, however, lies inside of me: in my personality and in the way I approach life. We have all met developed people like this — individuals who are excited about their own lives and the lives of others. They fill us with such vivaciousness that, in meeting them, you feel better and more grounded. This person could be your mentor, a close relative, or a kind friend. All such beings make each of us a little more special, a little more vital. How, then, can I bring this joy and vivacity into my own heart?

It is important to note that each of us is an individual with an innate set of traits and qualities. John Locke, (1) for one, would disagree with this concept. He believed that at birth each of us possessed a tabula rasa — a blank slate — and everything was learned empirically through worldly experience.

Family life, however, will tell us that this is not entirely true. Each child, at delivery, possesses a unique personality that can be shaped but not wholly created. If one wishes to develop a certain positive type of disposition, one must be inculcated with the belief that all is possible — all can be achieved, within the limits of one’s givens. (2)

It is these characteristics that must be managed. Perhaps you naturally despise mornings, or possibly possess a tendency toward laziness or procrastination. These are traits that must be diminished or removed. They are like millstones or crosses that each of us must carry or bear. No human being escapes without some inner burden. (3)

Creating a vivacious personality requires education and practice. At present, it is even more difficult to alter a negative consciousness because social media streams what appears to be reality. Unfortunately, this reality is often tinged and framed by the sensationalist “yellow journalistic style” pioneered by William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer at the beginning of the twentieth century. (4) Everything is exaggerated; very little is rationalized or analyzed. The result is a negative understanding of the world. If one’s personality leans toward such a worldview, it becomes imperative to introduce an element of hope and mythology.

The more we see life as an exciting and meaningful reality, the more real it becomes. A society’s morale is created by its universal ethos — its shared belief that the direction in which civilization is moving is good for the society as a whole. In positive and growing cultures, this belief has advanced the growth of mankind. Zeitgeist (5) or vivacity has always been an important factor in this maturity. Robert F. Kennedy leaves us with a thought: We live in interesting times. They are times of danger and uncertainty, but they are also the most creative of any time in the history of mankind.

A closing thought: Many men, regardless of social class, throughout history, have experienced a deep desire for success and adventure. One such adventure was experienced by Nathaniel Courthope. (6) He entered the service of the East India Company and attempted to break the Dutch stranglehold on the spice trade in the Banda Islands of modern-day Indonesia. One of these islands — Run — was the major producer of nutmeg during the early seventeenth century. At that time, nutmeg was valued more highly than gold. It was considered an elixir of life, associated with longevity and protection from the plague.

Like many great adventurers in history, he died during his quest, thereby gaining a kind of mythical status. Yet the results of his efforts were remarkable. The Dutch retained ownership of Run but ultimately gave up claims to New York and Long Island in exchange. (7) Such is the value of action, and the strangeness of history.

To sum up: This week, we spoke about becoming vivacious.

To be noted: From Friedrich Nietzsche — What matters is not eternal life but eternal vivacity.

Just for fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgXSomPE_FY&list=RDSgXSomPE_FY&start_radio=1

For reflection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaQZFhrW0fU

This week, on your reflective walk, please ponder what vivacity means to your life.

Every day, look for something magical and beautiful.

Don’t be a wage slave – critical thinking is great!

Quote: Be excited about your life!

Footnotes:

1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5C-s4JrymKM

2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_givens

3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PIDEx-GvnQ