It is a given truism that we live in a contemporary culture that presents us with instantaneous images or ideas: success, failure; attractive, repugnant; rich, poor; beautiful, ugly, excellence, mediocrity, etc. I remind myself, however, that I am viewing everything through the lens of history – my history. I have silver on my temples. I have thus learned “how to filter” the necessary philosophical understandings that have brought me to today.
Young people, nonetheless, don’t have that benefit. They are simply encouraged to believe that everything fell out of some “magical, ready-made box.” This is especially true with popular modern music. Its blandness, for the most part, is a direct result of the music industry negating our capacity to imagine and create. (1) A basic leveling of quality and artistic output is being presented to the average individual on an ongoing basis. It is relatively easy to pontificate on how “bad things are.” I find that many people want to comment on the great difficulties that Millennials and post-Millennials face, for example. (2)
I am not so easily swayed. I think that we are, of course, told that “the end is nigh.” Young people will live unrequited lives filled with confusion and suffering. Now, the old (I feel my hand shooting upward, acknowledging attendance) will have a difficult time, as well, reduced to some patch of sickness and despair. I disagree: This is not life. It never has been and it never will be. This is until our species is expunged. The element that is being missed in all of these arguments, I feel, is work – effort. I must get down to the journey of me.
The earlier I realize that there is no one but me in a philosophical sense, excluding the relationship accessed through my sixth sense, (3) the quicker I am going to “get on the train.” Virtually all the historical figures that have achieved fame and success have done so at great sacrifice to themselves and their family. The one message that we must continually reinforce is that life is not one smooth trek to nirvana. It is filled with pitfalls, failures, and drawbacks. The individual must steel himself for the onslaught of failures that come with accepting the mantle that “I am unique,” “I have a mission to fulfill.” The corollary here, of course, is that we are all unique, but few will acknowledge that reality. Most people, by the time their lives are expunged, will have accepted “good enough” in attitude, demeanor, and in their position in life – spiritually, philosophically, and materially. This does not have to be. But an effort must be made by each of us if we intend to live a life fully lived. The great poet and novelist, Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) leaves us with a thought:
Before He Makes Each One
Before he makes each one
of us, God speaks.
Then, without speaking,
he takes each one
out of the darkness.
And these are the cloudy
words God speaks
before each of us begins:
“You have been sent out
by your senses. Go
to the farthest edge
of desire, and give me
clothing: burn like a great
fire so that the stretched-out
shadows of the things
of the world cover
me completely.
Let everything happen
to you: beauty and terror.
You must just go–
no feeling is the farthest
you can go. Don’t let
yourself be separated
from me. The country
called life is close.
By its seriousness,
you will know it.
Give me your hand.
A closing thought: I believe that as long as I can act, I can effect change. The other day, I came upon a man begging outside an elegant store. I then went for a long walk and, by chance, passed by the same store again some three hours later. He was still there. He caught my attention. I was forced to ask: “Could this be me?” After some reflection, I answered, “No, this could not be me.” Why not? “Simply put, I know, as all of us know, that nothing will be achieved with inaction. If I sit and wait for life, it will simply pass me by. With action, there will be a reaction: either negative or positive. I will then be able to respond accordingly. Parts of this essay were first published in 2021)
To sum up: This week, we spoke about life’s great journey. We discussed that it can only begin through individual action.
A philosophical question: Why do you misplace your glasses just when you need them most?
Just for fun: The Two Cellos — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-YuSKeFMxY
For reflection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9LelXa3U_I
This week, please reflect on your own journey of life.
Every day, look for something magical and beautiful.
Don’t be a wage slave – critical thinking is great!
Quote: I must see each day as magical. It will never come again. It is unique in its magnificence.
Footnotes:
1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVME_l4IwII
2) https://bestworkinc.com/10-serious-problems-millennials-face/ 3) https://www.brainpickings.org/2018/03/18/i-and-thou-martin-buber/