I enjoyed this. Your discussion of the various social media platforms made me think of the different stages we perform on in physical life. Our behaviour in Church is different than how we conduct ourselves in the workplace and in the bar at half-past midnight. These platforms all serve a unique purpose in expressing our myriad of personalities. No wonder Authenticity is hard.
I think meaning of anything is always coming from outside, like the meaning of a chair is not in the chair but in a way human or a cat uses it.
Same is with meaning of human life- it’s outside of it. Since we all interconnected and there is really nothing outside people and their relationship, so the meaning of a single life comes from the network.
I love this one, Gunnar. I love it because it demonstrates a framing of meaning and purpose that I think about a lot and have come to adopt—the idea that things like meaning and purpose are something we create, not something we consume. Eric Fromm’s The Art of Loving first drilled into me how we often view these things that are best for us as commodified to obtain and consume instead of orientations, or ways of being. Instead of moving through the world meaningfully, purposefully, lovingly, we move through it hungry and searching. (Ok, the way I just phrased that is probably a false dichotomy, but you get what I mean).
Also, SPIDERS WEAVE WEBS INSIDE THEIR BODIES?! You sure biology and magic aren’t the same thing? 😉
I'm thinking a lot about (re)framing lately as well and I really like the create/orientation mindset rather than the consume-commodify. Too bad the world makes option one so much harder...
thank you for the skillful weaving of metaphors ;). i learned good things, as always, from your essay. and your timing (autumn) is not lost on me! as a child i read Charlotte's Web over and over again. the themes of grief and loss and building one's web are so precious this time of year, as we swing around the sun and the light diminishes; here we are once again.
Golly Gunnar! You almost have a theory-of-everything presented here. So many strands (heh!) I could pick to comment on, but long comment short: this kind of nuanced deep-dive thinking/writing is the long-form essay that is missing from most platforms and publications these days. Congrats on crafting such a fine one! 👏
I enjoyed this. Your discussion of the various social media platforms made me think of the different stages we perform on in physical life. Our behaviour in Church is different than how we conduct ourselves in the workplace and in the bar at half-past midnight. These platforms all serve a unique purpose in expressing our myriad of personalities. No wonder Authenticity is hard.
Thanks, Michael. True, we have so many personas — I think the trick is finding some that reflect a real part of yourself.
Thanks for an excellent post!
I think meaning of anything is always coming from outside, like the meaning of a chair is not in the chair but in a way human or a cat uses it.
Same is with meaning of human life- it’s outside of it. Since we all interconnected and there is really nothing outside people and their relationship, so the meaning of a single life comes from the network.
Thanks, Dmitry! I agree, ‘meaning’ is always in relation to something or someone.
I love this one, Gunnar. I love it because it demonstrates a framing of meaning and purpose that I think about a lot and have come to adopt—the idea that things like meaning and purpose are something we create, not something we consume. Eric Fromm’s The Art of Loving first drilled into me how we often view these things that are best for us as commodified to obtain and consume instead of orientations, or ways of being. Instead of moving through the world meaningfully, purposefully, lovingly, we move through it hungry and searching. (Ok, the way I just phrased that is probably a false dichotomy, but you get what I mean).
Also, SPIDERS WEAVE WEBS INSIDE THEIR BODIES?! You sure biology and magic aren’t the same thing? 😉
Thanks!
I'm thinking a lot about (re)framing lately as well and I really like the create/orientation mindset rather than the consume-commodify. Too bad the world makes option one so much harder...
And of course biology *is* magic!
thank you for the skillful weaving of metaphors ;). i learned good things, as always, from your essay. and your timing (autumn) is not lost on me! as a child i read Charlotte's Web over and over again. the themes of grief and loss and building one's web are so precious this time of year, as we swing around the sun and the light diminishes; here we are once again.
Thanks for threading along, tracy. Glad to hear you enjoyed it.
Charlotte's Web is such a rightful classic - a new strand to unravel every time we read it.
This was fun and informative. I'm glad I fell into your web! :)
Thank you!
Golly Gunnar! You almost have a theory-of-everything presented here. So many strands (heh!) I could pick to comment on, but long comment short: this kind of nuanced deep-dive thinking/writing is the long-form essay that is missing from most platforms and publications these days. Congrats on crafting such a fine one! 👏
Such high praise! Thank you, Baird. I might just print this and stick it to my wall.