More Than The Sum Of Its Parts

Normally, in a world where everything is known, a set of definite givens can only yield to a set of definite outcomes. In this world, holding on to convictions is unnecessary.

But, life is strange. 

In life, a set of definite givens may yield something more than its sum total. Something new can come out of the old. From darkness there can be light. And out of what seems to be nothing, something can exist.

Such is the curiosity we all take part in when we choose to live and see life through. What we know, we know. But things are not always what they appear to be.

I think living means always trying to understand things a little better, always trying to see things a little clearer, and most of all, choosing to stand by what one believes in, especially in the face of the unknown.

Man Does Not Live By Bread Alone

There are baseline needs. There are common needs. We can choose to focus on these. But, different things happen at the same time. 

Basic needs are not all that is of genuine interest to all of us. It is not enough to not neglect. We must also know how to nurture to truly nourish.

A starved psyche is starved not only of food and water, but more importantly, it is starved of its own dignity, dreams, and aspiration.

And genuine character does not come with what you can purchase, nor with what you can bargain for. It comes in full and it is already there for the taking.

Carrot and Stick and Freedom from this Cycle

This is nothing new but still worth repeating.

It used to be that forcing someone to obey through brute force was the primary option. Now that has become unsophisticated. So instead, incentives are used to keep those in captivity to remain captive. 

Being a captive is made to look and feel fun and trendy.

It used to be as well that captivity was overt and physical. Now it is more and more covert and psychological. You get a generation of paranoid nervous wrecks. 

But the story does not end there. 

Just as brutal suppression and physical captivity has become less and less effective, so too would psychological and subliminal coercion become a relic of the past. 

Our minds constantly evolve. They say to see is to believe and I believe in freedom because I have seen it.

The Future of Socialization

The future is less social, not more. 

While the broader reach of social media and the increasing capacity for online connectivity allow us to reach people from across boundaries, the quality of our connection with each other will be more purposeful and personal.

The value of reaching out only to those with whom we can forge a more rooted, more meaningful, and lasting bond will be greater. 

It is from here that we can build resilient communities and not erase our personal character in the process.

Carry On

Beyond the walls, the story continues on. Turning a deaf ear to the cries for help will result in ruin and no one will be spared. 

We all are still fighting our battles, on our own and with others. But the summit is near enough for the eyes to see it in full. Each step matters, be careful not to trip. Cut rations when necessary; tighten the laces on your hiking shoes. 

Most of all, carry on. 

Be heartened to know that just as ruin lies in wait for those who will walk away from the call, the greatest prize is at hand for you who with an unhardened heart will hear the cries, and with steely determination take the next steps forward.

Beyond the walls, the story continues on. And when the long journey has finally ended, home will welcome us back and rest will be at hand.

Happiness

Each story has an inevitable ending. The battle between our better nature and our worst impulses will eventually conclude. In writing my own version, the image that comes to mind is this: the tree branches reach up higher than ever, and their foliage has almost covered up the sun. The vines run up and down the sturdy stone wall. Hidden within these walls, an unbothered soul who has made peace and found happiness. 

Travel Light

The weight of the world is heavy and we do not need to carry its weight around. But we will, unless we bring with us only what is essential. 

We can only take a finite number of steps, and the road will end sooner than we can ever expect. It is wise for us to walk light, but it is hubris to be untethered.

Yes, the weight of the world is heavy and we do not need to carry its weight around. But we will, unless we let go of what is unnecessary.