2-18-25
ON THE TOPIC OF GRIT AND HUMAN SPIRIT.
I believe, within reason, that human beings can achieve all which they set out to accomplish. Currently, I’m led to believe that humans' only true nemeses are time and technology.
To reiterate beliefs I have never written down previously, time is the only human resource. When everything is broken down and stripped away, all human beings have is their own existence, which is perceived by us in linear time. Taking away higher order things like aspirations and beliefs, it can be guaranteed that a human being will perceive the world around them through their senses. This base level of existence gives us time, all of us. I shall wake, I shall perceive, I shall sleep. And one day, this all will cease. The final part makes our time (existence) a finite resource. This creates tension. If our amount of time was infinite, time would not be an adversary. But due to its unknowable limited nature, there is tension.
There is only so much, better not misuse it.
Feeling as if I’m losing the thrust here. Essentially, in my opinion, I enjoy existing. And not existing seems like a real bummer. At my base level what I know how to do is perceive things with my mind. I’ve been doing it for nearly twenty six years now, and I’d like to continue.
I can not with any certainty predict what happens after death. But I would be quite surprised if it was similar to this.
In short, I enjoy the game of life and am perturbed to know one day I will no longer be playing. My amount of playtime being finite, I hope to be using it wisely, happily, effectively, and a whole other slew of “-ly’s.”
Now, why do I view technology as an adversary as well?
*MANDATORY ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT I AM NOT A LUDDITE*
Technology causes us to live outside of our means.
I have a whole brewing diatribe about living outside of one's means but,
It’s not fully formed yet.
Funnily enough, I don’t feel as if I have the time today (time check 7:09 PM).
I fear it would mostly be shouldered by references to Thoreau’s Walden, which I recently read.
Side bar: All following reasons primarily apply to technology of the time
7:13 PM 2/18/25
Hello, persons of the future. I’m enjoying time traveling through paper.
2. Corporations seek our time as a means for profit. Currently this is primarily done through technology. (Smart phones, this secondary plane of existence, vying to be our primary.)
3. It gives the illusion of getting more out of life but only seems to dull us.
This last point is what I wish to focus on most currently.
Technology, smart phones specifically, has invented this dilemma that no moment is complete without it. I think many other pieces have made such claims, but smart phones, with their versatility are the only ones who have been able to offer so much. Going for a walk? Why not pair it with some music? See something pretty on that walk? Take a picture. Share the picture with someone. Now. Well, why not share it with everyone? Well, what is everyone up to? So on and so forth.
It is a parasite of the mind. That what you are doing, what is within your human means, is not satisfying enough. It preys upon our insecurities related to time and social interaction such that it undoes our brains.
Now, I know the skill of writing. Physically, with my hand. Do I know how to make paper? No. Am I living outside of my means? If one wants to play semantics and be an asshole, yes.
I think the greater focus of my point here is that smartphones primarily offer plus ones to other experiences. Running + music. Listening to music + instantly know what song it is. Go to a performance + show others what that experience was like.
I am not saying that these things are inherently bad. I just don’t believe every experience needs to be “punched up.” Why not take things as they are? If they’re “boring” why not consider them further and see if there’s anything of interest there. I’m getting worked up/disappointed faster than I can write.
For a trite conclusion, I hope we look back on people “needing” audio/visual stimulations during lunchtime as a novelty of this time.