Very well written. Young people, and by that I mean anyone under 50, or in good enough health to tackle change, need to take this advice seriously. My husband and I had a plan from the time we met to raise a large and close knit family, something neither of us had. His career never was anything more than a means to this end, and he has been very successful but was able to spend more of his time at home with us than most men supporting a family. Family first took us down some fascinating rabbit holes, some good, like homeschooling, others dead ends, like six years in the plain Mennonites, but it has been a life filled with purpose and dedication. The children now 5 adults 25-41 are all very close to us, not all to each other, but better than most.
People used to define themselves much more by their hobbies or social interests than by their jobs. I collect old magazines, some of which are the old pen pal type from the early 60’s and the wealth of intense creative hobbies both men and women put great effort into is astonishing. Easily available, mindless entertainment has stripped us of so much authenticity.
I think this is true. Easily available distractions that are effortless. Social media and Tok Tok take no real effort. Pasttimes like dressmaking or restoring old cars require effort and dedication.
I think many people are lost. I try not to judge. The efforts corporation put in to capture attention make it difficult for people to escape. It requires a conscious decision I think. You have to decide this is not for me. People keep giving me a hard time about not using social media or watching TV, but they are not for me. I simply wouldn't have the time.
Food in my belly, clothes on my body, roof over my head: all else is luxury. And you only own what you can carry yourself.
No, really. Think about it. Literally and figuratively, poetically and philosophically.
What does the statement say? It is True, capital T-style. Not nice or comfortable or pleasant or anything, but it is True. And truth is the only thing you can build anything else upon.
There's no need to have been homeless or starving or cold to understand what a dreary and bleak existence that is, but the realisation /that/ it is bleak and dreary, and that it's /always/ a possibility, is among the surest ways of both learning to appreciate for real what you have, and to consider how to safeguard it, make it grow and make it possible to share with others whatever surplus you can and want to share.
Personally, I live by two simple principles. Simple in phrasing, not so simple in action all the time, and even more difficult emotionally (for me, I'm very vindictive by nature):
Do not cause suffering.
Increase the Good.
Nothing revolutionary there, but those two are the seed and the soil for the tree of spirit.
A lot of adults lose their imagination and playfulness as responsibilities pile up. It’s almost like having time for creative stuff is a privilege now. Escapism is an easy, low-effort way to dip into that fantasy world. But, over time, if you keep giving in to the pressure of following the crowd, you start to lose your sense of self. You end up just going with the flow instead of being who you really are.
Exactly. I am not unsympathetic to the plight of those who succumb, and it is designed to be easy to fall into. But if we wish to live an authentic life we must act. It doesn't happen if we distract ourselves.
I do agree that escapist entertainment provides just enough of the escape to pass muster, although is not as good as genuine accomplishment.
Yeah I doubt people are aware of the long-term consequences. I’d compare it to having a sedentary lifestyle without exercise. Crazy to think most adults are mentally and spiritually obese.
I suppose it's that fine line between diversion and crutch/vicarious experience that is difficult for many of us to pin down, and of course it needs brutal honesty with ourselves. But social media is pure mainlining for a huge amount of people, even though they would always see it as just a harmless pastime. I am still amazed when I walk down the street in my nearby town and see almost everyone head-down at a screen, even when they are walking. As you say, there a myriad of experts making sure that is the effect, so one needs to be slow to condemn, maybe.
I too am concerned with what I see. I also try to put the brakes on and not judge too hard. But it is worrying seeing adults lost in their phones to the extent we do. It seems to be everywhere you look. Many are addicted. And let's be honest, they are addicted to mindless consumption. They aren't study philosophy on the phones.
The social media companies are working hard to harvest their attention. So we really do need to take that into account. But then again heroin is addictive and feels fantastic, yet most would avoid if offered it. We are not really discussing the down sides to digital addiction in the same way.
Escapism does probably keep most people “in the game” but then fill them with regret later. It’s a difficult trade off. If you give up one of these “copes,” then you never quite know what might be coming next. Jesus speaks to this danger in Matthew 12:44-45 when he explains that after clearing out one bad spirit without becoming a new creation “when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first.”
I found the same pattern in my own life recently as I just gave up caffeine completely. After the headaches of the first three days, I found my stress levels diminish and my sleep improve. But rather than my body congratulate me for overcoming this apparent addiction, it fills me with a new desire for unhealthy food and sugar. I guess it’s one step at a time to live the life you want. Regardless, I greatly enjoyed your piece!
I too recently quit coffee. I had headaches for a few days too. I got a craving to eat crap too, lol. So maybe Jesus knew a thing or two.
It lowered my anxiety. I am calmer. I am also improving at waking up in the morning more naturally. Interestingly I didn't get cravings for coffee. When I gave up smoking I definitely craved it.
And thank you for reminding me how damned lucky I am to have found, at 58, the life I want to live. Sure, it's taking all my energy, time and money. And I moved halfway across the world to live it, starting completelly anew. But oh, what joy it is!
Very obvious. We all know this in our heart of hearts I think. Often avoided and excused away. But deeply true. And this is one of the best, if not the best and most touching things I’ve read on this platform. Because of its truth and simplicity. And its need to be heard and reminded of repeatedly. Thanks.
Very well written. Young people, and by that I mean anyone under 50, or in good enough health to tackle change, need to take this advice seriously. My husband and I had a plan from the time we met to raise a large and close knit family, something neither of us had. His career never was anything more than a means to this end, and he has been very successful but was able to spend more of his time at home with us than most men supporting a family. Family first took us down some fascinating rabbit holes, some good, like homeschooling, others dead ends, like six years in the plain Mennonites, but it has been a life filled with purpose and dedication. The children now 5 adults 25-41 are all very close to us, not all to each other, but better than most.
People used to define themselves much more by their hobbies or social interests than by their jobs. I collect old magazines, some of which are the old pen pal type from the early 60’s and the wealth of intense creative hobbies both men and women put great effort into is astonishing. Easily available, mindless entertainment has stripped us of so much authenticity.
I think this is true. Easily available distractions that are effortless. Social media and Tok Tok take no real effort. Pasttimes like dressmaking or restoring old cars require effort and dedication.
I think many people are lost. I try not to judge. The efforts corporation put in to capture attention make it difficult for people to escape. It requires a conscious decision I think. You have to decide this is not for me. People keep giving me a hard time about not using social media or watching TV, but they are not for me. I simply wouldn't have the time.
Food in my belly, clothes on my body, roof over my head: all else is luxury. And you only own what you can carry yourself.
No, really. Think about it. Literally and figuratively, poetically and philosophically.
What does the statement say? It is True, capital T-style. Not nice or comfortable or pleasant or anything, but it is True. And truth is the only thing you can build anything else upon.
There's no need to have been homeless or starving or cold to understand what a dreary and bleak existence that is, but the realisation /that/ it is bleak and dreary, and that it's /always/ a possibility, is among the surest ways of both learning to appreciate for real what you have, and to consider how to safeguard it, make it grow and make it possible to share with others whatever surplus you can and want to share.
Personally, I live by two simple principles. Simple in phrasing, not so simple in action all the time, and even more difficult emotionally (for me, I'm very vindictive by nature):
Do not cause suffering.
Increase the Good.
Nothing revolutionary there, but those two are the seed and the soil for the tree of spirit.
I think that is a good philosophy to navigate life. Make it better, and try not to make it any worse!
A lot of adults lose their imagination and playfulness as responsibilities pile up. It’s almost like having time for creative stuff is a privilege now. Escapism is an easy, low-effort way to dip into that fantasy world. But, over time, if you keep giving in to the pressure of following the crowd, you start to lose your sense of self. You end up just going with the flow instead of being who you really are.
Exactly. I am not unsympathetic to the plight of those who succumb, and it is designed to be easy to fall into. But if we wish to live an authentic life we must act. It doesn't happen if we distract ourselves.
I do agree that escapist entertainment provides just enough of the escape to pass muster, although is not as good as genuine accomplishment.
Yeah I doubt people are aware of the long-term consequences. I’d compare it to having a sedentary lifestyle without exercise. Crazy to think most adults are mentally and spiritually obese.
I think many are exhausted with all that is happening.
I suppose it's that fine line between diversion and crutch/vicarious experience that is difficult for many of us to pin down, and of course it needs brutal honesty with ourselves. But social media is pure mainlining for a huge amount of people, even though they would always see it as just a harmless pastime. I am still amazed when I walk down the street in my nearby town and see almost everyone head-down at a screen, even when they are walking. As you say, there a myriad of experts making sure that is the effect, so one needs to be slow to condemn, maybe.
I too am concerned with what I see. I also try to put the brakes on and not judge too hard. But it is worrying seeing adults lost in their phones to the extent we do. It seems to be everywhere you look. Many are addicted. And let's be honest, they are addicted to mindless consumption. They aren't study philosophy on the phones.
The social media companies are working hard to harvest their attention. So we really do need to take that into account. But then again heroin is addictive and feels fantastic, yet most would avoid if offered it. We are not really discussing the down sides to digital addiction in the same way.
Escapism does probably keep most people “in the game” but then fill them with regret later. It’s a difficult trade off. If you give up one of these “copes,” then you never quite know what might be coming next. Jesus speaks to this danger in Matthew 12:44-45 when he explains that after clearing out one bad spirit without becoming a new creation “when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first.”
I found the same pattern in my own life recently as I just gave up caffeine completely. After the headaches of the first three days, I found my stress levels diminish and my sleep improve. But rather than my body congratulate me for overcoming this apparent addiction, it fills me with a new desire for unhealthy food and sugar. I guess it’s one step at a time to live the life you want. Regardless, I greatly enjoyed your piece!
I too recently quit coffee. I had headaches for a few days too. I got a craving to eat crap too, lol. So maybe Jesus knew a thing or two.
It lowered my anxiety. I am calmer. I am also improving at waking up in the morning more naturally. Interestingly I didn't get cravings for coffee. When I gave up smoking I definitely craved it.
And thanks for reading. Glad you enjoyed.
Well said. Couldn't agree more.
And thank you for reminding me how damned lucky I am to have found, at 58, the life I want to live. Sure, it's taking all my energy, time and money. And I moved halfway across the world to live it, starting completelly anew. But oh, what joy it is!
I am glad you found the life you want. Few even seek to change their lives.
Eternal talent is my second name, escapism is my hobby...video games, TT-RPGs, drugs...I did them all. Now I am clean and depressed :-D
I get that. But being clean is better than escaping into fantasy. Now you have a foundation you can build on.
Very obvious. We all know this in our heart of hearts I think. Often avoided and excused away. But deeply true. And this is one of the best, if not the best and most touching things I’ve read on this platform. Because of its truth and simplicity. And its need to be heard and reminded of repeatedly. Thanks.
I should have said also after “very obvious”, but often very difficult to achieve, even when we know this implicitly.
Change is hard. There are many barriers, especially in our minds. It is the wrong time, I'm too fat, I need more money etc.
But I have found the best way is to just begin. Plans are overrated.
And thanks for reading.
Related:
https://nypost.com/2024/10/23/us-news/florida-boy-14-killed-himself-after-falling-in-love-with-game-of-thrones-a-i-chatbot-lawsuit/
Tragic. An extreme example, but that is what immersive entertainment seeks to do.