So, recently I lost this hat I've been wearing around. The rainbow one I wore in my self portrait, to be exact. I was surprised with the feeling I got when I came back and realized I forgot it. It was kinda an ache in my heart. Why was I feeling this? I have no idea.
I got to thinking and I really hated that feeling.
For the past few days this feeling has been excentuated because I've been reading Thoreau's Walden. I agree with him on a lot of points, mostly with his ideas of living simply. I won't go into detail about the book, but it's made me take a second look on my environment.
All these things! I hate them! I want them to go away! Why? Because every thing I have creates a little responsibility. Some people like that responsibility because it makes them feel powerful, but is one powerful when all one dictates is objects?
I don't completely agree with Thoreau, simply because I am an artist and he is not. He thinks art is unneccessary. Which is a good point to bring up for future discussion. I obviously think it serves a purpose, even if it is a juvenile one.
Anywho, we deffinetely need things that make us comfortable enough so that we can think freely (not about getting essential needs to make us comfortable). I suppose it varies from person to person.
It does not take much food, warmth or sleep to merely function, but to function well enough to develop as a human is different. Think of starving africans who will never reach a certain intelligence level because of what they have to think about every day.
We don't need much, but we do need things to be comfortable. In my opinion, I would like to have a small amount of things I find completely necessary. I was just looking through my drawers and noticed the ungodly amount of t-shirts I have, thinking I only really need one or two, maybe three if I don't feel like washing them so often. Then I saw some stuff that I had recently bought (and not worn) and wondered, why the hell did I buy that?
I used to think there was something wrong with people if they didn't enjoy making themselves look "good." It's really incredible to think how silly I was back then, and it's a little sad thinking that a lot of people, much older than me still think that way. What is so great about lookin good anyways? I've been through the extremes only to find that looking good keeps one feeling empty. So how does one not feel empty?
It really depends on the individual.
One common theme I've found revolves around love. Getting it, not getting it, feeling like one will never get it. Most people don't even know what their definition of love really is. It's the reason why people seek so much attention. It's natural to want attention and completely healthy, but some people seek it in the wrong areas, proving unhealthy.
Ok, I should stop.
Feel free to post a rant btw.
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I think you stumbled upon an excellent point. Many people have become more concerned about how they are perceived by others than how they perceive themselves. To be honest, with a pop culture that attaches moral value to tangible wealth and good looks, and paints personal happiness, initiative and principle as being "not cool," this does not come as much of a surprise.
ReplyDeleteThe same thing goes for love, which in modern times has now become almost synonymous with lust. People are so desperate to find "love" that they cheapen the worth and end up idealizing love with American Pie-esque fantasy and completely forget that love is simply strong mutual companionship.
Hopefully through discussion in Philosophy Club meetings we will be able to throw pop culture indoctrination off to the side, revert back to our Lockean "clean slate" and think for ourselves about lifestyle, ethics and life in general.
A short personal connection to your rant-- This will probably make me sound superficial, but whatever.
ReplyDeleteI never used to care how I dressed or what I looked like. I still don't put a whole lot of effort into my appearance on a daily basis, mostly because I don't have the time, but I have noticed that I do feel better about myself on the inside when I look better on the outside. A confidence, thing I suppose.
Just a thought; that's all I got. :D