Life Is Not A Journey

The existence, the physical universe is basically playful. There is no necessity for it whatsoever. It isn't going anywhere. That is to say it doesn't have a destination it ought to arrive at. But it is best understood by analogy of music. Because music as an art form, is essentially playful. We say you play the piano, you don't work it. Why? Music differs from say travel. When you travel you are trying to get somewhere. In music though, one doesn't make the end of the composition. If that were the case the best conductors would be the ones who played the fastest. And there would be composers who only wrote finales. People would only go to concerts to hear just one cracking chord because that's the end! Same way dancing, you don't aim at a particular spot in the room because that's where you should arrive. The whole point of the dance is the dance. But we don't see that as something brought by our education into our every day conduct. We have a system of schooling that gives us a completely different impression. It's all graded and what we do is put the child into a corridor with this grade system with a kind of "come on kitty, kitty" and you go to kindergarten and thats a great thing because when you finish that you get into first grade and the first grade leads to second grade and so on. And then you get out of grade school and you got high school, and its revving up, the thing is coming, then you're going to college and then graduate school, and when you're through with graduate school you go out to join the world. Then you get into some racket where you are selling insurance, and they've got that quota to make, and you're going to make that. And all the time that 'thing' is coming. It's coming, it's coming. That great "thing". The success you're working for. Then when you wake up one day about 40 years old and you say "My god I've arrived, I'm there". And you don't feel different from what you've always felt. Look at the people who live to retire, to put those savings away. And then when they are 65 they don't have any energy left. And they go and rotten in some senior citizen community. Because we simply cheated ourselves the whole way down the line.

We thought of life by analogy with a journey, with a pilgrimage, which had a serious purpose at the end. And the thing was to get to that end. Success, or whatever it is, or maybe heaven after you're dead. But we missed the point the whole way along. It was a musical thing, and you were suppose to sing, or to dance while the music was being played. 

- Alan Watts

 

Some Stranger

I say some stranger as if to dismiss but really I'm glad that for a moment I crossed paths with this stranger. What we conversed about, how long we conversed or how I came to capture him I do not know. What I do know is for a period of time he gave me faith in humanity to build connections outside of what we know in an a society where people are becoming evermore technologically isolated and content in their mindless solidarity. And it made me realise people always come and go and too often do we forget and are we told to forget the people who leave our lives outside of death. Whether it is positive or negative the smallest interaction can have the most profound effect. And whether or not we realise these effects or not is something we should consider. Every little moment as brief as it may be has the ability to effect the person we are, whether it be for the day, the year or a for the rest of our lives. In saying that every little momentary engagement we have with others also as the ability to effect someone else, whether it be for the day, the year or the rest of their lives. If we are to achieve happiness in the world around us and consequently within ourselves then we need to take as much control as possible. 

"If you think that we can't change he world, it just means that you are not one of those that will" - Jacque Fresco

The more conscious we are the greater our potential. It is about constant assessment and appreciation in the pursuit of happiness I think. And it is for this reason I will forever make a conscious effort remember this man. He is a reminder of the ability of humans to lift my spirit and make me smile.

Yashica T4

 

Only To Be A Success

in

There are many people in today’s society who have consulted a psychologist over a lack of success. “I have so much potential. I just want to make a success out of my life.”

For some reason or another these people can’t find their own path to success; they keep hitting barriers; nothing ever goes their way. The media, too, dedicates serious space to the importance of success in in everyday life. “Why do extremely successful people swear by this 5- minute daily habit?” “Do successful CEO’s sleep less?”

Today being ‘successful’ takes centre stage; in the Middle Age the word didn’t even exist. Success in the 16th century meant “to follow or succeed something”; in other words, something happens if I do this. To distinguish oneself as ‘successful’, and therefore superior to others, was simply not possible, writes Enrich Fromm. “Today, we have the feeling that ‘success’ must be one of the oldest words in the history of mankind” But in previous times, to say someone was ‘successful’ was a s nonsensical as calling them ‘purple’.

"Concepts such as 'success', which appear to us to be natural in our language, are purely sociologically conditioned concepts that exist just as infrequently in many other societies as  the concept 'exploitation'," writes Fromm. The word 'successful' is a key term for describing humans in our competitive individualistic culture as it keeps people striving, bettering, competing, and working- activities that are necessary for the social structure to survive and prosper. Indeed, 'success metrics are good for the economy but not so good for the human soul. 

- Jacques Ellul, New Philosopher, Issue 11 Technology and Your Brain

Beyond the Golden Mean

in

Picture this: billboard signs rest mighty atop colossal concrete, looming over with blinding neon pixels, flashing animatedly in disarray sequence. Honking of taxi sears through the murmuring of commuters spilling out of the tube station. Plastic carriers pregnant with loot fresh from the high streets rustle like white noise. And as you heave in, an inhalant of perfumes, exhaust smoke and steamy asphalt fills your lungs and overcomes you. Just in the instant you are sedated momentarily. 

It is a world of over stimulation. 

We [need to] explore the effects of living in this great excess. To understand the realities of reaching beyond the 'Golden Mean', a governing concept the Ancient Greeks once swore by to ensure harmony and balance as not to rival the excesses of the gods. Perhaps in this secularist time, the idea seems archaic. But it still poses a valid question to re-examine our human limitations and to restore a sense of restraint for us to exist more meaningfully. To eventually let the drowning out and indulge in its simpler composites. And really, just so we can breath more easily.

- Nabil Aliffi, Vulture Issue 2 Excess   

 

Graduation

It was suppose to be this big momentous day. We got up with the sun, dressed our very best, sat in a hall and waited for my name to be called. Then my name was called, I walked across the stage, received my piece of paper and it was over. Five years of work was reflected in thirty seconds of acknowledgement. That was it. Why did I have such big expectations for this one day? Was it because I learned everything I was suppose to learn? Not at all. 

I could tell you a bit about Kellers brand equity model, consumer dissonance and something about flying geese, it's a economics model I swear. But the truth of the matter is I didn't learn anything. At least what was expected.  

Instead, in the five years I learned how far I could push my mind and body, how little I could eat and how little i could sleep. I learned perseverance and not giving up. I learned not everything in life is easy, not everything in life you're going to like doing but to push through is the essence of being. To challenge ourselves and to overcome challenges despite preconceived thoughts of the outcome is what got humanity here today. We would probably cease to exist otherwise. Too often do we give up because we think know what is going to happen, we think continuing would be a waste of time. But the thing is you never know what possibilities could exist if you just pushed that little bit further. I learned to always to put everything that I have into something and I learned the value of time. Whilst time is limitless 'our' time is not, bounded by our biological clocks. I never want to waste time or live life with any regret. 

So I guess to say I didn't learn anything during my time at university would be a lie. I learned a lot of things. Unexpected things, good things that have changed the person I am today. And for the better I think. People always ask why did you do your degree if I didn't like it or why did I do it if I wasn't passionate about it? I did it because it helped me grow, it helped be learn things about myself I didn't know. I met amazing people and did things I know I wouldn't have had the chance to do or just wouldn't have been motivated to do. Could I have met amazing people and done things I wouldn't have done if I didn't attended university? Yes. But life is about choices. University is not a choice I regret and I couldn't be happier that I've finished it. 

Nikon D610.

All photos by me except where featured photo credit to my little sister.