Existential Ponderings
May 12, 2014 Assumptions 5 comments mparkerbair14
We’ve all heard that awful cliché, “life’s too short to be anything but happy.” It’s written everywhere; on wooden home decor signs, posted all over the internet. Easier said than done, obviously. If there’s anything that I’ve learned from 17 years on this earth, it’s that nothing is really fair; at times it can seem like everything is against you. Time doesn’t stop, for anything, really. To quote another overused cliché, (this one from Forrest Gump) “life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.” Here are a few things I’ve learned from this life.
Sometimes you have to accept your mistakes and live with the results.
You can’t let laziness become an emotion. This will lead to many miserable, late nights and it will test your mental stability.
As cheesy as it sounds, writing makes you feel great. Write something every day. It doesn’t matter if it’s complaining about public restrooms or philosophical ponderings brought on by an episode of Breaking Bad. Write a review on the little things that you encounter: sandwiches, intersections, elevator music.
In the scheme of things, we are so insignificant. Read about outer space. It’s life changing.
Always remember that people aren’t against you, they’re for themselves.
What you have today may become what you had by tomorrow. Don’t take one second for granted. Tell someone you love them.
You can be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and there’s still going to be somebody that hates peaches.
Opinions are important. Read about what you don’t support, read about things you don’t believe in.
The ability to be happy is nothing more than the ability to come to terms with how things change.
If you’re bored, you’re boring.
Wishing things were different is a great way to torture yourself.
Movie soundtracks are great for homework.
People come and go. The best will stay.
At our age, traveling is vital to how we view the world. Take every opportunity you have to go somewhere you’ve never seen before.
Remember, there are stars, and they’re beautiful. Go look at them.
You can give the best you have, and it may never be enough; give your best anyway.
Every person you encounter, every person you pass by in the street, has a story equally as compelling and interesting as yours.
Make mistakes, learn from them, move on.
Be humble. Take note of the fact that your point of view isn’t the right one or the only one.
Remember that you live in this world, its not yours. Realize that reality has a way of biting you while your back is turned, it doesn’t play by the rules and it won’t stop for anything. Be prepared, but don’t panic.
5 Comments
I really loved this piece. It was full of some wonderful advice and was funny at times as well. I think it’s important that everybody (to use an overused cliche) “stop and smell the roses” and a lot of what you are saying reminds people to do exactly that! I need to be reminded sometimes and this was a great way to hear it. Wonderful piece of writing! (:
Thank you so much Kayla!
Very, very well written. I love all of the things that you chose, mainly because when I have nothing to do, I just think about stuff. Not stuff that’s even important. My favorite one was, “In the scheme of things, we are so insignificant. Read about outer space. It’s life changing.” That’s my favorite because I’ve read about space and you’re damn right it’s life changing. It give you a completely different outlook on life. It makes you wonder, “Gee, is Earth the only inhabitable planet?” and “Do you think there are more universes than this one?” All of these questions and answers nowhere to be found and forced to just be wonderment, and you only hope that one day you will know the answers, because it is just mind boggling. Sorry for the long rambling, just had to throw a few extra existential pondering’s in there for you.
A great introduction with great examples from quotations. Your list of examples we’re all great things to remind people of and even to teach people as well. I learned some stuff but mostly got reminded about these things and sometimes its good to go over these types of things now and again. Great job!
You make some excellent points. I think that almost anyone could find at least a small degree of enlightenment in your thoughts. Some your thoughts have sparked a few of my own, and I think I will share them.
You said “Write something every day”. The fact that this was included in a list of philosophical conclusions made me wonder about the little bits of my own philosophy I’ve forgotten. If I were to write down all of life’s little lessons, and all of the small philosophies that pop in to your head as you’re trying to fall asleep, how much would I have? How would such a list affect my life?
You said “If you’re bored, you’re boring.” I think this statement has more to do with imagination than anything else. Boring people aren’t creative, and people only become bored when they aren’t creative enough to think of something to do. Therefore bored people are boring simply because they aren’t creative.
Finally, I’d just like to point out how long it took me to realize this one. You said “You can’t let laziness become an emotion. This will lead to many miserable, late nights and it will test your mental stability”. Hell, we’re friends and this is probably, in part, inspired by me because this is the situation I’m in right now. I’m just sorry that I didn’t realize it sooner.
Overall this is a great piece. It was thought provoking and lead me to quite a few introspective thoughts (many of which I didn’t include). Good job!