Comments on: Passionate about . . . http://ilikemybox.wordpress.com/2008/05/23/passionate-about/ A Day Like Any Other Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:49:27 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Beth from Avenue Z http://ilikemybox.wordpress.com/2008/05/23/passionate-about/#comment-368 Beth from Avenue Z Mon, 26 May 2008 22:43:36 +0000 http://ilikemybox.wordpress.com/?p=244#comment-368 Ingrid, your existential angst is universal. Take Kafka, Camus, Sartre. "I think, therefore I am," said Descartes, but what Am I? He didn't answer that question, and few of us can. I was talking this morning with a friend. I was talking about the goals I have with my business and my writing, and as I described the paths I could take, I realized that I have no idea which path to take. What would mean more, do more, make me happier and more fulfilled? Beats the hell out of me. And that leaves my future with a series of question marks. But on I go. Today, tomorrow, this week... I have definitive plans. But after that? When I go to England? Will the winds blow? Will something wonderful occur to me that will make life crystal clear? Call me a cynic, but I highly doubt I'll ever have an "aha" experience again with regards to my future and the meaning of life. Thus, I go back to the conclusions that one may draw from the two sides of existentialism. One says, "When you die, you rot, so what difference does anything make." The other side says, "When you die, you rot, so you better make the most of this life." Thus I pursue (directionless?) adventure after adventure, hoping that the sum total of my adventures will have made this life worth living. But maybe I'm missing the boat. Again, not to promo my own site, but this poem really helps me see some perspective: http://www.lifeonavenuez.com/2007/12/18/on-doing-what-makes-a-difference-for-a-living/ I didn't want to paste it here because this comment is already unbearably long. We're all here with you, Ingrid. :) Ingrid, your existential angst is universal. Take Kafka, Camus, Sartre. “I think, therefore I am,” said Descartes, but what Am I? He didn’t answer that question, and few of us can. I was talking this morning with a friend. I was talking about the goals I have with my business and my writing, and as I described the paths I could take, I realized that I have no idea which path to take. What would mean more, do more, make me happier and more fulfilled? Beats the hell out of me. And that leaves my future with a series of question marks.

But on I go. Today, tomorrow, this week… I have definitive plans. But after that? When I go to England? Will the winds blow? Will something wonderful occur to me that will make life crystal clear? Call me a cynic, but I highly doubt I’ll ever have an “aha” experience again with regards to my future and the meaning of life.

Thus, I go back to the conclusions that one may draw from the two sides of existentialism. One says, “When you die, you rot, so what difference does anything make.” The other side says, “When you die, you rot, so you better make the most of this life.” Thus I pursue (directionless?) adventure after adventure, hoping that the sum total of my adventures will have made this life worth living. But maybe I’m missing the boat.

Again, not to promo my own site, but this poem really helps me see some perspective:
http://www.lifeonavenuez.com/2007/12/18/on-doing-what-makes-a-difference-for-a-living/

I didn’t want to paste it here because this comment is already unbearably long.

We’re all here with you, Ingrid. :)

]]> By: Sarah http://ilikemybox.wordpress.com/2008/05/23/passionate-about/#comment-361 Sarah Sat, 24 May 2008 14:19:05 +0000 http://ilikemybox.wordpress.com/?p=244#comment-361 Oh Ingrid - I wish I could help you figure things out. I completely understand what you were saying about those tests - they change depending on where you are in life. Anyway, I hope you find some happiness - you had thought about volunteering, maybe with kids. Look into it! Thinking of you, Sarah Oh Ingrid – I wish I could help you figure things out. I completely understand what you were saying about those tests – they change depending on where you are in life.

Anyway, I hope you find some happiness – you had thought about volunteering, maybe with kids. Look into it!

Thinking of you,
Sarah

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