I hate digging up old threads, but I visit the boards once every day, and the pace people post is really fast. I feel the same way most of the times. I just turned twenty and I don't know what I'm gonna do with my life. I don't see any direction to what all this is headed towards. School, college, job? What's the meaning to all this? Could I be happy with a simple life, or am I compelled to do something greater to look back at when I'm older? This is pretty narcisistic, but the events happening outside the world do make an impact to everyone. And the unforseeable events that may happen are in the backs of everyone's mind. Most of us long for stability. Stability for ourselves, the people around us, and our children. But the world just isn't like that. I remember a scene in the Matrix where the Agent tells Morpheous that people wouldn't settle for a Utopian Matrix because it made them uncomfortable and unhappy. So they switched to the one in the 90's, and no one was the wiser. I believe that that is part of God's appeal. God is divine perfection. But we will always be flawed human beings. Although we will neither achieve nor accept perfection we are always looking towards it. We want to be as close to God as we can to see if some of those good qualities rub into ourselves, and sometimes in an unconscious fervor. But there is also the story of Icarus from Greek mythology. Icarus, who was enjoying freedom from captivity and probably the only person he knew to enjoy the gifts of flight, saw something more powerful and more griping. When he saw the sun, he flew higher and higher to be closer to it. To view it in all its glory and tried to grasp it with his hands. But he flew too high, and eventually the heat melted his wings and he plunged to his death. It's not that we shouldn't be as close to perfection as much as we can, but rather that we should also notice the joys we have around us and realize what it is we're trying to achieve. To not let the goal be the fruit of success but rather the destination. And what does this have to do with the world around us falling apart? Your compassion compels you to do something greater and make an impact, but the problems might seem overwhelming and you feel powerless and depressed. But you always have the power to make the people around you better, and that's a start. Some of the greatest changes starts with smallest actions. And while it might sound selfish, you have a right to be happy and to live a life that you see fit.
Everyone goes through things like this. Any time you feel down, try to go outside and take in some sun. I find that looking at sun setting gives me a feeling of peace and relaxation like nothing else. It reminds me of how incredibly small we all are in the big picture, and that all the petty things that happen in life really don't matter. Try and go on a hike. Hug a tree. Go swimming. Connect with nature, wherever you can find it. Good luck.
<i>Bob Marley - So Much Trouble So much trouble in the world now So much trouble in the world now Bless my eyes this morning Jah sun is on the rise once again The way Earthly things are going Anything can happen You see men sailing on their ego trips Blast off on their space ship Million miles from reality No care for you, no care for me So much trouble in the world now So much trouble in the world now All you got to do is give a little Give a little, give a little One more time YE-A-H! YE-AH! So you think you have found the solution But it's just another illusion So before you check out your tide Don't leave another cornerstone Standing there behind We've got to face the day Ooh-we come what may We the street people talking We the people struggling Now they are sitting on a time bomb Now I know the time has come What goes on up is coming on down Goes around and comes around So much trouble in the world So much trouble in the world So much trouble in the world There is so much trouble There is so much trouble There is so much trouble There is so much trouble in the world There is so much trouble in the world </i>
Rocketbooster, this was extremely well said, and I agree with you 100% (well, let's say 95% ... not much for doobies myself. ). Sad to say, these challenges will only intensify as the next few decades develop. As the world population grows exponentially and the people in power continue to pursue shortsighted policies that are destructive to the environment, individual liberty, and any semblance of global equity, things are only going to get worse. Haven, I feel for you because I have been going through almost the exact same feelings in the last year or so. I used to be very determined and wanted to succeed as a writer, a thinker, and a contributor to society. Despite the fact that I suffered from clinical depression, there was always a part of me that wanted these things. Now, I am no longer 'depressed' in the technical sense, and day-to-day I live my life with lots of laughter, pleasantries, and so on. But there's something different: a kind of emptiness. That is to say, I wonder what was the point of all the things I once desired for myself given the state of the world. Will my contributions actually change the world in any fundamental way? Or even in a small way? It's a wise bit of advice, as Mrs. JB said, to act locally. And yet sometimes I feel even that doesn't change much. Humanity, it seems, never learns from its mistakes and keeps lapsing back into greater and greater ignorance -- so acting even locally doesn't do a lot in the long run. Certain spiritual traditions have dealt with this problem by urging a pose of detachment toward the world -- i.e. the world is really illusion, mortal life is just a phase before eternal life, etc. They're usually just variations on this theme -- that the world we're in is *not* the place to find ultimate truth. This means withdrawing one's attention from this world and paying attention to the inner world, the spiritual world, as the true source of value. I'm not sure if I find that comforting, though. As you said, when you hear stories about cats being barbecued alive; children being kidnapped, raped, and murdered; or even just more general things about the destruction of nature and the environment -- any caring person would worry about these things. It's actually difficult for me to detach and pretend that I *don't* care, so I feel like in doing so I am only engaging in a feeble and halfhearted attempt to deceive myself. I guess what it boils down to is that I don't have any answers, but I definitely sympathize with your feeling.
You need a hobby man. I like gardening and riding bikes. I never go out to stupid clubs, maybe an icehouse every now and then. Mostly my only source of entertainment is digital cable, the internet, drawing and painting...oh and BBQing. Lifes pretty good over here.
go shoot some hoops odds are things are going to severely worsen as we sink deeper into a 13-18yr economic contraction and everyone around you w/ less $$$$ in their pockets becomes increasingly beligerent, oppressive, unpleasant but hey, you are not going to be able to change this situation or help all these ppl just enjoy the good stuff (see hoops) and maybe help out an underpriveledged guy come up. there are plenty of worthy candidates in the projects/3rd world who could benefit from your knowledge of the world alone. whoever saves 1 life saves the world entire.
haven, i won't pretend to give you any advice. i just wanted to let you know that i know where you're coming from. i hope it's worth something to let you know that you are not alone.
we thuggin rollin on dubbs all up in the club money like what....I got mo honey's in da club...........and the man joe's got the key's to the spot.........................
I'm not a believer in the "these times are so tough on us" mantra. I look back historically and have a hard time believing we have it any worse today than the world has ever had it. I'm thinking the pioneers who expanded the borders westward had it pretty rough...the child mortality rate was out the roof...they dealt all day with hard work and death. there was little else. i'm thinking the good folks of europe had a tough time during the 1940's...i'm guessing the people of germany had a sense of guilt that lasted for some time after, when forced to see the effect of their leader, Hitler... i'm thinking slavery flat out sucked...would we not be more concerned about the injustices of this world if we lived during the height of the plantation era? the problem is, as many pointed out here, that the media allows us to all wallow in the evils of this world together. it's constantly brought to our attention.
