Category: empathy

On the Arse of Time

On the Arse of Time

We are essentially the stuff that spews

From dying stars,

Walking colonies of billions of

Bacteria,

We’re born and live a while, and then we must

Deteriorate

For all to see,

If I ever lose my memory

I’ll just hide away in the country.

 

I’ll live Homo-neanderthalensis style

On rabbit stew,

Think of nothing, no one, not even of me and you,

My mind will be completely empty

And in this blissful solitude

I’ll spend my days,

Sucking up the Sun’s well-travelled rays.

 

We are so inconsequential

Individually,

Together anything is possible

Or at least nearly,

Our species’ existence is a mere follicle

On the arse of time,

Billions of creatures born and died

Within this rhyme,

Don’t kill or die for your beliefs,

I’ll live by mine.

(freewillisntfree.com)

The ‘Meaning’ of Life

The ‘Meaning’ of Life

life: the condition which distinguishes active animals and plants from inorganic matter, including the capacity for growth, functional activity, and continual change preceding death…

(Oxford English Reference Dictionary (2002))

Life has so many definitions. For some, a breeze, others, a constant battle for survival. But why do so many people long for ‘meaning’ in their lives, and what do they mean by this? Meaning of your life to you? Meaning of your life to others? Meaning of life in general to all people?

Here’s my Haiku on Being again, in case you missed it:

Haiku on Being

To be,

It seems to me,

Is as subjective,

As not to be,

Isn’t.

(freewillisntfree.com)

Creatures unburdened by consciousness don’t need meaning, my cat probably lives in a more blissful contentment than any human. Hamlet said ‘conscience does make cowards of us all, and thus the native hue of resolution is sicklied o’er with the pale cast of thought’. Consciousness is an eternal torment for some, as whilst giving us the capacity for diverse positive emotions, it also provides bounteous mechanisms for the profoundly negative. To consider one’s own internal existence is an absolutely subjective experience, with an infinite amount of variables from the neurotransmitters in the nervous system to the country we were born into, the religion we were fed from infancy, the places we visit in our lives, etcetera, all influencing our overall ‘meaning’ of life.  It’s a shame in my view, that people identify with each other by the similarities they share, rather than differences, so communities can inevitably become isolated and even alienated. This is just the natural tribal nature of man, but it gives rise to irrational views and acts such as nationalism, racism, fascism, religious extremism (not by any means restricted to Islam), and the list goes on, and on.

My point is that the more divided into separate groups the human race becomes, or the more people associate frankly minor differences with negative connotations, surely the more fear and hatred and war will prevail around the world. You might say I’m stating the obvious, all you have to do is look back through the history of civilisation to find enough blood spilled to fill the Mediterranean, but if it’s so obvious then why aren’t we learning from it yet? Is it the greed and power-hunger of the higher echelons? That certainly can’t help. The unwillingness of many religious groups to ‘agree to disagree’? Undoubtedly another hindrance of progress. But these are only my opinions, based on a wholly subjective existence, I just think that civilised discussion on these themes is absolutely crucial if communities are to share any mutual understanding and respect. Respect is earned, I’m sure we can all agree on that. As always dear reader, your responses are encouraged, discussion is necessary, and your opinions are as valid as mine.

L

Sonnet for Peace

Sonnet for Peace

We are all sons and daughters of the Earth,

Our skin of different shades, but blood is red

We feel our pain the same, and loss of mirth

No different in the way our tears are shed.

This world is our home, no lines are drawn

Across it’s surfaces to govern where

We can and cannot tread, when soles are worn

From being chased away, we must care.

What other hope for humanity is there?

We’re all human beings, the Earth we share.

But as it’s been divided more and more,

Divisions only lead to death and war.

If you still have hope we’re not too late,

Unity is much stronger than hate.

(freewillisntfree.com)

Where Happiness Appears Unkind

Where Happiness Appears Unkind

The Darkest Corner of My Mind

Conundrum as it surely is

When time and patience disagree

Yet compromise between the two

Appears submissive, unambitious

But convergence of two paths gives

Sometimes blissful stability

Our lines in time were running true

But some insidious force grew

From deep within my fettered mind

Where happiness appears unkind

Untrustworthy and disloyal

Love in here is great betrayal

Blind and robbed of my embodiment

The Iago of my mind in government

Darkness shadowed in a lightless place

Staring numbly in death’s lifeless face.

(freewillisntfree.com)

I wrote this poem on the damaging effects that depression and anxiety can have on relationships, obviously from my own experience, but I’m sure there’s other sufferers out there who know what I’m getting at. If social interactions depend on expression of mutual interest, then for someone who struggles to take an interest in being, this is as you might expect, nigh on impossible. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I can’t engage in interesting conversation or ever experience ‘fun’. But to feel love and fail to express it, with all the limitations to relationships this brings, is I think the root cause of some of the most profound despair felt by many depressives. Of course the condition itself is in turn the cause of this failure, but the longing for mutual understanding with those closest to us is always an agonisingly impossible dream. We’d settle for a mere acceptance, what more can we expect or hope for? I wouldn’t wish my ailments on anyone, never mind my nearest and dearest. I think depressives are forced to compromise a lot in life, and gradually accepting these compromises can surely lead to a more tolerable existence. Finding a relationship which possesses a mutual ‘sixth sense’ of love without a demand for ‘normal’ levels of emotional expression, feels like a panacea at first. The dark corners of the mind are still there though, just repressed by new light and hope. They always creep back, swallowing optimism as they grow, and if the relationship suffers or breaks as a result, well it’s just unspeakable, indescribable.

Anyway as always your thoughts or experiences shared are greatly appreciated and encouraged. I’m sharing in the hope of inspiring others to do the same, or to increase the understanding of non-sufferers, that would be amazing and I’d love to know if so. Thanks for reading.

L

Power, Responsibility, and just the Right Thing.

Power, Responsibility, and just the Right Thing.

Emptiness

Contained within the trillions of nuclei that make myself

Ingredients of sorrow, woe and agony translate themselves

Until they come to define my existence

The remnants of all other states are void

Emptiness then conquers with persistence

All forms of stimulation I avoid

But in that state of numb submission, pacified I am indeed

When lowered to self-worthlessness, one cannot comprehend man’s greed

Men whose being influences billions of other souls

Mistake responsibility for power, and corruption grows

Not only in the mind of the beholder

But spreading thick and fast and sick

Rewarding all of those whose minds grow colder

Exterminating those who might have dared to challenge it

Thus my mind full of emptiness is torturous in this respect

Existence un-deprived and un-oppressed

But still I find myself so inconsolably depressed

There must within my nuclei be other lines of code

Directing other paths down which my happiness has strode.

(freewillisntfree.com)

Why do almost all world ‘leaders’ usually appear devoid of ‘common’ characteristics like expression of emotion, empathy, compassion etc? Is it a prerequisite for a career in politics, or does the choice of life-path drain their souls of these human traits?

They can’t all be depressives, surely!

No, depressives may struggle with expression of certain emotions, but we’ve got them in us, that’s for sure. Maybe it’s the same with powerful figures except a different oppressor on the mind keeps them obscured, such as the unimaginable weight of responsibility, as opposed to the mental illness. Sir Winston Churchill dealt with both of these at a time of World War, which I find utterly astounding, and admirable beyond belief.

I can muster no envy for people with excessive power or responsibilities to other humans, maybe I just fear that the various ‘systems’ of the world will inevitably fail them, and maybe so do the leaders themselves, so avoid excessive rocking of an unstable boat in choppy waters. Speaking of which, there are humans risking their lives and literally dying trying to escape their war-torn homelands. They’re being forced out against their will, into a treacherous journey of many perils which hundreds and hundreds of human beings are not surviving. And some people in their safe and cosy country cottages or council houses want to send them back! Is empathy gradually dying out amongst human souls?! Is it burdensome to have a little compassion?!

A slight diversion from the subject there, but it’s all related really isn’t it? The leaders must display power, wealth, support, determination, etc. as long as they have them, to their people and those of other countries. But with power comes responsibility. If some of the richest countries in the world can’t pull together to help some of the most desperate and oppressed people in the world, what hope is there for mankind? I know Merkel has received much due praise for her compassionate stance on the current crisis, but the growing opposition from other sides to what seems to me, moral, is frightful, don’t you think?

Just a thought, thanks for reading .

L

 

 

 

Free will

Free will

Free Will

In solitary I question who I am

In company I know not who to be

Free will is a fantastical scam

I’ve never found an ounce of it in me

Whoever that may be, or does become

Whatever branch he doesn’t choose en-route

I’m on my shoulders like a loving son

A ride through life is closer to the truth

So if it takes me in or out the way

Up to a peak or further down as feared

I’ll have no regrets or words to say

On where my unique humble life was steered

Whoever I am, or do become

It is beautiful, that I am one.

(freewillisntfree.com)

Free will is a strange notion isn’t it? How we go about our lives feeling like we’re making all of our own decisions, when we often forget whether we’ve done something. Surely we’ve all felt that we’ve been on ‘auto-pilot’ for a time, but to what extent can our brains control us without us thinking about it, or even remembering doing it?

Sam Harris’ excellent, thought provoking book ‘Free Will’ is a great place to start for a scientific angle. Highly Recommended.. Get it here.

Let’s discuss this from all angles and perspectives, remember this is a community so everyone’s input is valued. I’d love to hear different religious or cultural attitudes to ‘free will’ from around the world, so please post your thoughts here and respect each other’s opinions. Debate but don’t attack. Thanks.

Whatever it is, it certainly isn’t free…

L

People!

Wow.

How well and truly flattered I am to find that people are taking an interest in me and my story. Thanks to those who have visited/followed so far.

I’m nothing special, I realise how many people suffer from mental health problems. But surely the very fact that so many people do without ever broaching the subject in conversation is something which merits discussion? Why the stigma? My friends have known there was something ‘wrong’ with me for years, but a casual acceptance and avoidance of the subject is their approach. All well and good, I know they would be there if I was desperate, but the fact is I would have to tell them or plead for help, which just isn’t me. Anyway, I don’t want to be known amongst my peers for being the one who drags conversation down a muddy trench in which no one is comfortable, why would I? I think I’ve become a pretty good actor from my daily performance of the ‘brave face’, not to mention my mind regurgitating passages from Hamlet into my thoughts on a regular basis. I’d much rather be internally considering ‘whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles, and by opposing, end them’ (Hamlet), than outwardly exercising my right as a friend to be cared for and listened to.

If any of you, dear readers, has a different approach to mental health amongst their peers, I’d love to hear your experience. Here’s a haiku of mine which accepts all of our differences:

Haiku on Being

To be,

It seems to me,

Is as subjective,

As not to be,

 Isn’t.

Any thoughts are always welcome,

L