For obvious reasons, people use one another constantly. Day after day, someone takes advantage of someone, and in this way, mankind has stolen from itself and sucked the marrow from its own bones only to find its belly empty and aching. In all the years of wanting more from a world that offers so much in excess there has never been a single person to reach the top. There is no ultimate goal. Who was the most successful man who ever lived? Was it the businessman whose company earned millions, who drove an expensive car, who golfed, who gave his children money instead of love and consequently rose to height of the elite? Or was it the poor man who could not give his children money, but instead taught them to love, gave them knowledge, wisdom, and gratitude?
For decades, commercialization has fueled the thrust towards the "American Dream" but it seems that this dream is one that has changed over the years. In 1931, James Truslow Adams defined the American dream as an ethos stating that "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement." But peel away a hundred years of calloused faith and hope and what is there left but the desire from which everything sprung? Is not the true dream, American or otherwise, to be happy? To be truly fulfilled and not just satisfied or satiated but to be happy enough to smile and laugh without cause or question.
Men have dedicated their lives to promoting the idea that happiness can be bought and sold but the truth is that it can't, happiness can only be felt. You cannot buy or steal or borrow the things that true happiness comes from. We can only fight to cover up the vast emptiness that is plaguing modern man, eating him from the inside-out. We can climb the ladder as long as we want, but will the unknown thing that's waiting for us at the top be worth the struggle? Will it make you happy? Will it even be there at all?
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Dear Reader,
Do you know that you are beautiful? Do you even know what beauty is? Because the term is often thrown about in such a careless manner that the word loses its meaning. I believe that there are beautiful things everywhere that are hidden in the inconspicuous folds of ugliness, and most often beauty is wasted. Beauty is the only thing that makes us worth wanting. Dear beautiful reader, do you know that you are worth wanting?
Do you know that you are beautiful? Do you even know what beauty is? Because the term is often thrown about in such a careless manner that the word loses its meaning. I believe that there are beautiful things everywhere that are hidden in the inconspicuous folds of ugliness, and most often beauty is wasted. Beauty is the only thing that makes us worth wanting. Dear beautiful reader, do you know that you are worth wanting?
Opening Up
I used to believe that "naked" was what you were when you showered, bathed, changed clothes, had sex. I used to think that I was naked regularly, that everyone was. When I was fourteen, I decided that in a perfect world, we would all be naked, crouched under the bleeding heat of an untouchable Sun, filling our dry mouths with dust as we cursed dumbly at the unchanging orb; eating dirt, hissing at the sky. I once believed that you could shed your cotton and polyester skins to assume the garb of creation and become "naked."
I have learned, however, that nakedness is more than can be beheld by the human eye. Nakedness entails vulnerability, helplessness. Perhaps those of us who are willing to admit our weaknesses are the most naked. Regardless, there are some things that cannot be hidden by clothes, or makeup, masks, sheets, walls. It is as if every person is possessed by some carnal weakness that forces us to drive expensive cars and wear designer clothing. And yet we are naked. We cannot protect ourselves from the harshness of reality, but instead we strive to protect ourselves from the threat of nakedness. We find ourselves cold, desperate, alone, and ugly, and thus toil to clothe ourselves. We are cold, so we struggle for warmth. We are desperate, so we work until we have excess. We are alone, so we search for love. We are ugly, so we wear masks and makeup; we trade faces and alter appearances.
What are we trying to hide?
The truth is that this question can be answered. One piece at a time, we can put together what will amount to the insecurities of mankind, and although it may be impossible to overcome them, it will at least be easier to face them directly. There are many stories to be told herein, and if I find I am not alone, I will share them in a way that is pleasing to the reader. Until then, I convey my anonymous affection and most humble gratitude.
I have learned, however, that nakedness is more than can be beheld by the human eye. Nakedness entails vulnerability, helplessness. Perhaps those of us who are willing to admit our weaknesses are the most naked. Regardless, there are some things that cannot be hidden by clothes, or makeup, masks, sheets, walls. It is as if every person is possessed by some carnal weakness that forces us to drive expensive cars and wear designer clothing. And yet we are naked. We cannot protect ourselves from the harshness of reality, but instead we strive to protect ourselves from the threat of nakedness. We find ourselves cold, desperate, alone, and ugly, and thus toil to clothe ourselves. We are cold, so we struggle for warmth. We are desperate, so we work until we have excess. We are alone, so we search for love. We are ugly, so we wear masks and makeup; we trade faces and alter appearances.
What are we trying to hide?
The truth is that this question can be answered. One piece at a time, we can put together what will amount to the insecurities of mankind, and although it may be impossible to overcome them, it will at least be easier to face them directly. There are many stories to be told herein, and if I find I am not alone, I will share them in a way that is pleasing to the reader. Until then, I convey my anonymous affection and most humble gratitude.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)