Kindred Spirits

I've been overwhelmed this week.

Overwhelmed in the physical and emotional sense? Why yes, of course. More than I have ever been taxed in years. Yet, my undertaking to my weaknesses are not the subject of this week's post. Instead, I wish to talk of the overwhelming surge I have succumbed to spiritually. I have sought to a haven of sorts (that is to say that anywhere but my house is a haven) by staying down in Pueblo for the week. New and fresh thoughts were able to frolic freely throughout my mind while outside the cloud of disdain and suppression that lies within my normal living quarters. Thankfully, many new ideas have sprouted during this journey, which also gives me material to ponder about for the next few weeks. I do hope you enjoy this, what I anticipate will become, three part series of things I have come to realize during my spiritual journey of sorts. Which, on the topic, I encourage that everyone try and seek out a haven to provoke thought. Remember:

Anywhere can be a haven.

Moreover, this particular feeling of perpetual spiritual overwhelm came to me in the form of a sunset. Seeking for an escape from my reality, I attempted to do so by simply thinking. Meditating. Understanding my environment in order to get a hold of my life's direction (which will be discussed sometime during this series). This feeling was further strengthened by watching a particular movie that peaked my interest, Cloud Atlas, which indoctrinated a sense that I have pondered much before. How small are we in the scope of relativity to existence? It almost came as a thought further deepening a reckless feeling of abandonment, but by watching Cloud Atlas, it all helped me come together in my thought to realize that although we as humans, as a community, as a state, as an entire being, are small in nature;

Our encounters are infinite.

What a thought. To say that such a butterfly effect is prevalent in our lives, that one action done by humans in the past have influenced our encounters today. Although the argument of the human spirit is up for debate, it makes sense that our spirit would continue on through some sort of external life. That our actions today completely invent the events of tomorrow. We all, as humans, are connected. Through the hatred of our own brothers and sisters of this Earth, through all that we encounter to judge against such a fact, we, as a species, are all one. As the character David Mitchell explains in Cloud Atlas, we are all simply an ocean. Unfathomable amounts of worthless human life together, but yet is all brought together through one common bond: what is any ocean but a multitude of drops? Together we form waves that wither away the sands of time in order to create a new landscape on the coast of generations to come, with each of us contributing our own power to make our own drop worth something.

We are all worth something in this world.

Trail of Thought

More philosophy this week!

I read a friend of mine's statement this week about their fascination of whether they had been inspiration for any literature. Such a simple sporadic thought, yet it influenced quite a few questions in my head. First, one must live quite an interesting life to ponder whether they are profound enough to inspire entire pieces of writing. Then again, it seems to be the most anonymous of people that lead to the masterpieces of the modern era we are accustomed to. Perhaps this is a useless argument in itself. Regardless, the second question that surfaced was what made this person want to inspire literary masterpieces. Is the want to inspire any less different than the unintentional inspiration? Does it negate the actual effect of inspiration to consciously decide to influence?

No, of course not!

Influence comes through some of the most unlikely spots. I mean, even writing this blog right now, I have been enticed within the desire to become an inspiration for what is an unknown purpose (at least to myself). Perhaps my friend may never realize that they have influenced writing, because often the inspiration given off by others latches on to individuals randomly and generally unknowingly to the source, producing a trail of endless thought behind them. What intrigues me about this though is that behind the wish to be an inspiration lies someone who is absolutely capable of inspiring some of the most creative of poetry, the most elegant of novels, and yet this side is often exposed. Why willingly choose to hide the very element you wish to pollinate amongst the public?

I mean, you could write books on this person.

This got me thinking even further. Does humanity consciously make the decision to hide the alter ego within each of us? Earnestly and honestly, every single one of us has at least one contrast between what will be considered a "public" personality. What is it that makes us bury the other side or decide to selectively show it? Do we fear judgement of others? What I find peculiar is that humans are extremely critical of themselves, even through criticism of absolute strangers. What we are doing is preventing this inspiration that potentially lies within our separate personalities to be spread through our own fear of judgement by those who are least important.

I don't get that.

It's a cliche standard in today's society to encourage free expression, "express yourself" and what not. But you know what? This cliche is correct. Expression, a differentiation from the societal norm, is what influences others to think outside of the box. This difference, perhaps subconsciously, causes a response within ourselves in reflection to how we act. Are we simply another brick in the wall compared to this flaring ball of neon yellow? By leaving this trail, others are indirectly inspired and leave this giant ripple of inspiration until even the original source is influenced by another individual who was influenced by the original source in the first place. Confusing? Yeah, a little. But really, the message is clear in itself:

Be the inspiration.