Contemplations

As I sit here on a cheery red bench I contemplate the vast mysteries of life. A chilling wind briskly flaunts about, bringing goose bumps to previously warmed skin. Vehicles rush by in a blur, intent on their destination. Everybody busy living their lives everyday… I wonder, how many people stop for a minute, block out the craziness of life and and just sit. And contemplate. Some people have to use alcohol to relax, some people use music, others use the bad habit of smoking. All people have some sort of method which they use to unwind at the end of the day. Why do we need to unwind? Is life so extremely stressful that we must force ourselves to relax just so we don’t break at some point? Does life have to be this stressful, or do we bring it on ourselves? Have we been raised thinking that we have to work ourselves to the bone in order to be successful? I wonder, is that a bad mindset to be ingrained with? Or is it good, because at the end of the day we are in some measure, on some scale, successful in this world? There are so many things that our society has taught us are important… things like weight, appearances, money, your position in life, popularity, manners,… everything really! I suppose we do need something with which to purchase things because if there wasn’t a system the strong willed people would get everything and the weaker would be in slums somewhere. Although it’s barely any better in our current state, really. The strong, self willed people rise in fame and success rapidly while the weaker, more timid people work diligently and slowly rise, nearly incognito in their success. But I suppose being recognized for your accomplishments isn’t really necessary. In fact, what made it so sought after in the first place? Perhaps because when people do something that they are somewhat proud of they want others to recognize their talents so that their self esteem has some outward support. Why don’t we follow nature’s lead in this area though? I mean think about it. The flowers and trees and rocks don’t shout out about their beauty and usability, they just sit there and are beautiful and usable, in their own way, and people walk past and smile and appreciate them. I suppose the reason people feel the need to flaunt their talents/success’ is because we have been so ingrained with the sense of being in some sort of race or competition. And because of the simple fact that people believe that, we are in one, by common belief alone.

I recently read a book about a woman who was a philosopher and who liked to solve mystery type things on the side. She was pictured as successful, good looking, and with her life pretty much in order. Yet she still second guessed little things, worried about others, and led a fairly normal life. Just because she didn’t have to worry about money didn’t mean she didn’t worry about other things. Where as a poorer person might not worry about the smaller things as much, but would spend a lot of time worrying about money. So in the end both people would spend a fair amount of time worrying, just not about similar subjects. Even children worry about things! Whether or not their little friends truly like them, whether they will receive everything they wished for on their birthdays or Christmas, whether their parents will find out about that chocolate bar they ate right before dinner but weren’t really supposed to… worrying is so extremely unhealthy, yet nearly everyone wastes time engaged in it. How do we get away from it in such a worry ridden society?