Loneliness isn’t the physical absence of other people, it’s the sense that you’re not sharing anything that matters with anyone else. If you have lots of people around you – perhaps even a husband or wife, or a family, or a busy workplace – but you don’t share anything that matters with them, then you’ll still be lonely. ~Johann Hari. Book: Lost Connections
Ravenous Butterflies
Some company, that’s all. But not with one who’s a contrarian. Or just plain dim. The companion must be one to suit ones ideals. One to whom the idea of a verbal challenge is not only understood, but welcomed. Ah yes, the simple things in life that were never promised but are worth all the rest of the promises, kept or broken.
With every increase in the degree of consciousness, and in proportion to that increase, the intensity of despair increases: the more consciousness the more intense the despair.* ~Søren Kierkegaard
*Now this sentence really needs to be parsed, not for grammar of course, but for meaning. Be careful of the use of “consciousness.” In my experience there are more levels to consciousness itself so as to urge caution in its application of use. (Forgive, please, I’ve been reading dear Søren) It is so very easy for me to slip into an accent, a tone, a language.
To think this through and apply your own experience, I do believe you will find the statement true.
And I do believe he is also saying that anyone who is conscious at all, aware in the slightest, will suffer the equal counter-part of Despair.
And that makes for an “Oh dear!” if anything does.
Now, that accepted, we must (most likely anyway) also accept that any one would want to be relieved of this Despair.
Note: Despair, as without Hope. Not Depression. Not Melancholia. Not Down. Not Sad. Despair—its very own category.
And therein lies the rub. The conflict begins. In order to resolve the situation I’ll needs must read a bit more of our dear philosopher. Suffice it to end here, for today. But for those of us who suffer, and that means (most) everyone according to SK, I’m sure there will be an interest in the answer. Stay tuned!
Maybe it’s time for a little bit of humor. It doesn’t seem as if we’ve had any for a while. So here we go, a comment by Neil Gaiman in response to a reader’s question.
Posted by “For Reading Addicts” from Neil Gaiman books.
I love this type of humor where you’re led down the path of the unexpected: the tatoo and lost arm, and then the further twist to the very unexpected: the subset of authors!
Again I ask myself, how is it I can forget again and again? Is it for the joy of telling myself this time I can hold it, let it be my Spirit itself? To flounder and struggle, when floating is the only way.
It is this “Do without Doing” that cannot be explained and is the key to unlocking that door that opens to the sweet little cottage wherein we can dwell without effort.
Today is being brought to you by beauty. Just some timeout for beautiful things…the light as it beacons across the room and sprinkles itself into time, the butterfly wings, the whisper of love from long ago…
José Maria Rodriquez Acosta – Woman in a Green Dress, 1933
Writers Ink—Writing and Stuff 