Donker19_SUMMER_summer= Madeline and Quinnigan in: The REFLECTION CONNECTION

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Consider your options
very carefully.

donk_Ramblings00=
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Sometimes when you sit around or aren't doing much it's easy to fall into the thought that you're wasting your life away.

But often I wonder how much truth this idea even holds.

What about life is there to waste away anyways? Is it possible to waste it away?

Well, the simplest answer to this question lies primarily in how you percieve your own life and what you can do with it.

The question of how can someone learn to view their life as something that is precious, how to find meaning in your own life,

it's a question that has been plaguing humanity as a whole for many years.

Everyone percieves their life differently. Does that mean that some people are valid in thinking that their lives are being wasted away?

Some may say yes, but I think the answer is much more nuanced than that.

To know this answer, we must first know what the ideal life even should be. Obviously this is going to differ from person to person.

Is the ideal life to spend it sitting inside? Does that make you happy? If that does make you happy does that mean it gives your life meaning?

What even is meaning anyways?

Obviously, this discussion is an extremely complicated one.

Some will claim that meaning doesn't just come handed to you on a silver platter. That you have to actually go out and look for it.

But obviously this begs the question of "how does someone find meaning?" 

Proudly condemning someone for sitting inside all day, saying that they will never find meaning in their life this way is sort of absurd isn't it?

Everyone sees what meaning is differently.

Some definitions of meaning may lead to more satisying outcomes to certain people, but the truth is that the word really only has the meaning that we give to it.

So.

How do you see meaning?

What does meaning mean do you?

This is something that we all need to decide how we define, and it will be extremely crucial for how we choose to live our lives.

How we choose to act. How we choose to create. How we choose to love. How we choose to live.

How we will find meaning. Or if we even need to find meaning.

So, will you get up out of the slog?

Will you cramble your way out of the muckridden, suffocating mud?

Saturday is closer than your death.

Consider that it's time to make your choice.


donk_Ramblings01=
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Some people even believe that life itself is meaningless. In this definition, I can only assume meaning means that something contributes to the overall narrative of the universe.

But even that is absurd in its itself, because people contribute to the narrative of the universe every single day. 

One cannot observe the overarching history of the universe and overlook the Milky Way.

Think about the hundred thousand lightyears of history that must be erased that its diameter hides.

Are you truly going to consider the grandiose story of the cosmos without this region in mind?

And the solar system we inhabit within this Milky Way.

At what point does something become so little that it matters not in the "grand scheme" of the universe that you inhabit?

Should we also cut out the billions of other solar systems all around the universe?

I think a much better question to ask is why does it matter if our lives contribute to the larger void that surrounds us.

Our life exists now. Only when we live it.

Although we do exist inside the universe, we must ultimately realize that the outer reaches of even our planet are not something most people can attain.

Some people will try to say that life is meaningless because of a feeling of emptiness.

This suggests that there is something within us to be filled.

This is much less absurd than the belief that we are meaningless due to the surrounding cosmos, however, what exactly is this suggesting people must be filled with to find meaning?

Meaning itself?

What is it that fills the voids of the universe, stretching accross an incomprehensibly large space?

The belief that we are empty and must fill ourselves with something eventually just circles back to finding meaning and how we define it.

A lot of people like the use the universe as a device to discredit humanity, to suggest that we occupy such a tiny part of the actual place where we exist means that we lack any true purpose or value.

But what they fail to realize is that the universe being uncaring for us doesn't actually do anything to disprove our existence, or refute it's purpose.

A star billions upon billions of lightyears away, travelling endlessly to reach us and become observable does nothing to say humanity deserves no space in the universe.

The sun transforming into something much larger in billions of years and engulfing the earth, potentially erasing the history of humanity, does nothing to say our lives do not matter.

In fact, it actually does the opposite. It makes our lives even more precious.

The vastness of the universe, the great emptiness, the photons that seem to travel through it without reason...

It all just emphasizes how special humanity really is.

How unique of an artform we truly are.

When you wake up every morning, do you think "I wonder how Struve 2398 B is contributing to the overall narrative of the universe, and how it will potentially outlive all of humanity."

How does anyone truly look up into space and believe that, because of its immense size, its incomprehensible scale, that humanity does not matter in the slightest.

It is for this reason that I do not believe that looking at the vast tapestry of amazing artwork that is space as anything other than a spur for humanity's purpose is a valid option.

It's absolutely absurd to see a wonder like the Eagle Nebula and come to the conclusion that, because of its wonder, its vastness, it has anymore meaning that we as people do. In any definition of meaning.

It's a gross underestimation of the value of humanity, of a person, of really anything.

If the universe truly is the only thing that matters to someone in the "grand scheme" of things one must wonder if they even care about people.

Does the fact that the universe is so vast, beautiful, and in motion mean that the universe can find purpose in its tasks?

Well, does the universe have an ability to think? To do?

Is an ability to think or do required to have meaning or purpose?

And what is the ability to think?

Some would say that yes, the universe has the ability to think and do, and we are evidence of that.

Once again, one could point out that this discredits just how unique humanity and living beings are to the unlivingness of the universe.

Although the universe itself does posses qualities of motion that some may point to as signs of life, from a purely biological perspective, life on Earth is unlike anything ever observed in the universe, and anything that could be observed.

So a conclusion that life is separate from the universe, at least while it is alive, must be made.

Is meaning exclusive to living beings, can nonliving things find meaning?

From the perspective that biological life is different from the unlivingness of most matter in the universe, one can come to the conclusion, from the perspective that meaning is something that can be applied to a life, unliving matter can not find meaning on their own.

So we know that meaning is something only living beings can acquire, but how exactly do they do that?

As we further our understanding of what meaning is, we can start to draw conclusions.

Meaning is something that only living beings can acquire.

But that does not mean that humanity can not find meaning in nonliving things.

So, the next time someone tries to tell you that life does not matter, life has no meaning, because of the vastness of space, that humans are insignificant in the "grand scheme" of things because they inhabit such a small part of the universe,

simply stare up at the sky, the universe, and realize how special it truly is to exist in such a vast sea of nothing.

How unique is it to control our own motion in a sea of cosmos governed by gravity and acceleration.

How wonderful it is to control how we influence the world around us.

How lovely is is to exist in a world that allows us to.





donk_Ramblings02=
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The conclusion that often gets drawn when considering what will give ones life "meaning" is grand achievements.

In fact, that's usually the message that gets conveyed to the youth and popular media.

Your life will truly only be meaningful if you have conquered some grand feat, have contributed some huge step for the development of humankind or the world.

Needless to say, this is a sentiment I disagree with.

If one's life is only defined by their achievements, then what about everything leading up to that accomplishment? 

What about the relishment of that accomplishment thereafter?

This is functionally the same as observing the vastness of the cosmos while ignoring the individual parts that make it up completely.

Quarks, protons, atoms, all of them matter greatly when observing the universe itself, and the human life is no different.

Time and time again people fall into the snare that in order for their life to have any semblance of worth or be respected they must achieve a feat that is far beyond them.

Of course, once again, this does depend on how you define meaning.

Is your definition of meaning simply making a lasting impact on the world that will be remembered and recognized for generations?

If it is, your life will most likely not be as fulfilling as you hope it will, even if you achieve this feat.

Is your definition of meaning that you must work towards a goal for yourself that will take an immense amount of effort and hardship?

If so, maybe you can learn to lead a fulfilling life full of happiness through this, but you are still neglecting the truth that living life itself and simply existing are a feat in their own right.

The most important thing to recognize when falling into this dangerous way of thinking is that you yourself will not achieve happiness simply by reaching towards a grand goal set by yourself or society.

Meaning, however you define it, is most often associated with happiness.

So, how does one find happiness? Is that all that's needed? What if someone truly enjoys achieving immensely difficult goals?

Well, it's not so simple yet again.

The difficult aspects of life that make up one's day to day experience can be immensely challenging in themselves, and piling on top even more can make someone miserable.

If you can not find fulfillment in your day to day life then what will doing something like making the next grand invention to help humanity achieve either?

If you can't be happy without constantly pushing towards something like reaching the peak of a dangerous, harsh mountain, then you must be prepared to keep climbing, maybe even your whole life, in hopes that you reach the peak.

These goals can be productive, and even good for someone, but they must be happy living their life regardless.

If one wishes to achieve happiness from these goals while not already being happy, the chances are that when they reach the peak, if they even do, nothing will have changed.

The destination is indeed important, but so is the path there. Such a simple, concise statement can still manage to carry immense truth.

Well, if happiness is something that must be achieved to find meaning, and it ought to be in our definitions, how do we find happiness?

Isn't that itself a goal to be achieved?

Well, yes actually, it very much is.

But what separates it from something grand like climbing a mountain or changing society?

Happiness is something that, although often difficult to attain, must first be met before conquering a challenge of that magnitude.

Or, a smaller challenge, like enjoying day to day life.

Without happiness, every challenge life throws your way is amplified, and can make finding meaning impossible.

By our terms, at least.

So then, to get back to the main question, how DO we find happiness?

This is a very difficult question, as just like every other experience, it differs from person to person.

But now that it has been established that happiness helps us find meaning, we can explore options.

Perhaps by climbing a mountain?

Well, if so, get ready for a difficult climb. However, it will be a climb that is extremely rewarding.

However, happiness is likely far more nuanced that to be achieved by a simple goal.

Just like meaning itself, as they go hand in hand.

Perhaps exploring and expressing ourselves artwork will be useful?


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When a piece of art leaves a profound impact on one's life, they will assert that said art has imbued a great meaning upon them, sometimes even one that has shifted the direction of their life.

The ones who set out on the journey of creating said art are plagued with worries. Will the emotions they feel will make it into the work at all?

And if the perceiver feels something in the moment, what if such emotions are simply cheap and fleeting?

Can such a short experience really leave a lasting imprint on someone's mind?

Although they seem pessimistic, artists are exceptionally positive towards others' work.

They question, "How could someone make something this beautiful?" as if such beauty cannot be found on Earth, as if the brushstrokes were made in a trance, through divine intervention.

Only when they gaze at their own work does the artist feel closest to their flaws, to their limits, and to their humanity.

In every artwork, a human's intent and desires are forever lost in erroneous streaks and creases.

For an outsider examining the finished product, those same blemishes mutate into an entirely new texture, an illusion of depth that cannot be recognized when staring at oneself.

Art feels random. Inspiration strikes like lightning. Confidence lurches up and down like a boat in a storm.

Misplaced effort can blur the finished product. Or worse, corrupt the process of creation.

Yet, the artist persists. Their suffering has to leave something behind. It would be best if it was understood, but at the very least, it must be recorded.

After many iterations, a confident artist takes a deep solace in this routine. To meditate on themselves, to get a little bit closer to their truth. And then, to translate it to the best of their ability.

Even the thoughts locked away in someone's personal journal take on a certain affect.

Just in case another person in 1 hour or 5000 years unlocks the book, the writing is tidied up slightly. For their enjoyment.

Contorting one's thoughts to fit in such a tiny display. The process exhausts. It takes so much effort, and it never fully pays off. We are never fully understood.

If only we could read minds. Then would art even be necessary?

Well, who would want to read our minds in the first place? To lure a passerby in our ear, we need to prove that our minds are worth reading. 

To create art is to assert a special quality, to put into detail the reason the creator looks and thinks a bit different than the person across the hall.

Maybe they have thought about life a little differently. Maybe they have appreciated different things. Maybe the same.

Which is more valuable, the idiosyncrasies or the similarities? What does it mean to learn something new, or to relive an existing truth? How much meaning is derived from clashing against each other?

Sometimes, we don't feel that spark. An artist appears to stagnate. Their style does not budge. Their melodies continue to strike the same chords.

It is easy to pass judgement, that they are incapable of change.

Maybe they have changed, but their process does not reflect their new self. It is also possible that they have changed, but you have not.

Regardless, when an artist stops, all we have is the stuff they left behind. We cling to the past and chase the feelings we had when we first heard their voice.

Something between the artist and the perceiver exists in every work, undiscovered meaning. Maybe more time was necessary to fish it out. Maybe more life experience.

Regardless, every time that interaction takes place, it is different. A new experience takes place. It can be duller than the first, but it is undeniably new.

An everlasting relationship. 


donk_Ramblings04=
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Perhaps then, if happiness is associated with meaning, and art is something that can manifest its own unique experience, taking part in leisure will lead to a meaningful life?

With this idea, the conclusion that meaning can only be attained when in a state of bliss without challenge arises.

Immediately, we can see a flaw with this ideal.

When one tries to live a life focused purely on pleasure, this can actually lead to misery rather than the desired happiness. 

If the focus of life is purely on finding temporary releases from the usual experiences of life, then are you really even focusing on a life at all, or just a few desired pockets of a grander picture?

Surely everyone can recognize the problem with this reasoning- life as a whole is once again being neglected.

If the purpose of life truly is to have as many vacations as possible, buy as many objects as possible, have as much pleasure as possible, then it must be spent purely focusing on that.

No human can truly live like this, even with a conceptual infinite amount of wealth, unless they wish to neglect themselves and end up dead long before they may find happiness in their hedonism.

Although these things can certainly enhance ones life, they are meaningless when isolated in a void.

This seems to be a recurring theme, doesn't it?

Life must be appreciated and seen at all levels, not just one hyperspecific focus.

How can one find they easeness of mind they feel when not working all the time, throughout their whole life?

Is it possible?

In this world, most likely not. In the future? Potentially.

But isn't the human struggle what makes life unique in the first place?

Althought uncomfortable and difficult to navigate, the struggle of life is less of an obstacle to be avoided and more a challenge to overcome and learn to embrace.

This is the first step to finding happiness, and giving your life the "meaning" that you truly desire.

The hardships of life will never be avoided.

Struggle is one of the only true constants of life, however, this is not a bad thing.

If things were just handed to us without effort, then would we even be able to feel at all?

Would happiness be attainable?

Truly, I think not, as there is no happiness in a life without satisfaction, and satisfaction tends to come through effort.

Even then, the true focus of overcoming these hardships should be on a focus on ourselves.

After all, we govern our own internal defintions of what words mean.

We are the only ones who can truly understand our own definitions, our own self, and without an inward reflection, recognizing what satisfaction and happiness is to us is impossible.

So the focus of our efforts should be aimed inwards at ourseves and reflected out at the challenges we face in life.

Once we define what happiness is, once we understand that we must accept the struggles we are thrown, then meaning can be defined.

As previously stated, struggle is part of the human experience, and after all, everyone who is tasked with the challenge of finding meaning and fulfillment in their own life is human.

So, would you truly prefer to live your life free of hardship, not providing any challenge, not putting effort into anything you do?

Is it not effort that allows humans to express themselves in unique ways, such as art, how one goes about their day, or even just sitting inside and chatting with friends?

Without effort, the struggle for meaning becomes hopeless, as there will be no way for one to struggle at all.

Does this mean that leisure will contribute nothing to ones life?

Not necessarily, it can be a goal to be worked towards in itself.

One must recognize that leisure is a temporary goal to work towards and relish once reached rather than the focus of a life.

So meaning is related to happiness, attainable through effort, and something unique to the living.

As our defintion of meaning narrows further, more focused conclusions on what it means can be met.

We are getting closer and closer to our goal, through effort.

And that's reflective of life itself.


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Can we draw upon our own memories to find meaning then?

If meaning is something that is attained through effort and joy, why not focus on the memories of those things we have experienced in the past?

To not waste too much time, this once again relies solely on focusing on only some aspects of our life.

Due to the nature of humankind, dwelling on the past is something that people tend to do.

However, it is absolutely crucial that this statement is not misunderstoof or misconstrued in any way.

Our past experience are an immensely powerful tool to be used when aspiring to reach future goals, such as finding fulfillment and how to expend effort getting to that point.

However, a fixation on the past is something that can also be used to hinder oneself in reaching said goals.

You are not a failure for shortcomings in your past, and recognizing that is something that is absolutely essential when finding happiness in your own life.

Yes, you made mistakes.

You made a lot.

But even though you regret it, even though they no longer talk to you, even if you think about it when you attempt to fall asleep, the misery of this mistake is not something that should be focused on immensely.

Rather, you should focus on how you can avoid making such mistakes in the future.

Making a mistake is essential for human growth, and part of what makes life so unique in the first place.

We can learn from our mistakes and use our learning to help us draw conclusions and make choices in the present.

You can't undo what you did, but you don't have to keep reliving it either.

Haven't you changed since then? Haven't you learned since then?

Even if no one sees it, even if you can't see it, it is an immutable fact that you are different than you were yesterday. And a week before then. And a year before then. And a decade before then.

Part of the human experience is constant change.

Rather poetically, change is one of the only constants in our lives.

So will you continue to fixate on the mistake you made years ago, or will you get up and recognize that it was indeed a mistake, and realize how to avoid making it again?

Focusing on memory for too long can be detrimental, but there is a critical amount of reflection that must be done in order grow as a person.

Growth will come naturally, but learning to grow in ways that are productive can be reached through reflection on the past. 

The point will never be to become perfect, but is rather to work towards a happier version of yourself that you may reach.

After all, happiness is essential in finding fulfillment, and therefore meaning, in your own life.

So, although focusing on past mistakes can be hard if not worked upon, if one recognizes the mistakes of their past and how to correct them, they will be primed to find more happiness in their life.

Mistakes make us human. And the search for meaning is an innately human one.


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So, we still must find the leading cause of fulfillment in life in order to truly find and define meaning.

Luckily, the most critical factor is one that has not yet been discussed.

The people we surroud ourselves with in life are the most critical aspect in finding joy in our lives.

If you do not choose to spend your time conversing with people, I truly advise finding people around you to love.

And if you can't find people you deem worthy of your love around you, love them anyways.

Without human kindness and love, something so innately baked into humanity as a whole one may truly never find happiness.

The simple truth is that interconnection between peoples is something that has been embedded into our nature.

Whether by years of evolution, the will of a creator, or any other source, we have been chosen to love each other.

Even if you somehow don't see this as beautiful, you must recognize this as a truth of life.

However, we are in luck to be similar in nature to each other, as this allows for us and others to participate in a wonderful exchange of joy.

Simply being in the prescence of another human being is enough to raise our satisfaction. Embracing one even more. 

Even just speaking to someone can make a person happier than they may have ever thought.

It's an absolutely crucial aspect of human life, and to find meaning without other people is something that is most likely impossible.

Friendship, love, or even just a general compassion towards others is something we must not underappreciate.

So when you feel sad or helpless in your life, when you feel like meaning is something forever away, think about how you can positvely impact others.

And, if anything, go and do it.

We do not know how much time we have on this earth.

But even just a second is enough to die for when you can spend it in the presence of another.

So please, if you take anything out of these words, anything out of the hundreds of lines of speech that is being given to you, please understand that people are essential in finding happiness in your life.

And, its a given that if they are essential for finding happiness that they are essential for also finding meaning.

How does one properly love another?

What if there is someone you don't love?

It's okay to not love everyone, but you must recognize that they too are human, and they too deserve compassion.

You must hope that they will find it, instead of fixating and praying for their demise.

If you choose to hate another person, you will likely just end up a sadder person yourself.

As for properly loving another, once again you must recognize their humanity, and consider they ought to love you.

Do you desire to converse with them? To partake in their company? Do you wish they would tell you?

Then, simply put, do the things you wish they would do to you unto them.

Love is something that is simply marvellous.

Loving another is truly a spectacular act that seemingly makes the hardships of life worth it.

When struggling immensely with feelings of failure, of pain, the laugh of your closest friends will ease your mind more than you can imagine.

So please consider when pondering meaning in your own life that you will never find it without loving another person.

Without loving people.

Without finding and loving those who you enjoy the company of.

Without learning to love people you may not know or even not like now, or at least trying to.

Loving is a wonderfully human thing, friendship is truly incredible.

It will do wonders in your understanding of meaning to understand the compassion embedded in human nature.




donk_Ramblings07=
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Meaning.

How should we define it?

Ultimately, the question is not how to find meaning, but rather how to define it.

Truthfully, the idea that meaning must be found over years and years of life...

The idea that meaning is a goal to work towards...

It's misleading and incorrect.

Meaning is the act of living every day.

The act of finding joy in your own life.

The act of leaving a positive impact on yourself and the others who surround and love you.

Whether through art, knowledge, leisure, love, accomplishments...

In order to live a fulfilling life, one must positively impact themselves and others.

And this is not something that's as hard as some people seem to think finding meaning is.

This is something that can be found every day.

Not a goal to work towards.

But something we can actively do every moment of our lives.

Something embedded into us as humans.

To love ourselves and others, and find happiness through that.

Yes, there are other hurdles in life.

Yes, we will struggle through them.

Yes, we must push towards goals.

Yes, we will find comfort in leisure.

Yes, we will find ourselves much smaller than the vast space and creation around us.

Yes, we will find people we don't like.

But ultimately, meaning comes down to finding love in ourselves and others.

Finding joy in something as simple as a passing smile,

In something as grand as creating a magnum opus,

In the subleties of our daily routine...

Whatever it may be...

Meaning is attainable.

Meaning, maybe not easy to find, is attainable for anyone.

You must simply love.

You must simply care.

About yourself, about others...

Luckily, this is embedded into humanity,

To find meaning, you must simply live.

Even if that means you sit inside all day.

As long as we love each other.

As long as you love yourself.

Because...

Because I love you so, so much.

You are like me.

I am like you.

We are human.

And we don't "live once."

We live every day.

And we die once.

So...

I'm pleading to you...

Love those around you while you live. Love yourself.

And you will live a meaningful life.




































