You vs. You

One of my favorite quotes is by Joseph Campbell, creator of the classic Monomyth, (the various stages a "hero" typically undergoes throughout the very beginning of their journey until the end). The quote is "People say that we're all seeking a meaning for life. I don't think that's what we're really seeking. I think that what we're seeking is an experience of being alive so that our life experiences on a purely physical plane will have resonances within our own innermost being and reality, so that we actually feel the rapture of being alive." Instead of constantly looking at the big picture (life) and trying to decipher the universal connection as a whole, we should focus more on the little details that actually give life to the big picture. Each intricate detail is evidence that we are not roaming like lifeless beings; we are alive, and these are our marks, our personal history, and the history that we share with others.

This quote reminded me of the discussion "Fighting for the Good Life", which is the topic I led with my partner, Chad. We discussed Sophocles's Oedipus Rex as well as Santa Fe's adaptation of it. However, our main focus was who, what, why, and how we fight in terms of what makes our lives, well, ours. In other words, how are we so certain that our lives belong to us and solely us? Or is it possible that our lives are already sorted out for us and the purpose of our journey is to just deal with what life throws at us because it is me relyour destiny? As an existenitalist, I say nay because I believe we have power to choose our own battles, and what we choose to do with that outcome is also up to us. Even though some answers may be uncertain, I would rather take the risk and regret having done it than regret not having done it at all. Though, I must mention that there is nothing wrong with believing that there is some sort of plan waiting for us to claim it. The discussion made me realize that I sometimes comfort myself by believing that things happen for a reason. Is it pessimism, realism, or optimism? All answers will vary. Our morals, values, beliefs, and interests may intertwine with others', but it is impossible to meet someone with exact EVERYTHING. (That would be really odd and creepy.)

Yes, our lives matter. Yes, what do with our lives is also significant. At times it seems as if things are "given" to us. Other times, not so much, which means efforts to a certain degree had to be enforced in order to achieve what was blocked from one's grasp. Fighting is natural (not always physically) and I believe that most of the time, we tend to be our own worst enemy, much more than outside sources. However, if we get too caught up in the battle, we can easily become blinded like Oedipus Rex. He was blinded by his pride, thinking that because he solved a riddle, he is invincible and is capable of defying the gods. If we (as individuals) learn from Oedipus, we understand that we should not let ourselves get too caught up into the fight, but we should not allow ourselves to falter either. It is a matter of choosing what is worth fighting for and how we fight for it. ​ We are the artists and our lives are the colors we stroke on the canvases we call our lives. Human experience itself is the window to our humanity; by understanding what to make of our past, present, and future experiences, thoughts, and interactions, we learn to carefully choose the colors we utilize (and combine) to create the works of art that will eventually become the masterpieces we envisioned.