Day 32–100 Days 100 Ways Being Visible
There is no inherent meaning in an event; we invent the meaning and we can reinvent the meaning.
Have you been struck by a line spoken by a character in a drama?
I was struck yesterday by the words of Jack Twine, a character in the Australian Broadcasting Commission television crime drama, Harrow. Jack said:
“Is that what this is about — being loved in return?
That’s not why we do this; We love them because they need loving. We do the job we do because it needs doing, And we believe because no one else does. And that's the only way we get through this shitty beautiful life.” — Jack Twine
Reading these lines brings to the fore of my mind some important questions.
Who in my life needs loving and is there anyone from whom I am withholding love because I want something in return?
Where am I hesitating to do work that needs doing?
Am I willing to choose to believe that the work I do to improve the quality of communication and coordination in organisations is important? Whatever others may think?
But who is it that says someone needs loving, that some work needs doing or what is to be believed in?
I get to say that.
Despite the environmental forces and the societal, family and personal narratives that I have unknowingly accepted, I have some degree of awareness and I claim some choice.
I choose to love who I love, to do the work I do and to believe in the possibility of a world in which everyone thrives.
These choices give meaning to my life in a universe that I believe has no inherent meaning. I love the paradox that meaning and purpose can be invented in a world that is inherently empty and meaningless. This Kurzgesagt video about Optimistic Nihilism pretty nicely sums up my understanding of the the nature of the universe and our place in it.
In a similar vein Werner Erhard said:
“Life is empty and meaningless, and it is empty and meaningless that it is empty and meaningless.” — Werner Erhard
The important point I think the Kurzgesagt video and Werner Erhard try to make is that great freedom and joy is possible if you can just get this distinction as a lived experience (like getting skiing by actually doing it, rather than to understand, agree or disagree with the concept or theory of skiing). I love the idea that it does not mean anything that there is no inherent meaning to our lives. That's just how it is from a physics/biological point of view. I accept that all meaning comes from our assessments and our stories. The more aware we are that we are the ones adding the meaning the more we can invent new meanings that are equally valid and more empowering.
In the context of my 100 Days 100 Ways being-visible project, the meanings I have added (and am adding) to the risks of being visible are just that — meanings I have invented or added. If I added the meaning then, within the limits of what is possible for my body (including my neurology), I can create new meanings. Perhaps, rather than being visible is scary, being visible is thrilling or being visible is adventurous or being visible is the way to inner peace. I don’t yet know which new meaning I will choose. I still have work to do. Strange as it sounds, the possibility of being visible and experiencing inner peace is very appealing.
I am back in action and I am pretty sure I am not far off track.
32/35/100 (Number of days goals met/ number of days into project/ 100)
Go to the Previous Day or Next Day
PPS If you enjoy British crime dramas like Vera or Shetland there is a very good chance you would enjoy Harrow.)