You are lost

Value

by D. Aarsone on Apr.30, 2009, under Rant

This post is an attempt to organize my thoughts on a discussion started by my friend Josh.  The subject keeps coming up in conversations, so I thought I’d take a moment to share them.
First, the background.  In his post “Improbable Occurances” Josh states that the chances of any moment occuring the way it does has an extremely high improbability; that the rare beauty of each moment is made to seem mundane based on our expectations.

Each moment is precious and unique to an extent, and beauty is in part a product of scarcity.  So the more rare the event the more value we give it. But by influencing the probabilities we create a sameness in the happenings of our daily lives that can lead to a mundane existence and a sense of banality.  The workplace is the most obvious example, and generally where most of us experience this disconnect from grandeur.


The happenings of Day A, if too similar to Day B, lose significance even though each has it’s own unique set of values and circumstances.  More so if Days C-Z follow suit.

But doesn’t this also allow a basis for comparison to determine what is indeed a rare moment?  And from that to measure from greatness what is truly fantastic?  But it also implies that some moments are less rare, and by our definition, less beautiful.  We live in a world where the beauty of the unique is seen as abnormality, chance as insecurity, and seeking enlightenment as terrorism.  By organizing chaos do we not seek banality?

But value is not strictly determined by scarcity.  Why notice any particular moment, why hold it in memory?  We assign meaning to our experiences both common and great, whose value is based on perception.  If we see a moment as rare or meaningful the more we treasure it.  If we feel it to be common or trivial we disregard it.  So the issue at hand is what unseen forces influence our perception to say that one moment has more value another?  Is it all based on personal experience or do we allow cultural experience a greater say?  By raising our expectations of what each moment could hold, have we allowed our society to numb our senses to the subtleties of life?

What enlightenment could we achieve from perceiving every moment as rich in meaning?  And do we not risk imposing a greater meaning than there might be?  It is important to allow that which is mundane to remain insignificant; to allow value to remain uninfluenced and to appreciate what is for what it is.  To simply be and appreciate, and allow the experiences that unfold to enrich us as they will.

This is not to say we cannot create moments of rarity to enhance our experience.  But creating an atmosphere where enlightenment may be achieved is different from trying to discern meaning from the meaningless.  Should we all not seek to influence our own existence in such fashion?  To impose our own will upon our existence rather than allowing the influences prescribed to us by aforementioned social factors?  To create an alternative path to monotony?

:

1 Comment for this entry

  • DranoK

    I think Josh’s statement is valid although I disagree somewhat with his interpretation. The chances of any moment occurring the way it does may be highly improbable when viewed from an infinite universe of possibilities. Reality isn’t really like that, though. In most cases things are the way they are now because, if they weren’t, they wouldn’t be.

    Take the moon. If it wasn’t the exact mass it is at the exact distance it is numerous species would become extinct. The only reason they can survive is because of the improbable chance that the earth and the moon are configured exactly how they are. It’s a probability so rare that some misguided folk insist the only possible explanation is that God did it.

    But if things -weren’t- exactly how they are, these creatures would never exist in the first place (or at least, not exist exactly how they do), so we’d never even consider them. There would be other life to fill their spot, which would require different precise configurations.

    The point being, while something can be viewed as incredibly improbable when viewed in a vacuum, it can still be completely expected and anticipated when actually observed.

    As for applying this to valuing each moment… I’m not sure you can. It’s a bit of a personal thing, ain’t it? I mean, what you value isn’t necessarily what I value. What if someone values monotony and takes great pleasure in it?

    So yeah. If it makes you happy or helps you grow in a way you want to then by all means take the time to appreciate each moment’s uniqueness. If that becomes a drag, though, isn’t your energy better spent elsewhere?

Leave a Reply

Looking for something?

Use the form below to search the site:

Still not finding what you're looking for? Drop a comment on a post or contact us so we can take care of it!

Visit our friends!

A few highly recommended friends...