Opposable Thinking
or
Human Beings Talk
Twenty-four days into the New Year and things continue to change. Perhaps on schedule with a far different force than we realize, or maybe even the continuing drama of the Universe and all that it encompasses. For without change, stagnation is sure to follow. What living is done when all Life stagnates? We all know the answer to that and the answer simply opens up more questions. What's new?or
Human Beings Talk
New Years, new days, new events, new ways of doing old things, new habits forming out of new experiences... we're totally susceptible to this 'new' which proceeds change. New affects us with either pleasure of the newness or the contrary dislike of changing that which we have been accustomed.
We are peculiar beings, we hu'mans. At once, we are social creatures and then again we despise our socialistic impulses. We want to stand alone, bravely against all odds to prove our individuality, and yet we dread being alone, isolated from others to talk with and enjoy our hu'manity over food and drink, music and laughter. We celebrate occasions that bring what we perceive to be positive changes to our lives. And a day later we can just as easily weep and feel alone when our loved one suddenly loses their life with no understandable reason.
This emotional roller coaster gives us things to talk about. How much of our conversation revolves around sorrow, despair and grief and conversely conversation revolving around great joy and success in life... when all of life seems to be wonderful and loving. In between those extremes we have neither joy nor sadness but rather a subdued attitude towards living, a bit more serious with an occasional wink and nod to show we're alive. Moments like that, those in-between extremes, are the times when we do, taking care of things and stuff that need doing, the times when we maintain our lives by providing all that we need in order to survive... we do and for the most part, we 'do' doing well - our long life upon this planet is proof of our determination as this 'new' species to survive... and even out-survive other species.
But as alike as we all are, we are all so very different - differences in cultures, beliefs, diets, attractions/repulsions, desires and needs. Our differences are what makes us hu'man... the ability to be that which we believe we are and need to be in order to live our lives. What brings the future... that place in the far distance that is nothing more than a vague vision not completely in focus, but it continues to draw us forward like the moth to the flame, we must know... we must have the potential to know... we must know the unknown... we must, we must, we must... like some mantra gone wild, without logic, without reason, without anything more than 'must' at the helm of our lives, we drive forward with a mix of caution and wild abandon in our attempt to reach the point of focus in our lives... that place where all makes perfect sense and we can inhale deeply, slow down the excessively beating heart, the sweaty palms and feet, and embrace our loved ones in a gesture of thanks ... our private salute to ourselves for finally reaching our full potential with all our limbs and faculties intact, despite the long, dangerous journey that preceded.
In Sunday Stream 223, I quoted something D.T. Suzuki had said which included : "Human Beings talk - this is their will." I've pondered that off and on for some time now and have come to accept how very true that is about we hu'man's - we talk. Look at this Stream! It's my way of talking about what I think about.
We're all talkers. I'm not convinced our opposable thumbs are all that has given us our ability to create. Opposable Thinking has to rank as number 1 in what makes us Hu'man Beings.
cecil
1.24.10
Picture of the Week:
The Busted Knuckle Garage
photo: cecil (around the neighborhood, over a garage door)
photo: cecil (around the neighborhood, over a garage door)
