Origami of the Mind: Folding Free Time into Meaning
Having the luxury of discretionary time, absurdity of our predicament when confronting a silent universe becomes an opportunity, for therein lies our agency to construct a local meaning and purpose of our life.
Only when the belly is full, one is afforded the luxury to ask: What is the meaning and purpose of my life?
This morning, I sit in a comfortable chair, sipping my first cup of Earl Grey as the chill lingers outside. There are no sounds of shelling, no bullets slicing the air, no queues to fight for rations to appease the fire in my belly. In this quiet, I am free to ask questions that so many others cannot afford: What is the meaning of my life? What is its purpose?
I have the luxury of discretionary moments — after breakfast, lunch, and dinner — when I can sink into a sofa lounger and ponder not only about life in the cosmos in general, but my own in particular.
For many, life unfolds as an unbroken chain of nondiscretionary moments. And here lies a curious paradox: those without the luxury of free time cannot pause to reflect on meaning and purpose, while those who have it squander the gift on distractions that now are instantly accessible (requiring nothing more than a connection to the web), and therefore, also do not reflect on the meaning and purpose of life.
A few, however, do choose differently. They seek philosophical underpinnings for their existence. Along that introspective journey, some get lost in the labyrinth of abstract philosophical structures and fall into an abyss. Few others, on the other hand, discover simple wisdom: that meaning arises not from cosmic design but from having a portfolio of engagements that that makes us look forward to waking tomorrow.
If you find yourself with the luxury of time and a lounge sofa, recognize this: life and cosmos may not carry no inherent meaning (and you can leave that question for philosophers to figure out). However, you hold agency, the power to curate a portfolio of engagements that make your mornings an act of anticipation rather than dread.
Having the luxury of discretionary time, absurdity of our predicament when confronting a silent universe becomes an opportunity, for therein lies our agency: the chance to build a portfolio engagements that transform mornings from dread into anticipation.
Ciao, and thanks for reading.