Subjects of Inquisition 1-2.
3rd Edition :(
Thanks to Rushan for finding "Feels So Good" by Chuck Mangione...I have been craving this song like mad for days...I'm not sure why though. As you may already know from reading the post before this, I promised anyone who found it and sent it to me that I would post at least once every 3 days for 2 months. So here is the first one!
Tonight I went to a jazz performance...I forget who they were but it was a quintet with trombone lead and a guest performance by some bass player from Australia. They were pretty good, but normally I am not totally enthralled but musical performances (McGill big band being one exception) and I use them to do a little thinking. Tonight was no different. Tonight the subject of inquisition in Will's head was whether we are a individual as we think, and how we aren't really as special as we might like to think :P
So, as I was thinking over some of the different conversations I have had over the past few weeks a couple stood out to me. For example, the morning when we saw FX off at the airport we went to Smitty's for breakfast. One of the main topics of conversation there was comparing roles of the "newbies" to the "oldies" in the youth group. I didn't really think much of it then, but now that I think back on it, I like to think that everyone is an individual, but when you start comparing people, you really start to see how similar they are. Now, I know, that isn't a very good example, but here are some more...When Rushan came to PEI from the other side of the world, he very quickly met up with someone (Nick) who was almost (personality-wise) his twin. Honestly, what are the chances of not only them being similar, but them meeting? Another example is our youth group's trip to BC. Almost everyone there had an almost perfect equivalent. My "twin" played the trombone, liked jazz, liked fantasy books, loved british comedy, and who knows what else.
I don't really know what I'm getting at here, other than a bit of proof concerning my next subject of inquisition: We aren't as special as we think.
I don't think we (as individuals) are as special as we would like to think. Sure, everyone is good at something, but there is always going to be someone who is better. It really is depressing to think about. Let's put it this way; you devote your whole life to discovering the cure for cancer, and just as you are starting to come close, someone else finds a cure first. They have all the glory, all the money, the fame and your life's work is put down the drain because someone else is better than you. Let's put it another way; you are a musician and you spend your whole life practising every day, putting every bit of your effort into it and at the end of the day, at the end of your life, you have accomplished next to nothing because there are always people that are better than you.
I know this is a very negative outlook, and I might delve into the more positive side of it, but I have to go to "bed".
Thanks to Rushan for finding "Feels So Good" by Chuck Mangione...I have been craving this song like mad for days...I'm not sure why though. As you may already know from reading the post before this, I promised anyone who found it and sent it to me that I would post at least once every 3 days for 2 months. So here is the first one!
Tonight I went to a jazz performance...I forget who they were but it was a quintet with trombone lead and a guest performance by some bass player from Australia. They were pretty good, but normally I am not totally enthralled but musical performances (McGill big band being one exception) and I use them to do a little thinking. Tonight was no different. Tonight the subject of inquisition in Will's head was whether we are a individual as we think, and how we aren't really as special as we might like to think :P
So, as I was thinking over some of the different conversations I have had over the past few weeks a couple stood out to me. For example, the morning when we saw FX off at the airport we went to Smitty's for breakfast. One of the main topics of conversation there was comparing roles of the "newbies" to the "oldies" in the youth group. I didn't really think much of it then, but now that I think back on it, I like to think that everyone is an individual, but when you start comparing people, you really start to see how similar they are. Now, I know, that isn't a very good example, but here are some more...When Rushan came to PEI from the other side of the world, he very quickly met up with someone (Nick) who was almost (personality-wise) his twin. Honestly, what are the chances of not only them being similar, but them meeting? Another example is our youth group's trip to BC. Almost everyone there had an almost perfect equivalent. My "twin" played the trombone, liked jazz, liked fantasy books, loved british comedy, and who knows what else.
I don't really know what I'm getting at here, other than a bit of proof concerning my next subject of inquisition: We aren't as special as we think.
I don't think we (as individuals) are as special as we would like to think. Sure, everyone is good at something, but there is always going to be someone who is better. It really is depressing to think about. Let's put it this way; you devote your whole life to discovering the cure for cancer, and just as you are starting to come close, someone else finds a cure first. They have all the glory, all the money, the fame and your life's work is put down the drain because someone else is better than you. Let's put it another way; you are a musician and you spend your whole life practising every day, putting every bit of your effort into it and at the end of the day, at the end of your life, you have accomplished next to nothing because there are always people that are better than you.
I know this is a very negative outlook, and I might delve into the more positive side of it, but I have to go to "bed".
If we're not all as individual as we think then that means that we're never alone. Although there may always be someone better than you, there are infinite possibilities of what to do to choose from. That's what makes you truly 'special'; when you choose to do something and then make it your own. Something that no one is 'better' at. But the fact that we are all very similar is more of a comfort against loneliness than something negative in my humble opinion.
Posted by
Nick |
November 14, 2005 6:28 AM
Two poems...Desiderata and If
A couple of comments. First, Nick and I might be similar in many ways, but there are many differences as well. The same was true of Jamie and you when you went to BC. Sure, the similiarities between the two of you was uncanny, however there were differences. You are who you are because of your experiences, your relationships, and everything that forms your context. No one else on this planet can share those aspects of your journey. That's what makes you the unique and special individual you are. The same goes for all of us.
The poem Desiderata says this..."If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. " That is the reality of life, however that is no reason NOT to do or try something.
And I also agree with Nick's response!
Posted by
Rushan |
November 14, 2005 9:18 AM
Well will you look at that...it's day 3 again :D
Posted by
Rushan |
November 16, 2005 9:07 AM