Addicted to Longing?
"You're worth MORE than that."
"There's something BETTER out there for you."
"Always strive for MORE."
"Think of what you could be MISSING!"
Ok, but what about just being satisfied with what is right in front of you?
Ever tried it?
Ever looked at something and said, "This is just fine and enough, thank you."
Is anything missing? And is what you're missing supposed to be missed?
It makes me wonder if our generation has been poisoned by that greener grass over there. Or the myth of it. Consequently we are forever searching. Forever wanting. And never content.
Is that right?
Is it healthy?
Fucked if I know.
And is that searching merely an addiction? Something that provides purpose in an otherwise purposeless existence? Something to look forward to?
What do we miss right now with all that forward thinking?
What is real?
Right now.
"There's something BETTER out there for you."
"Always strive for MORE."
"Think of what you could be MISSING!"
Ok, but what about just being satisfied with what is right in front of you?
Ever tried it?
Ever looked at something and said, "This is just fine and enough, thank you."
Is anything missing? And is what you're missing supposed to be missed?
It makes me wonder if our generation has been poisoned by that greener grass over there. Or the myth of it. Consequently we are forever searching. Forever wanting. And never content.
Is that right?
Is it healthy?
Fucked if I know.
And is that searching merely an addiction? Something that provides purpose in an otherwise purposeless existence? Something to look forward to?
What do we miss right now with all that forward thinking?
What is real?
Right now.
posted by LC Greenwood at 10:04 AM
5 Comments:
I like this concept a lot, and it's gotta be a healthy thing to realize, right? Our endless consumerism and building ourselves up my amassing "stuff" really is an awful habit. I've gotta get the plasma t.v. our friends have... and car, home, handbag, and body fat percentage. Endless dissatisfaction and distraction. The American Dream from the 50's in an alternate universe.
If I had to guess though, I'd imagine that the times you've heard those first four quotes are more about the idea of not being satisfied until you're in an emotionally healthier situation than where you find yourself today (and I say "you" rhetorically.)
Usually the times that I've said (and been told) things like that have been to wake me up - encourage me to give up a lousy relationship, abusive job, etc. It's something to say when you see friends being treated like crap and you want to snap 'em out of it.
Just this past Sunday, we were explaining to Melissa's 29 year old brother that his year and a half long relationship has probably reached an end. He keeps expressing misery, and asks us what to do, so why not suggest that he's keeping this girl around because he'd rather be miserable than alone. A conclusion he must come to himself, sure, but whatever.
So we say, "You're worth MORE than this, there's someone BETTER out there for you, and think of what you're MISSING as you drive off again for a weekend in Michigan with somebody who won't put in the effort you do."
Aha! And maybe your brother knows this, but stays because he knows subconsciously that if he finds the MORE, the longing will be gone. And what would we do without the sweet, sweet misery of wanting?
Excellent! If I'm addicted to the wanting, I need only to keep it just out of reach and I can feel the rush forever.
And we shouldn't forget about Ego!
We all want to be doted upon, fussed over, taken care of. PAY ATTENTION TO ME. If our lives are going great, poof! A lot of that attention disappears. We humans take care of the squeaky wheels first, so it follows that we pay more attention to "squeaky" friends and family, too.
So keeping myself miserable has two big benefits: gives me an endless supply of your "sweet misery" in the form of wishing for something better.... and it keeps the attention focused on me the whole time. Brilliant.
"Melencholy is my joy and discomfort is my rest."
-Michelangelo
This is good stuff, LC. Let's do a thin, "bathroom reading material" book. : )
You write it, leaving it in conversation form like this. I'll illustrate, sparsely. It'll only take a month or so - we'll knock it out over coffee an afternoon a week. Add an eye-catching cover and we hit number 1. C'mon, waddaya say?
I love this idea!
I've been wanting to turn this mess into a book for a long time.
And... your Michealangelo quote is beyond brilliant.
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