This really made me think, Madison. About what sets apart life’s small moment and a second hand view of life’s small moments. Using your lovely examples the former involves some sort of exchange; the belly laugh you share with a friend, viewing the sky from the lush grass a moment between you and nature. A second hand view, in the medium of social media, is just a viewing or witnessing. It makes me wonder if our intuition is capable of picking up what is real and what is staged, and if the emotions we feel or don’t, coincide with them. Going to chew on this one for a bit! :)
Glad to hear this sparked some thought for you Katie! Having grown up with social media, I’ve often struggled to discern a sensation from a reflection of that sensation (e.g. having a friend vs. following someone and knowing about their life via what they share). To me, social media can act like a stained glass window of sorts, showing us a phenomenon but distorting it in some way. I’m sure this feeling was common with the advent of other communication technology like the printing press and telephone.
I read this as I sipped my morning coffee in my favorite mug which remains slightly dirty from the yesterdays. This to me feels romantic. Love everything you conveyed, thank you 🙏🏻
It seems like the romantics won so completely that I take romanticism to simply be the way things are. I wonder what people were doing before? We’re they also engaging with the beautiful and sublime in other ways that we’re simply repackaged as romanticism? Or was their approach to life pre-industrial revolution fundamentally different?
Glad you enjoyed the article Sean, all great questions you pose! I am often quick to assume that things pre-industrial revolution were fundamentally different than how they are now. However, I'm sure people found themselves marveling at the small and grand details of life to get by - perhaps romanticism has always existed and is just repackaged through the lens of the time. Definitely something interesting to further research :)
“I’m a firm believer that the parts of life that feel the most romantic don’t just involve sensations that fill us with awe, pleasure, and satisfaction, but the ones that bring us further in touch with our humanity. Make us realize that we individuals are part of a larger collective - a network of other living, bustling organisms all trying to bask in and contribute to life’s beauty.”
absolutely on the nose! i really felt the part about true humanity and beauty going hand in hand. great as always!
I love your advocacy for things that bring us "further in touch with our humanity." While those moments can be net positives or negatives, they always make life more vibrant.
Loved your article. I do think the higher purpose of the pandemic was for us to slow down and appreciate life. I joked that Gaia sent us to our rooms to think about what we have done...
I also agree that there is a fine line between sharing to inspire and reels/shorts/TikiToks that make my gag...
Authentic recognition of the beauty of life is happened upon, not posed and planned.
I’m glad you connected with the article Patricia! I love that message about Gaia sending us to our rooms to think about what we’ve done - that was definitely my experience with the pandemic! Distinguishing between “living” and performing for the Internet is a huge interest of mine and a persistent theme on my Substack.
I remember really loving this when I read it ages ago. Glad to have found it right on top of your feed,
@Madison Huizinga
Thank you so much :) !
So well said.
This really made me think, Madison. About what sets apart life’s small moment and a second hand view of life’s small moments. Using your lovely examples the former involves some sort of exchange; the belly laugh you share with a friend, viewing the sky from the lush grass a moment between you and nature. A second hand view, in the medium of social media, is just a viewing or witnessing. It makes me wonder if our intuition is capable of picking up what is real and what is staged, and if the emotions we feel or don’t, coincide with them. Going to chew on this one for a bit! :)
Glad to hear this sparked some thought for you Katie! Having grown up with social media, I’ve often struggled to discern a sensation from a reflection of that sensation (e.g. having a friend vs. following someone and knowing about their life via what they share). To me, social media can act like a stained glass window of sorts, showing us a phenomenon but distorting it in some way. I’m sure this feeling was common with the advent of other communication technology like the printing press and telephone.
I read this as I sipped my morning coffee in my favorite mug which remains slightly dirty from the yesterdays. This to me feels romantic. Love everything you conveyed, thank you 🙏🏻
Thank you for reading Kevin! Hope you enjoy your weekend!
I love this. Thank you.
It seems like the romantics won so completely that I take romanticism to simply be the way things are. I wonder what people were doing before? We’re they also engaging with the beautiful and sublime in other ways that we’re simply repackaged as romanticism? Or was their approach to life pre-industrial revolution fundamentally different?
Glad you enjoyed the article Sean, all great questions you pose! I am often quick to assume that things pre-industrial revolution were fundamentally different than how they are now. However, I'm sure people found themselves marveling at the small and grand details of life to get by - perhaps romanticism has always existed and is just repackaged through the lens of the time. Definitely something interesting to further research :)
I suspect a lot of it was framed as religious experience.
Yes, this.
“I’m a firm believer that the parts of life that feel the most romantic don’t just involve sensations that fill us with awe, pleasure, and satisfaction, but the ones that bring us further in touch with our humanity. Make us realize that we individuals are part of a larger collective - a network of other living, bustling organisms all trying to bask in and contribute to life’s beauty.”
absolutely on the nose! i really felt the part about true humanity and beauty going hand in hand. great as always!
Ahh thank you! :) Beauty and pleasure are not always synonymous!
I love your advocacy for things that bring us "further in touch with our humanity." While those moments can be net positives or negatives, they always make life more vibrant.
Thank you! :) Embracing complexity in the human experience is definitely a theme throughout my Substack. Glad it resonates with you!
Loved your article. I do think the higher purpose of the pandemic was for us to slow down and appreciate life. I joked that Gaia sent us to our rooms to think about what we have done...
I also agree that there is a fine line between sharing to inspire and reels/shorts/TikiToks that make my gag...
Authentic recognition of the beauty of life is happened upon, not posed and planned.
More living, less life online...
I’m glad you connected with the article Patricia! I love that message about Gaia sending us to our rooms to think about what we’ve done - that was definitely my experience with the pandemic! Distinguishing between “living” and performing for the Internet is a huge interest of mine and a persistent theme on my Substack.
I subscribed and look forward to more of your work. Here is a poem I wrote in August 2019 before the pandemic started
https://sparksofhealing.ca/2021/04/11/gaia-weeps-august-5-2019/