What makes you feel human?

Existentialism can be either crushing or liberating depending on which perspective you take

@HalfCactus: I don't let it consume me, but I've never found it liberating. Although I do try to embrace the idea that we have to make our own meaning.

@Luminescence: I used to take the line from Fight Club, "It's only after we've lost everything that we're free to do anything". When your life loses any sense of direction or control, you can pretty much do whatever you want.

Although I completely understand your stance. There's nothing we can do about our cosmic insignificance, so there's no use trying to resist. Just deal with it and move forward as best you can

@HalfCactus: Yeah, I know, and I do try. I try, as I said, to make my own meaning, which I've found with nature, development of my own self understanding and concept, trying my best to make the lives of those around be better/happier, but that last one is the one that often trips me up, because it's through forming attachments that your own suffering increases. When those you love struggle or leave you behind, you see just how nasty the world is. Also when you have attachments it's harder to let go and embrace the lack of control. Maybe that's where the Buddhist monks really have it right.

@Luminescence: I don't know about that. Attachments are what make life special. It's what makes feel like something bigger than the bunch of sentient eukaryotes on a tiny pebble that's circling a ball of gas in a sea of nothingness that we are. Life is just pointless self-indulgence without them.

But suffering is a fact of life. Everyone is going to hurt you if you give them enough chances. You just have to find the people that are worth the suffering. Much easier said than done, of course, but I've found a lot of fulfillment in the struggle. Much more rewarding than embracing a lack of control in any case

@HalfCactus: You're right. Love and friendship is where the greatest meaning is at. Fulfilment can be found. It's just within those, the greatest heartache is also often found. Not only because people can be cruel selfish asses, but also because once you love, there's the potential for even greater loss and hurt than what life already provides. You have more to lose. It can also exacerbate the whole existential crisis that's already being felt. Because you're no longer truly free. You've got something you want to hold onto.

@Luminescence: I totally get that. Loss is always going to hurt, and attachment always carries the risk of loss. But there's no such thing as just opening yourself up to love and happiness and then closing up when pain and disappointment loom. You just expose yourself, hope for the best, and then live with whatever consequences that entails

@HalfCactus: You're right. It's easier said than done though. 🙂

@Luminescence: I know, but I'm getting there

@HalfCactus: You must be doing better than me then. I've been largely choosing to wallow, whine and hate the world. But maybe I should try to slap myself out of it. And actually be proactive with the advice you gave above.

@Luminescence: I don't blame you. I've done more than my fair share of wallowing. It's convenient to blame the world and avoid the effort of trying. I've just found that it's a fruitless path to go down. I don't mean to impose my perspective on you by any means. It's your life and you can live it however you decide. But if my words can find a way to be useful to you, than I'll find contentment in knowing that you're trying to pursue something better for yourself