Petal_Chatoyance t1_iug08cy wrote
You are losing the most precious function of the brain - the ability to Suspend Disbelief.
Suspending Disbelief is the very capacity that makes it possible to enjoy any story, movie, radio play, song, legend, myth, tale, or even joke. Within that ability is all humor, song, poetry, play and joy. It means going gray and dull and dead inside, because you are taking life too seriously.
And that is dysfunctional, because life is essentially absurd. You exist in a meaningless cosmos within which nothing you ever do will truly matter, and you will die and be forgotten within three generations. What was your great-great grandmother's favorite color? Did she like sweet or savory? What was her favorite dream? That will be you - forgotten.
Get silly. It is your only hope. If life is so serious that you cannot enjoy fiction, your soul dies. Souls themselves are fiction. Keep what is left of your childlike wonder, because once that is lost, it is very, very hard to get back.
Be amazed at little things. Give up the notion that anything is truly meaningful. Embrace the absurdity and acknowledge it - and you may yet save yourself, and the fun of life and stories.
Play like a child, purposefully. As therapy.
otmike70 t1_iug20ut wrote
Damn, dude, that’s the best mini essay I’ve read in a year.
mickeyaaaa t1_iug3hmc wrote
OMG where did you get this incredible nugget of wisdom? You literally created an epiphany moment for me. This is me. I lost all interest in video games, dislike any movie that is unrealistic. It is making me less fun. Did you get this from a book?
Petal_Chatoyance t1_iugexgp wrote
No, this is my life experience. I am 62.
At the age of eleven, I read a collection of short SF stories by various authors called 'Tomorrow's Children', edited by Isaac Asimov. In the preface, Asimov wrote about how important it was to keep a childlike sense of wonder alive.
This hit me very strongly - even at that age, I realized that adults were trying to destroy any such thing in me, to make me fit in better, to make me a good worker, to make me as gray and boring as they were.
So, I made a vow to the universe - seriously, I really did - that no matter what I would always keep my childlike sense of wonder for the whole of my life. And I have kept that vow.
As I grew up, and grew old, I watched people of my age grow empty, and gray, and bitter, and hollow. I have seen my generation stop caring about anything good or decent or right in exchange for security, or power, or greed. I have seen them turn to wine and beer swilling pigs who shit on anyone younger or anything fun.
As for me - oh, my room is filled with video games and board games and awesome toys I could never afford when I was young. I draw and write and sculpt and paint miniatures. I read for pleasure and for fun. Science fiction, fantasy. I read stories out loud with one of my spouses (I live in a polyamory!) and we play and sing and have fun.
You have to grow old. But you don't have to grow up into a monster. You don't have to give up wonder, or joy, or anything just because society expects it. Fuck society. Fuck the gray, dead people of the world.
If somebody like me can keep their soul, so can you. Or anyone. You just have to choose to keep being amazed at stuff even if others think you are silly or weird because you can imagine worlds in raindrops, or marvel at the shape of a leaf, or enjoy comic books or tabletop RPGs or whatever.
whocaresfuckthisshit OP t1_iug3uv6 wrote
Holy shit… this is exactly it. Wow. Now I’m sad
Petal_Chatoyance t1_iugf4ar wrote
You could allow that sadness to draw you to fun and happy things, and then never, ever give them up. You could keep the spark of joy alive inside you.
All it takes is valuing it more than being 'normal'.
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