Final Blogpost-Anna Collins

 

“I’ve always found this piece of art so profound and meaningful to me,” Aristotle remarks, as we all walk around the art gallery. “It is almost saying to me that happiness is something to be obtained through the mind, soul, and being of a human. Never in worldly possessions or goods.” Susan Neiman and John Kaaag shake their heads in agreement and we slowly move on to the next artwork. 

“That observation reminds me of a few questions I would like to ask all of you,” I say. 

“I have been pondering these thoughts lately, and I would love to know and understand what each of you think. Firstly, what does it mean to grow up and why should we? And secondly, what makes life worth living?”  

Susan Neiman, author of “Why Grow Up,” politely chimes in. “Being grown-up is widely considered to be a matter of renouncing your hopes and dreams, accepting the limits of the reality you are given, and resigning yourself to a life that will be less adventurous, worthwhile, and significant than you supposed when you began it.” (Why Grow Up) “I want to reiterate the common myth that the best time of your life is the ages eighteen and around your twenties. This is a projected lie within the media and culture, and I simply do not believe this to be true. Once we accept the world as it is and live in the limited space around and within us, then we can start growing and maturing. What is and ought to be in the world are two very different ideas and learning the distinction between the two is part of growing up, I believe. Not only this, but living out this truth the best we can, and persisting through the difficulties of this is a sign of maturing.

https://vimeo.com/187969419 

These questions you ask remind of a specific scene in the movie, Inside Out. The scene shows the main character, Riley, slowly start growing up and the bittersweet memories at that moment. 

The American philosopher and author of “Sick Souls, Healthy Minds” John Kaag, joins the conversation. “A large part of life consists of times when we feel vulnerable, hurt, and the inevitable process of failing ourselves and others. Not to be cynical and say this is all that life is, but realistically, these uncomfortable emotions can be what we feel most of the time. These questions remind me of a speech I gave a few years ago, talking about the eternal return. In the younger ages of eighteen and early twenties, it is easy to respond to the eternal return through the will to power. “This is the idea that what human beings find most valuable is the exercising of a great will.” But as we grow up, we can see how life doesn’t generally consist of the will to power, and even when it may, it fails us terribly. The meaning behind growing up is not only loving the most humiliating moments but also the most rewarding ones. Developing the daily, healthy habits needed to practice in life is a form of growing up. We create this meaning in our own life by every decision and choice we come across and decide to take. On another more personal note, surviving a massive heart attack has taught me much about living the best life while accepting my mortality. More than ever now, I have found the importance in knowing we will never really know all of the “ultimate” answers to life, but embracing and living out the best we can is the best way to go about this life through this difficulty. This is what makes life worth living.” 

Twiddling his thumbs, Aristotle ponders the question. “Being a scientist, I have definitely come across the idea of knowledge, understanding, and our perceptions of this at a young age, all the way to the day we die. I do believe that knowledge is built from the study of things that happen in the world and that some knowledge is universal. The desire to love and be loved is an example of this universal knowledge we all share. It is important to remember this and know that growing older is a process for the body, mind, and soul while growing older. Each one of us is on our own journey listening, creating, and living out each day. As for the meaning, purpose, and worth of our life, as I have said before, “Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim, and end of human existence.” Enjoying the simplistic, minimalistic things of life is the key to this and not overindulging in materialism. Once we grasp, realize, and exercise this virtue, we can achieve eudaimonia, ultimately reaching happiness in life.” 

“I appreciate every response and have to agree with all of you on some level. Thank you for answering my questions!”