Every so often we are reminded how
insignificant we are. We suddenly,
inexorably get the urge to do something more than we are doing. Even if what we do is noble, productive, or
even exhalting. Today I was studying
economics—a means to a financial end—when I got the urge to start writing. I would imagine that most people get urges to
do something other than sit quietly in front of a computer screen and type; my
wife gets these types of urges (more often than I) and they compel her to be
out in the woods or to do something adventurous. My mind wants to create and feel like I am
contributing to our collective thought (somehow adding a philosophical or humorous
paragraph or two appeases these needs, even if no one reads them). As a result, I arrange words into aesthetically
pleasing sentences while paying more attention to grammatical structure than
actual content. Anyone reading this would
attest to that.
In an
effort to afford more substance, I will try to make this concept relatable to
more than just myself and my wife: What urges you? When you are bobbing through your busy day of
productive, yet monotonous activities what calls to you? The library?
The car? The waves? The movie theater (not just for
entertainment, but those who really get inspired by creative cinema will understand
this one)? For my father, it is public
policy. His life is given spice and
wonder if he can convince one person that his opinions of moving towards a
better world are valid. My wife (who thinks
little of humans and more of animals), finds that time spent in nature detaches
her from the greed and thoughtlessness of man and connects her more the sweet
innocence of her favorite creatures.
Now for an
analysis: So What? What does it matter
if I do or do not satisfy my urges to the betterment of my soul? I would say that your real urges are
God-given and, are therefore, a part of exhaltation and eternal progression. Not to be confused with just any urges; these
“real” urges soar above the urges (good and bad) that make up our daily
life. They are the urges that fill the
gaps in our lives—the drive to perfect us.
These are the urges that will eventually lead us to our optimal selves…
our epitome. The utopia of individual
and collective harmony is built on the real urges of the “every so often.”
This is, of
course, assuming that we a.) recognize and follow these urges and b.) want this
desired outcome. Some choose a life of
mediocrity merely because. Because it’s
easy, because it’s fun, because it’s simple: these are all invalid
excuses. Mediocrity may be easy, but
eventually, ease becomes an agonizing burden of self-mutilation. “Fun” also becomes boring and vapid. All of these reasons then rule the “simplicity”
of mediocrity to be just plain wrong.
Simplicity would be to go where these urges lead you, not to fight
against them. At first, it may seem
simple: to simply do nothing. In time,
doing nothing becomes the most costly and un-simple thing to do. There are no valid reasons (besides perhaps
the cunningness of the devil) for a soul to remain mediocre. I therefore restate: some choose a life of mediocrity
merely BECAUSE.
Real Urges are the reason we stop and the reason we think deeply. They are the cause of great discoveries and the inspiration for self-portraits. They can be life-altering motivations or strange daydreams. We are proudly ashamed of them or ashamed to be proud of them.
But what do
I know. I did not plan to write this or
even take much aforethought about this subject.
I was simply following a pleasant urge.
