"but hasn’t every person out there got the same kind of complex, meaningful, and completely unique history and set of experiences?
And I imagine that, like me, they’re seeking to preserve and share their unique stories. Perhaps the desire to somehow communicate and share that accumulation of memories is why our grandparents spent so much time sitting around telling stories."
For the first para, yeah. I imagine every person has their own unique history. Some more unique than others. A president of the U.S. would have a set of experiences unlike most of the rest of the population. A WW II veteran who fought in the trenches would have experiences unlike another vet who never left HQ, safe in friendly territory. On the other side, the workers in a steel mill that worked there for their whole life. They would share quite a bit of the same experiences. Same or different experiences still provide each of us with a unique perspective and history. You can look at it like it's common or it's unique. One, the other, both, or neither. The answer is found in each individual. *yawn* Stuff that really doesn't matter, isn't important. Who cares about experiences? You have them, you've had them, and you'll have more. How about, instead, looking inside to find why you desire communicating them, why you reacted that specific way about an experience, how you resolve difficult experiences, why you find certain experiences stimulating and others you would rather not repeat? In other words, what makes you -- you? How can you be serene in the face of death if you don't know how to be serene when someone pushes your buttons? How can you find enlightenment without understanding yourself? Of knowing who you are, why you are that way, and understanding what you are. Yeah, those memories and experiences you cherish are special and important, but ultimately, they depend not on other people, but only on you. How can you share that? Even if there was someone there, you'll still find yourself alone in your memories and experiences. The other side of the fence isn't greener. :)
I would argue that those memories and experiences can't be the true treasures of your life because they are fleeting moments in time. Wisps of air that will never materialize. No, I'd have to argue that the true treasure is you. You are what created those memories and experiences -- the you that you are, or were. What difference is there in holding on to a treasured family antique and a treasured memory? They do serve to remind us of who or what we are or were. Why not, then, find out who, or what, we are so that those things are not needed in any way?
Reminds me of this: === A Zen master and his student were journeying from a distant village back to their monastery when they came to a river crossing where a young woman was in the need of assistance in crossing the river. The Zen master picked the woman up and carried her across the river. He and the student were then on their way. For several hours the student was struggling with what had happened at the river.
Finally, he asked his master, "How could you carry that young woman across the river when it is against our rules to touch a woman?"
The master thought for a moment and then replied, "I carried her across the river then let her go, but you, my student, have carried her with you all day." ===
Anyway, I've rambled enough.
As to the last paragraph, no, not every person is looking to preserve or share their unique experiences. Course, I won't deny someone's request to hear about them. I am, after all, still in this mortal, physical shell. Being human is unique. I quite enjoy it. :)
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Date: 2009-01-06 04:43 pm (UTC)And I imagine that, like me, they’re seeking to preserve and share their unique stories. Perhaps the desire to somehow communicate and share that accumulation of memories is why our grandparents spent so much time sitting around telling stories."
For the first para, yeah. I imagine every person has their own unique history. Some more unique than others. A president of the U.S. would have a set of experiences unlike most of the rest of the population. A WW II veteran who fought in the trenches would have experiences unlike another vet who never left HQ, safe in friendly territory. On the other side, the workers in a steel mill that worked there for their whole life. They would share quite a bit of the same experiences. Same or different experiences still provide each of us with a unique perspective and history. You can look at it like it's common or it's unique. One, the other, both, or neither. The answer is found in each individual. *yawn* Stuff that really doesn't matter, isn't important. Who cares about experiences? You have them, you've had them, and you'll have more. How about, instead, looking inside to find why you desire communicating them, why you reacted that specific way about an experience, how you resolve difficult experiences, why you find certain experiences stimulating and others you would rather not repeat? In other words, what makes you -- you? How can you be serene in the face of death if you don't know how to be serene when someone pushes your buttons? How can you find enlightenment without understanding yourself? Of knowing who you are, why you are that way, and understanding what you are. Yeah, those memories and experiences you cherish are special and important, but ultimately, they depend not on other people, but only on you. How can you share that? Even if there was someone there, you'll still find yourself alone in your memories and experiences. The other side of the fence isn't greener. :)
I would argue that those memories and experiences can't be the true treasures of your life because they are fleeting moments in time. Wisps of air that will never materialize. No, I'd have to argue that the true treasure is you. You are what created those memories and experiences -- the you that you are, or were. What difference is there in holding on to a treasured family antique and a treasured memory? They do serve to remind us of who or what we are or were. Why not, then, find out who, or what, we are so that those things are not needed in any way?
Reminds me of this:
===
A Zen master and his student were journeying from a distant village back to their monastery when they came to a river crossing where a young woman was in the need of assistance in crossing the river. The Zen master picked the woman up and carried her across the river. He and the student were then on their way. For several hours the student was struggling with what had happened at the river.
Finally, he asked his master, "How could you carry that young woman across the river when it is against our rules to touch a woman?"
The master thought for a moment and then replied, "I carried her across the river then let her go, but you, my student, have carried her with you all day."
===
Anyway, I've rambled enough.
As to the last paragraph, no, not every person is looking to preserve or share their unique experiences. Course, I won't deny someone's request to hear about them. I am, after all, still in this mortal, physical shell. Being human is unique. I quite enjoy it. :)