by Anthony J. Marsella, Ph.D.
Seeking Respite . . .
We seek respite from a relentless assault of information bombarding senses. Consciousness and conscience beg retreat. Daily life trials, media, commercials, TV/radio/music, ambient noise levels, are onslaughts, pressing for a response.
A quiet dinner with family, a glass of sherry, hugging a child, a good novel, a deep sleep, a smile from a loved one, a halt in bombing, food, water, a warm fire . . . temporary escapes from the world about us. Tides of information flood our lives. “There are tides in the life of men, which taken at the flood, . . . .”
Uncertainty thrives! Connection in our hand; solutions, problems, doubt . . . “To open or not to open, that is the question!”
A window beckons! Habit presses! St. Thomas Aquinas: “Habit is our second nature.” What have we become? We are I-Phone, screen, words! How distant from the time Pablo Neruda (Full Powers, 1962) poetically claimed the first word was uttered:
The word was born in the blood,
it grew in the dark body, pulsing,
and took flight with the lips and mouth.
. . . even now there is no thunder
that thunders with the iron sound
of that word, the first word uttered:
. . . perhaps it was just a whisper, a raindrop,
but its cascade still falls and falls.
With words came a desperate need to explore, to label reality, an inherent tendency to describe, understand, predict, control; functions of brain! Poetry, music, functions of mind! Information torrents flow with a click: fact, fiction, lies, deceit, betrayal, never truths, only endless representations.
A New Ontology . . .
Ambivalence! Seduction of the senses tempts us with words, images, sounds; we cannot ignore the call! We are, in a moment, alerted to a new reality, a digital reality, a binary code of 0s and 1s, quantum reality, and beyond! A digital reality! At last escape from place and mind! How distant from the first word uttered!
Existence! We are one with a glowing window in our palm. Certainty, uncertainty, who cares? We seek affirmation amid tenuous habits, beliefs, hopes; prisoner now to a habit, addiction ushered upon us by the times.
“What have I missed? What do I not know? What places me at risk? What offers me favor?” Information negotiation amid rapid access to knowledge, wisdom, impulse. 5G will offer faster speeds, solutions, confusion.
We withdraw to protect sanity! We refuse to contest! We pretend our life, all lives, are to be questioned, accepted, avoided! It cannot be! Stop! Start!
All is personal! Events in distant lands beg awareness, judgment, action. Floods in Bangladesh! It is what it is? Killing and rape in Myanmar! Tragic! Helpless! Plastic wrapper on food! Do not purchase in future. So little choice! Share opinions on political candidates. Minions reply!
Treasured virtues fall before us, demands upon our being: justice, honor, courage, honesty, compassion, patience. Who said these were admirable? Ancients! Priests! Prophets! Gone! Commission and omission sins!
What can I do? What should I do? Conscience asks too much of me! Others ask more! Foes are legion!
“I am only one……. but I am one!
In me are others! Many others!
Many denied me! Many hurt me! Many cared! Many………
Response is a test; always a test, never free from tests! Tests every day, in many ways; demanding tests of nature, character, breeding, identity!
I flee from foe, but I return for the struggle! Delude myself I will survive. Mirror image remains. What did we do before mirrors? Narcissus used a pond! Image essential. Deceit possible! Daily encounter with self!
If I succumb to pretense, and retreat, it is I! If I take up challenges, it is I! If I . . . “Aye that’s the rub!”
Thoughts on thoughts on thoughts . . . . . .