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I noticed that after I had begun to do some of this work, it seemed like partaking in some of my old favorite hobbies was okay, now that it was accompanied by some more substance. I’d do the work, but a week later, many months later, now a couple years later, the big problems are still all there, so in the mean time it made sense to go out and party.
The danger is, when going out to “find release” from our collective Monday morning problems, we risk depleting the energies we could otherwise give to solving the problem. We need energy to solve issues or think creatively, and partying like a rock-star will very well make yourself energized for the night, but likely burnt out in the morning.
What is required for us to be successful is a sustained effort. Major powers have so far always won out because of their sheer momentum to keep on churning – it’s what led the hippie generation to burn out and finally pick up day jobs and it’s what has led the rave generation to become equally jaded and apathetic, among other sub-cultures.
What was once a groundswell of potential creative energy and fresh thinking has again been diminished to what looked to be a passing fad of idealistic youngsters. Again, I think because we did not have the sustained, patient effort to turn our ideals into reality, and because these sub-cultures spent more time on drugs than working on solving root causes.
By doing drugs, we have potentially committed a gigantic fraud upon ourselves. Like our parents of the hippie generation, we are close to subduing the vibrant and powerful spirit of our bodies to the point of quiet bickering; to complaining quietly until it may have almost found solace in the only mediums it has been offered. It may now have almost accepted small pleasures and transient moments of commercial entertainment as enough – as if this was all there ever was.
Our generation, whether they subscribe to higher ideals or not, is quickly and dangerously reaching the point where it is enough to “just get by”: to get a job, watch movies, have sex and buy more stuff. We can leave these problems to someone else. Content with the barrage of entertainment consumer culture has to offer, there are enough distractions to keep us comfortably numb well after we’ve forgotten what real life is all about.
Now, it’s true. Even eco-minded activists like to watch movies or get engrossed in the occasional videogame – whatever it is. It’s certainly fine to enjoy these things. It’s just important to keep these forms in balance with everything else in life.
For me, drawing, making music, writing and other creative arts are forms of enjoyment that will resonate with me long after the moment of creating itself. And more specifically, these are cyclical activities that rise like a spiral towards some goal unnecessary to define.
That is the problem for me with ingestible or entertainment drugs. They lead only back to themselves. Taking the drugs, finding the escape and release we find temporary solace. Then Monday morning comes, we turn on the TV, and we are confronted with the same problems. We have not grown wiser. We have not sought progress towards any alternative. The only recourse is another drug, to find oblivion once again the next weekend and do it all over again, week after week after week.
This cycle is likely filled with inspirational moments, rousing declarative moments to change and wrestle away the bouts of apathy. This long rant of mine may be another one. But affirmations are not useful by themselves. They must be followed by focused, practical action – action that reinforces our beliefs of who we are. To be aware of the traps that lead back to the same looping cycles is a good start. From there, we can choose what step we want to take next.
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