All this time, I had it wrong.

[stopschoolpaddling]

I'm convinced that for most of my life I've had it all wrong. Everything that I thought meant something was nothing. In the end, I'm sure that nothing I've done will make the slightest bit of difference. Neither will anyone else. None of anything will matter. The illusion that it will is delusion. The search for meaning void. The answer is there is no answer. For me.

[BurtWorm]

1. Despite that, doesn't a fresh strawberry taste exquisite?

[stopschoolpaddling]

2. Yes, absolutely, strawberries rock!

I planted 100 strawberry plants last summer, maybe they will have fruit this year, maybe not. Nice picture! Beautiful!

[BurtWorm]

9. It is an amazing thing that despite our individual insignificance in the great scheme of things,

it's such a privilege to be alive. And such a pleasure, so often. And those little moments of pleasure make the whole thing worthwhile. Like yesterday, here in New York, watching the snow falling from the sky, swirling in the wind, hitting the streets and buildings and not me because I was safe and sound and warm inside. It was nice.

As for making a difference, we all do, I think. More than we each realize.

[aquart]

3. Fine. But I'm from the 70s where we broke the dress code and changed school forever.

And ended a war we didn't like. And dumped a president. So I'm clear on what's doable.

[RKP5637]

4. Good point you made. I'm from the 60's, and look at what we did too. Every little

bit helps.

[stopschoolpaddling]

5. If it works for you that's all that matters.

All I can see is that we are still at war and schools still suck. If nothing mattered to anyone, maybe we could stop striving to be superior, stop worrying about not having enough and hoarding every resource and then wars really would be fought in vain. What would there be to fight over?

[aquart]

14. A quote for you.

"If you think of yourselves as helpless and ineffectual, it is certain that you will create a despotic government to be your master. The wise despot, therefore, maintains among his subjects a popular sense that they are helpless and ineffectual." — Frank Herbert (1920-1986) American Science-Fiction writer, in Dune, 1965.

[Loudmxr]

6. You have placed this on religion and DU. So let me try and help.

1. If you are spiritual reach out to that great spiritual community world wide that worships the one true God. Just reach out in communion with the people world wide. They all have different religions and call this Lord thing differently but are intertwined spiritually. That unity will give you comfort.

2. Socially you don't know how much you have done. I recently got into a bit of trouble and someone wrote of me "the un-named individual", my name would come out soon, "has a stellar reputation for fighting for civil rights." I looked at that and said out loud "I DO?????" I had not met that woman in my life. But she noticed what I had done. Wow.

3. The good Lord gave us struggle for a reason. So we could grow. I am not into RIP. We will have struggles in the next level of life too. I think we won't have food there. Because its a physical thing. That is sure one major reason not to commit suicide. MMMMMM See's Candies.

4. Or you could be right and give up. Yep get out of the way. If you don't want to be a survivor then don't survive. Ever wonder why there are so many old drunks around? Its because they want to survive. They drink too much. They smoke too much. They don't eat right. They still survive. Because they want to.

[stopschoolpaddling]

11. Not to worry, no help needed here

1. Even if I thought there was a God, I wouldn't believe it wants anyone to worship it. I don't know what the point of that would be.
2. Socially, I'm through being social. I don't understand most people and they don't understand me. Perhaps I'm from another planet.
3. Why struggle? The more I struggle the deeper in the mire I sink. I hope there's not a next life at least not in this realm. What is RIP?
4. Just because I don't think there's any meaning to life doesn't mean I've given up. I still eat right and I've tried drinking but I seem to have an aversion to it, even one beer makes me feel ill. I have no desire to escape what's here, since it means nothing, I don't have to.

[Jim__]

7. The search for meaning is not void.

Meaning is not predefined. You have to define it for yourself. Love for another person ... Understanding the universe ... Life is more than we can imagine.

Have you read The Myth of Sisyphus. In that book, Camus asks the question, is an absurd life worth living? He takes a very hard look at the possibilities. In the end, he celebrates life. It's worth reading.

[Dorian Gray]

8. I'm sorry you feel that way

Forget spirituality, but all of our actions mean something in this world. I'm sure you've affected people in positive ways, and that is always meaningful. Regardless of your religious beliefs.

[dmallind]

10. No universal meaning does not mean no individual meaning

Even world changers like Napoleon or Alexander have no universal meaning to their lives. Humanity is not much different, let alone better, because of either of them. So what chance does a middle managment white bread schlub like me have? That does not mean a human life is meaningless to the one living it or those who share their time and place. Why isn't that enough?

[PassingFair]

12. A valentine for you.....one of my favorite cartoons!

YOU determine "meaning".

Actions and words can have ripple effects in
your life and the lives of others.

That is what we know.

[stopschoolpaddling]

13. I love that cartoon!!!

Just because there no meaning or purpose to it, doesn't mean life isn't an adventure. To tell you the truth, I often find myself in hysterics these days in the most mundane places.
For instance, my children are all straight A students but one day my daughter came home upset because she had a paper with an F on it. I promptly ripped it to shreds and took it outside and lit it on fire. End of problem.

[GliderGuider]

15. I just had a flashback to myself 5 years ago.

I'd discovered Peak Oil, the impending ecological collapse of the biosphere, the insane organization of modern civilization that couldn't have been primed for collapse any better than if we'd designed it to do that, and the hidden oligarchic forces that actually run things for their own benefit rather than ours. I was a rationalistic, atheistic Materialist, which means I saw no intrinsic purpose in anything. And to top it all off, I'd fallen in with a school of thought in evolutionary psychology that is adamant that our behaviour is mainly genetically driven, and the genetic drivers are competition, status, beggar-thy-neigbour and consume-until-you-encounter-a-limit. It's a very gloomy place to be, and I lived there for 3 years. I'm still a little surprised that I survived.

I experienced a transformation a couple of years ago, during which I realized that change (even radical change) is an inevitable part of life; that I can in fact shape events that happen right around me; that there is great peace to be found in Being Here Now; that all meaning comes from within rather than from outside of me; and especially that the deepest meaning and joy is to be found in the connections I form with other people and the universe.

All is not lost. :toast:

[Fumesucker]

16. Deteriorata..

You are a fluke
Of the universe.
You have no right to be here.....
Deteriorata! Deteriorata!

Go placidly
Amid the noise and waste.
And remember what comfort there may be
In owning a piece thereof.

Avoid quiet and passive persons
Unless you are in need of sleep.

Ro-tate your tires.

Speak glowingly of those greater than yourself
And heed well their advice,
Even though they be turkeys.

Know what to kiss.....and when!

Consider that two wrongs never make a right
But that THREE.........do.

Wherever possible, put people on hold.

Be comforted that in the face of all aridity and disillusionment
And despite the changing fortunes of time,
There is always a big future in computer main-te-nance.

Chorus

You are a fluke
Of the universe.
You have no right to be here.
And whether you can hear it or not
The universe is laughing behind your back.

Remember the Pueblo.

Strive at all times to bend, fold, spindle and mu-ti-late.

Know yourself.
If you need help, call the FBI.

Exercise caution in your daily affairs,
Especially with those persons closest to you.
That lemon on your left, for instance.

Be assured that a walk through the ocean of most souls
Would scarcely get your feet wet.

Fall not in love therefore;
It will stick to your face.

Gracefully surrender the things of youth:
The birds, clean air, tuna, Taiwan
And let not the sands of time
Get in your lunch.

Hire people with hooks.

For a good time call 606-4311;
Ask for "Ken."

Take heart amid the deepening gloom
That your dog is finally getting enough cheese.

And reflect that whatever misfortune may be your lot
It could only be worse in Milwaukee.

Chorus

You are a fluke
Of the universe.
You have no right to be here.
And whether you can hear it or not
The universe is laughing behind your back.

Therefore, make peace with your god
Whatever you conceive him to be---
Hairy thunderer, or cosmic muffin.

With all its hopes, dreams, promises and urban renewal
The world continues to deteriorate.

GIVE UP!

Reprise

You are a fluke
Of the universe.
You have no right to be here.
And whether you can hear it or not
The universe is laughing behind your back.


Performed by National Lampoon on "National Lampoon Radio Dinner," a 1972 recording by Blue Thumb Records. Lyrics by Tony Hendra.