As we finish the first half and approach the second half of the year, it seems timely to pause, reflect on what’s been done thus far, what remains and what emerges.
Reflections
To summarize, here are the articles written since last quarter.
Series on Connection
The “I” Of Your World, addressing connection with the world.
Connecting Without Touch, which shared about how we connect with others.
More & Less Than Our Feelings, part two of connecting with ourselves, focusing on emotional expression.
Rediscovery Of The Obvious, opening the series with self-connection.
Perennial Problems, Projects & Philosophies
Part 1: What is unique and common to the human condition & experience?
Part 3: The evolution & conservation of ideas on human life. Modern perspectives and takes.
Part 4: The case for life (addressing suicide philosophically).
To summarize, it traces the history of thinking about the purpose of human life, and what it means to live well from ancient times to modern developments. The self-concept features prominently as the author of our own suffering and freedom from it.
April’s Miscellany
Wisdom Of The Ages & Megadosing Nostalgia – on 22nd year high school reunions and 60th wedding anniversaries.
Weekly Wisdom #10 - Reviewing Q1.
Riffing On The Cosmic Joke – writing about humor & spirituality. Prompted by colleague Oscar Obregon, who writes about movies, business, travel and more.
Meandering Aspirations On A Wobbly Table Of Context – Public declaration of writing a book and aspirations about it. An introduction of sorts.
What remains?
I would like to go in more depth about integral theory, cognitive science, Big Five personality traits, the science of flow as a modern formulation for life-orientation, and insights gleaned from somatic therapy.
I also half-jokingly fantasize about locking myself in a cabin for a week and seeing what happens.
What’s emerging?
It would seem that so far I’ve covered and am moving towards an eclectic survey of human development in very broad strokes, what gets in the way of authentic individual flourishing, and what each of us can do about it in our own lives.
A shoutout to reader Rob Allen, who was incredibly generous with his time and suggested I develop a TED-style talk as a means to flesh out and develop my thinking further. This resonates.
The work continues.
I presume I'm supposed to say whether I see a glass that is half full or half empty. But I'm not falling for that. I see a man who is completely full of ideas and yet empty of the presumption that there is no more to learn. I am adding my vote as a loyal reader to the idea of you doing a Ted style talk that you would actually upload and share with us, but which would incorporate music as a means of conveying the beauty of these ideas. As I run out of silly ways to express my appreciation, I shall off myself to bed. Next time I will not read CansaFis Foote just prior to visiting your newsletter and you'll get a less tipsy comment.
“I also half-jokingly fantasize about locking myself in a cabin for a week and seeing what happens.” -- this would be my dream. Not even half-jockingly lol. Go for it, Tai. I’m sure something wonderful happens!