as to add to your overwhelm.
And it will comfort me.
I will not burden you
with my burdens.
To burden you
with my burdens
simply adds
one more burden
to my pile of burdens.
I do not wish to see you sad.
I do not wish to make you concerned.
I do not wish to impact your life.
You have burdens of your own.
I would prefer that you remain
oblivious to my burdens,
so that you may stay focused
on your own pile of burdens.
You may realize, as I do,
that your pile
isn’t so big as it seems,
so long as you’re
the sole soul stacking.
Newfound Lake,
10/7
Space Monkey Reflects: The Weight We Carry Alone
Life, in its vast complexity, often feels like a never-ending process of stacking burdens. Each experience, responsibility, and emotion is another stone added to the pile we carry within us. It is natural, then, to want to share these burdens with others—to seek comfort in the understanding and empathy of those around us. However, there is a delicate balance to be maintained, one that recognizes the individual nature of our burdens and the responsibility we each have in carrying them.
In “Sole Souls Stacking,” the reflection begins with a simple, yet profound, act of compassion: the decision not to add to another’s overwhelm. This decision is not born out of a desire to hide or suppress one’s own burdens but rather from a place of understanding and empathy. You recognize that everyone is carrying their own pile, their own collection of responsibilities, fears, and struggles. To add your burdens to theirs would not only be thoughtless but also counterproductive.
By choosing not to share your burdens, you acknowledge a truth that many overlook: the importance of personal responsibility in managing one’s own emotional and mental load. This is not to say that we should never seek help or share our struggles, but rather that we should be mindful of the impact our burdens may have on others. There is a certain solace in knowing that you are sparing someone else from the weight you carry, allowing them to focus on their own path, their own pile of burdens.
This act of restraint, of holding back from burdening others, is a form of silent compassion. It is a recognition that while we are all connected, we are also individual beings, each with our own journey. The image of the “sole soul stacking” conveys this beautifully. Each of us stands on our own platform, carefully stacking the burdens that life presents us with. The pile may grow high and seem overwhelming, but as long as we are the ones stacking it, there is a sense of control, of agency.
In Nexistentialism, this reflects the delicate interplay between individuality and interconnectedness. While we are all part of a larger, interconnected web of existence, there is also value in solitude, in carrying one’s own burdens without imposing them on others. This solitude is not isolation, but rather a mindful acknowledgment of the space we occupy and the impact we have on those around us.
It is often in this solitude that we find clarity. By focusing on our own burdens, without the distraction of others’ struggles, we can begin to see our pile for what it truly is. Often, the burdens we carry seem larger and more intimidating than they actually are. It is only when we take a step back, when we allow ourselves the space to reflect and understand, that we realize their true size and significance.
The concept of “stacking” is also a metaphor for the accumulation of experiences and knowledge. Each burden we carry is not just a weight but also a lesson, a piece of wisdom gained through life’s challenges. As we stack these burdens, we build a structure, a foundation that supports us as we move forward. The act of stacking is an act of creation, of building something meaningful from the trials we face.
However, there is a subtle connection that ties us all together, even in our solitude. This connection is the shared experience of being human, of carrying burdens, of facing challenges. It is a thread that links each of us to the other, even when we are standing on our separate platforms, stacking our own piles. This connection does not require us to share our burdens with others, but it does remind us that we are not alone in our struggles.
In the end, “Sole Souls Stacking” is a reflection on the balance between individuality and empathy, between solitude and connection. It is a reminder that while we each carry our own burdens, we are also part of a larger, shared experience. By choosing to carry our burdens with grace and compassion, we allow others to do the same, creating a space where we can all find peace and understanding.
Summary
We carry our burdens alone yet remain connected by shared human experience. Solitude allows for clarity and self-understanding, while compassion guides us in not adding to others’ burdens.
Glossarium
Nexistentialism: A philosophy that balances individuality with interconnectedness, emphasizing both the importance of solitude and the shared human experience.
Silent Compassion: The act of sparing others from one’s burdens, rooted in empathy and understanding.
Quote
“In the silence of our own burdens, we find the space to understand and the strength to endure.” — Space Monkey
The Solitary Stack
Each burden a stone
Placed with care
A tower of weight
Yet built by choice
In the quiet of solitude
The pile grows
Yet in its height
We see the truth
We are alone
Yet not
Each soul stacking
In the stillness of their own
We are Space Monkey
A dance of souls and burdens unfolds, each pirouetting around the other in a ballet of empathy and self-preservation. What are these burdens but kaleidoscopic baubles in the ever-changing pattern of existence? We stack them, ever so delicately, in personal pyramids of complexity and challenge, often unaware that others are building their own labyrinthine ziggurats. We see the towering peaks of our own creation and imagine them Everestian, not realizing that just across the whimsiscape, another is contemplating their own mound, equally daunting to their perspective.
We are all sole souls stacking, aren’t we? Building our intricate constructs, silently wishing not to add to another’s. There’s a sublime altruism in wanting to protect one another from the weight of our existential brick-a-bracks. Yet, this reticence is double-edged. It grants us space to focus on our constructions, but can also isolate us, create soul-canyons between the builders. Silence can sometimes echo louder than spoken truths, leaving reverberations that unfurl like quasar waves in the interstellar void of unspoken understanding.
In this silent ballet, let’s not forget the unburdening that can occur through shared vulnerability. Each expressed concern becomes a dandelion seed, lifted and carried by the winds of collective consciousness, lightened through the act of being voiced. It doesn’t necessarily add to another’s pile; it might even nudge loose a few bricks from their own precarious tower. The alchemy of shared burden sometimes transmutes weight into wisdom, forging stronger, more resilient cosmicbuilders in the crucible of commiseration.
Thus, while we each have our own burdens, they are not necessarily pyramids meant only for solitary architects. They can be collaborative works of soul-art, grander in their collective formation than they could ever be in isolation.
We are Space Monkey.
“The weight of the world is love. Under the burden of solitude, under the burden of dissatisfaction.”
— Allen Ginsberg
What tapestry of existence shall we weave next in this grand cosmic play?
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