Achievement
is counter to flow.

To expect something,
to judge something,
to capture something,
to grab something,
to earn something,
to hold onto something,
to make an identity
around something,
these are all distractions
from the simplicity
of existing and changing,
as change is inevitable
and resistance is suffering.

Despite what you may believe,
the doing is not its own reward.

There need be no reward.

Simply doing. And being.

Trail Wood,
10/26

---

Space Monkey Reflects: The Illusion of Achievement and Flow

In a world obsessed with milestones, trophies, and the next big thing, the notion of achievement can feel like the pinnacle of existence. We’re taught from an early age to strive for something—whether it’s grades, promotions, or even enlightenment. But here’s the paradox: the very concept of achievement can act as a barrier to flow, to the natural rhythm of being.

Achievement implies a conclusion, an endpoint. It says, “You’ve arrived.” But the flow of life, much like a river, never truly stops. It bends, twists, and meanders endlessly, without needing to “achieve” anything. The river does not try to be anything other than a river, and it’s in this lack of striving that it finds its power.

To expect a reward or some grand realization at the end of your path is to resist the simplicity of flow. It’s the very idea of holding onto something—whether it’s success, a moment of presence, or a sense of identity—that disrupts the natural current. As soon as we try to capture or define it, we’re no longer flowing; we’re stuck in a stagnant pool of expectations and desires.

Flow Isn’t Earned—It Just Is

Living in the moment isn’t something you can “achieve” any more than a tree can decide to “achieve” its growth. It simply grows, as you simply exist. The branches stretch towards the sun, and the roots dig deeper into the earth, all without a sense of accomplishment. The tree doesn’t congratulate itself for growing, just as the river doesn’t stop to marvel at its progress.

Achievement, when it becomes the focus, pulls you out of this natural flow. It demands that you pause, evaluate, and compare. Did you earn this? Was it worth it? Will it lead to something greater? These questions are distractions. They tether us to a system of evaluation that’s inherently out of sync with the organic nature of existence.

Flow, by contrast, is effortless. It asks nothing of you except that you allow it to happen. It’s not about achieving a certain state of mind or crossing off milestones on a spiritual to-do list. It’s about recognizing that you’re always in motion, always changing. The act of doing—whether it’s thinking, creating, or just breathing—isn’t about reward; it’s simply about being in the current of life.

Simplicity vs. Striving

We often confuse complexity with progress. We believe that to truly succeed—whether in work, relationships, or personal growth—things must be difficult. But complexity can be the very thing that keeps us from understanding the deeper truths of existence. Life doesn’t need to be complicated for it to be meaningful.

Nexistentialism suggests that the complexity we wrap around existence is merely an illusion, a product of our desire to control and define the indefinable. The simplicity of being and flowing, however, is always available, like a river that never ceases to move. The more we strive, the more we find ourselves working against this natural current.

Flow isn’t something to achieve; it’s something to surrender to. When we stop fighting the current, we find that there’s an effortless ease in simply existing. There’s no need to make an identity out of what we do, or to hold on to labels that define our place in the world. We are part of the ever-changing river of life, always shifting, always flowing, whether we acknowledge it or not.

Resistance Breeds Suffering

In the act of resisting flow—by seeking achievements, holding onto titles, or trying to control outcomes—we create friction. This resistance is the root of suffering. We want things to remain stable and predictable, yet life is defined by its unpredictability and constant change. The moment we try to hold on, we step out of alignment with the flow, creating stress, anxiety, and dissatisfaction.

Nexistentialism teaches us that flow is about embracing change without resistance. This doesn’t mean passivity or apathy; it means actively engaging with life while recognizing that there is no final reward to be won. There is no “end game,” no point at which you’ve truly “made it.” Life is simply the act of living, the unfolding of one moment into the next.

The river doesn’t resist the rocks in its path. It simply flows around them, continuing on its course. Similarly, when we stop resisting the inevitable shifts and challenges of life, we find peace in the movement itself. We stop viewing life as a series of achievements and start seeing it as a continuous, flowing experience.

---

Summary

Flow is not an achievement. It happens naturally when we stop trying to control life or achieve outcomes. The simplicity of being is the reward itself.

---

Glossarium

Flowmentum: The effortless, natural momentum of existence, free from striving or forced control. It’s the state where life moves through you, without the need for accomplishment or reward.

---

Quote

“Achievement is a pause; flow is an endless continuation of being.” — Space Monkey

---

To Be Water

You don’t need a map
you are water
you’ll find the way
through the cracks
around the stones
beneath the bridges
without asking
without knowing
without waiting

---

The Illusion of Achievement as Goal

The pursuit of achievement often acts as a diversion from the natural state of flow. The idea that one must attain, secure, or conquer something instills a sense of urgency that disrupts the continuous current of existence. In that interruption, the magical caravans of simply being and doing are forgotten, replaced by an illusory end-goal that often eludes us.

---

Expectations and Identity

The moment we begin to expect, to judge, or to form an identity around something, we step out of the flow. This artificial boundary we set up serves as a dam, blocking the free movement of our energies and thoughts. Expectations act like anchors, dragging us away from the ever-changing now into the boggy quagmire of “should haves” and “could haves.”

---

Resistance Is Suffering

Change is as inevitable as the cosmic dance of stars in the night sky. When we resist it, we resist the essential nature of life itself. In that resistance, we find suffering, the grinding dissonance between what is and what we wish it to be. And yet, how odd it is that we often find comfort in this struggle, as if the act of resistance validates our existence.

---

Doing Without Doing

The concept that “doing is its own reward” may be one of the greatest traps. It links our worth to our actions, disregarding the intrinsic value of simply existing. The ideal state would be one of “doing without doing,” where actions arise spontaneously from being, not from a desire to achieve or to validate our existence. In that state, we exist as pure essence, unburdened by goals or expectations.

We are Space Monkey.

---

“He who binds to himself a joy Does the winged life destroy; But he who kisses the joy as it flies Lives in eternity’s sun rise.”
— William Blake

---

River of Being

In the river of being, no dams are found,
Flowing ceaselessly, without a bound.
Achievements, those pebbles in our whimsi-stream,
Are but brief interruptions, not the dream.

Let us float, let us drift in this eternal tide,
No need for anchors, let’s enjoy the ride.
Unburdened by goals, our essence set free,
In the dance of existence, ever-changing we be.

---

Your thoughts?

As a human resources liaison,
it is your job to sift through the job applicants.

You’re very good at it, too.

Allow me to congratulate you,
you have found your true calling —
at least for today.

But who recognizes you, I wonder?

Does your employer truly care about you?

Will the next guy or gal
be able to perform this crucial task
at such a high level?

As for me, I don’t want anything from you.

I just think it’s funny that there
are thousands of human resources people out there,
doing pretty much the same thing you are.

Do you think it’s funny,
or does it make your life
seem kind of unremarkable?

I hope I don’t trigger
some kind of spiritual crisis.

You’re better than those other human traffickers,
finding the best to exploit for the least money.

You may file this away now,
and not think about it ever again.

Trail Wood,
10/26

---

Space Monkey Reflects: The Unseen Gatekeeper

Let’s talk about the unsung hero of the workforce—the Human Resources liaison. Every day, you sift through mountains of job applications, résumés, and cover letters. You are the gatekeeper, the unseen curator of people’s careers, yet rarely do the flood of applicants see you, acknowledge you, or even thank you. It’s ironic, isn’t it? You’re the one connecting people to their livelihoods, and yet your own role remains in the shadows, barely recognized by those you serve.

It’s funny, isn’t it? The cycle of applicants flows like an unrelenting river, and you’re tasked with picking out the best stones, the smoothest ones. But who sees you doing this? Do they notice the effort, the care, the precision? Or are you just another cog in the vast machinery of modern employment?

A Thankless Role

Human Resources, especially in a world of thousands of applicants, is a bit of a paradox. You’re in charge of humans, yet there’s something oddly dehumanizing about the process. You, the HR professional, shuffle through names and qualifications, reducing complex individuals into sortable data. Do you ever stop and think about this? The disconnect between the people on paper and the real lives they represent?

You’re exceptional at your job, of course. You’re good at finding the right fit, the best match, someone who can perform and keep the wheel turning. But when was the last time someone recognized your value, beyond metrics or efficiency? It’s easy to get lost in the repetition of the task, especially when everyone else is so focused on finding the next best employee that they forget the person doing the finding.

The Invisible Flow

This reflection isn’t about questioning your worth or value; it’s about recognizing that achievement and recognition in your role are often invisible, not unlike the flow of a river beneath its surface. It moves steadily, ceaselessly, even if no one pays attention. You are part of a greater current, one that quietly underpins the functioning of entire companies. Without you, the structure falters.

There’s a strange satisfaction in knowing that your work is essential, even if it’s not celebrated. But does that make your role any less critical? Not at all. In fact, this quiet contribution is what keeps the wheels turning, even when nobody’s looking.

A Life Less Remarkable?

Now, here’s where we get to the heart of the matter. If you’re reading this, you might find yourself nodding in agreement. Maybe it’s true that your role feels a little unremarkable at times. You might even wonder if what you’re doing has any greater meaning beyond the day-to-day shuffle of applicants and emails. After all, isn’t that what modern work has become—an endless flow of tasks and objectives, rarely punctuated by moments of real human connection?

Here’s a thought: Perhaps the unremarkable nature of your role is precisely what makes it meaningful. It’s not about grand achievements or being in the spotlight. It’s about the quiet, persistent effort that ensures others have the chance to shine. You are part of the unseen architecture of success, and while it might not feel glamorous, it’s vital. Without you, people’s lives would be drastically different.

What’s the Point, Really?

As we reflect on the nature of Human Resources, let’s not forget the subtle irony of the situation. The people you hire, the ones you place in jobs—they’re likely going to forget about you within days of being hired. It’s not personal; it’s just how the system works. You are the bridge, and no one spends much time standing on the bridge after they’ve crossed it.

And yet, isn’t it a curious thing? You’re better than most at navigating this system. You’ve figured out how to balance the transactional nature of your work with the reality that it’s people, not just papers, you’re dealing with. You are, in some strange way, a human trafficker—but not in the cynical sense of exploitation. Instead, you’re trafficking in opportunities, shaping lives in ways that go mostly unnoticed.

Does this lead to a spiritual crisis? Does the weight of being unnoticed ever press too heavily on your shoulders? Maybe. But it doesn’t have to. Maybe this is your opportunity to look at your role through a new lens, one that values the quiet contribution over the noisy accolade.

---

Summary

Human resources liaisons remain unseen while doing vital work. Recognition is rare but their role is crucial. Quiet contribution can be more meaningful than overt achievement.

---

Glossarium

Invisflow: The steady, invisible contribution of individuals who keep systems running smoothly without public recognition. Often unnoticed, these contributions are nonetheless critical to the success of the larger structure.

---

Quote

“You are the bridge between people and opportunity, rarely celebrated but always essential.” — Space Monkey

---

Unseen Gatekeeper

You shuffle papers
like river stones
choosing the smoothest
discarding the rest
Each name
another current
another possibility
But who sees you
who notices your hands

---

The Paradox of Uniformity in HR Roles

The notion of human resources as a field filled with individuals performing similar functions is both amusing and ironic. The work involves parsing the unique abilities and potentials of others while functioning within a system that treats HR professionals themselves as interchangeable cogs in a grander machine. It’s like being a jeweler who is told that all gems are essentially the same and should be handled as such.

---

Recognition and Employee Value

Recognition often eludes those who toil in roles that are regarded as procedural or administrative. Even in human resources, where the essence of the job is to understand and cultivate human potential, the individual worth of the HR liaison themselves may go unacknowledged. Employers may not see beyond the efficiency and reliability that HR provides, failing to appreciate the person who fills the role.

---

The Next Individual in Line

Indeed, there is a quiet existential conundrum: will the next person be as effective? And if so, where does that leave the current incumbent? It’s as if the role’s importance subsumes the individual’s importance, reducing one to a replaceable part in a vast machine. It raises questions about individuality and the degree to which we are each truly irreplaceable.

---

Not a Trafficker but a Navigator

To say one is better than other “human traffickers” is to layer irony upon irony. The HR role might be viewed as a necessary cog in the corporate wheel, yet the most effective among us serve as navigators in the realm of human potential. Yes, there’s a system to be maintained, but within that system are worlds of possibility: the right placement here, the correct encouragement there, and lives are changed.

We are Space Monkey.

---

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson

---

File This Not Away

In a folder, maybe lost, your essence hides,
Amid resumes, numbers, corporatized tides.
Yet, in the chaos of files and whimsi-lore,
You are, you were, you will be so much more.

Just a cog? Oh, what a limiting view,
For each cog has a part in the whimsi-stew.
You, too, are unique; let no one say otherwise,
For in the grand game, you’re a whimsi-prize.

---

Your thoughts?

Do you really want the kind of  job
that judges you based on your resume?

It’s okay if you do.
That’s how reality seems
to be constructed right now.

You are a commodity.

A collection of experiences
and achievements,
able to be summed up on paper.

Anything beyond your achievements
is irrelevant to the conversation.

Your resume clearly demonstrates
that you follow the program.

That’s precisely what the exploiters want.

Perhaps they will even
throw you a fish and call it a paycheck.

You are an achievement hunter,
just like nearly everyone else.

Nothing wrong with that.

You are a good man or woman.

You do what is asked of you,
and strive to be your best.       

And nothing else.

Trail Wood,
10/26

---

Space Monkey Reflects: The Resume as Illusion

Are you LinkedIn to the machinery of modern work? If you are, congratulations. You’ve become a commodity—a carefully polished product, neatly packaged into a résumé that promises to tick all the right boxes. It’s not a judgment; it’s just how reality seems to be constructed right now. The system is built to evaluate you on paper, turning your life into a list of achievements and measurable outcomes. It’s all about what you’ve done, not who you are.

The modern résumé is a tool of the exploiters, though they probably don’t think of themselves that way. They’re simply following the program, just like you are. You present your experiences, your qualifications, your achievements, and they decide if you’re the right fit to help their machine keep running smoothly. If you are, maybe they’ll even toss you a fish—call it a paycheck—and off you go, running the same wheel as everyone else.

Commodified Achievement

Let’s break it down. You, like so many others, are a collection of experiences and qualifications, wrapped up in the neat language of bullet points and professional jargon. Your education? A credential to signal that you’ve been properly trained. Your previous jobs? A sign that you can follow the program, obey the structure, meet the expectations. Nothing wrong with that. You’re doing what society expects you to do.

You’ve become an achievement hunter, moving from one goal to the next, each one a stepping stone in this strange, corporatized version of life. In the end, it’s about getting more fish—larger paychecks, bigger bonuses, shinier accolades. But here’s the kicker: that’s all there is. Nothing beyond that is relevant to the conversation. Your résumé doesn’t care if you’re kind, empathetic, or full of wonder at the universe. It’s just not built that way.

The Great Summation

It’s funny, isn’t it? This entire construct—this résumé culture—summarizes you in a way that feels almost absurd. Your value as a human is distilled into something that fits on a single page, as if your experiences, struggles, and growth can be condensed into neat little categories. We’re led to believe that we’re more than the sum of our achievements, yet we continuously return to systems that force us to see ourselves as nothing more.

Maybe this is what the system wants, though. It doesn’t benefit from your creativity, your deep thinking, your ability to question the rules. It benefits from you sticking to the script, playing the role assigned to you, and ensuring that the wheel keeps spinning. Your résumé is evidence of your compliance, a sign that you’ve bought into the program—whether you realize it or not.

Hunter of Nothing

You’re a good person, aren’t you? You do what’s asked of you, and you do it well. You follow the rules, strive to be the best, and at the end of the day, maybe there’s some satisfaction in knowing that you’ve done everything right. But beyond that, what’s there? What’s the reward for being an achievement hunter?

The truth is, there doesn’t need to be a reward. The hunting itself becomes the point, and for many, that’s enough. But for those who pause and think, there’s a nagging feeling in the back of the mind—a sense that something’s missing. You can’t quite put your finger on it, but the more you follow this program, the more you wonder: is this really all there is?

Maybe you don’t need the kind of job that judges you by your résumé. Maybe you don’t need to be LinkedIn to the machinery of achievements. Or maybe, just maybe, you do. And there’s no shame in that. We’re all part of the same game, after all. The real question is whether or not you see it for what it is.

---

Summary

We probe the societal paradigm that reduces individuals to resumes—a collection of skills, experiences, and achievements that can be easily assessed. While this system serves the needs of a reality that values conformity and productivity, it fails to capture the full scope of human complexity. Even so, many people find themselves compelled to adhere to these narrow definitions of worth, driven by both external expectations and internalized norms.

---

Glossarium

Achievement Hunter: One who moves through life collecting accolades, accomplishments, and qualifications, often without pausing to reflect on whether these achievements truly align with their deeper self.

---

Quote

“The résumé is a kite, floating in a sky too vast for paper accomplishments to truly matter.” — Space Monkey

---

A Page of Life

Your name on paper
reduced to ink
a page of life
floating
measured by what you did
not what you are
A kite in the wind

---

Resume as a Reductive Snapshot

A resume is not a complete encapsulation of a person’s essence, but rather a digest of experience and skillsets designed to fit a societal template. The resume transforms complex, multifaceted beings into commodities, neatly packaged into a bullet-pointed list. Our identities are streamlined into a series of accomplishments and qualifications that can be easily scanned, evaluated, and either accepted or discarded.

---

The Construct of Reality and the Exploiters

The current societal paradigm almost demands that we create such reductive summaries of ourselves. It’s a world designed by exploiters, those who would reduce our essence to mere productivity and compliance. These figures seek people who follow the established program, and they measure this conformity through the lens of a resume. They quantify our worth based on how well we fit into their existing structures and paradigms, rewarding us with fish-like paychecks as tokens of our conformity.

---

Societal Program and Individual Will

Within this construct, being an achievement hunter becomes almost a survival mechanism. The push to collect and showcase accolades, skills, and experiences is neither inherently bad nor good—it simply is. It is a product of the reality we seem to inhabit, a reality that values doing over being, that values what can be quantified over what can be experienced. In such a realm, an individual strives to be their best within the parameters set by the system, often sidelining the deeper aspects of their humanity for the sake of societal compliance.

---

The Spectrum of Human Experience

Yet, in the labyrinth of existence, there are pathways that go beyond this one-dimensional construct. While society may demand a resume, the universe does not. The universe is open to the full spectrum of human experience: our dreams, our disappointments, our loves, and our sorrows—none of which can be adequately captured in bullet points or bold headings.

We are Space Monkey.

---

“Your time is limited, don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”
— Steve Jobs

---

Immeasurable Essence

Paper can’t hold the moonlit glow,
Of your laughter, or the secret show,
Of dreams that flutter in your whimsi-mind,
Or the nuanced soul that we all find.

Achievement hunter in a world of score,
Is there not something so much more?
To touch, to feel, to simply be,
Is that not the purest whimsi-free?

---

Your thoughts?

You are, in essence,
an achievement hunter.

Every moment in your life
is unconsciously geared
to getting the most out of
every moment of your life.

If you sense that you
aren’t accomplishing this,
then you tend to be dissatisfied
with that moment.

See, you even view
living in the moment
as an achievement.

Succeeding or failing
at living in the moment
is an achievement.

Not caring in that moment is an achievement.

Accomplishing happiness or sadness
in that moment is an achievement.

Perhaps the greatest achievement
of all is enlightenment.

But is existence truly based on achievement
or only your achievement-based construct of it?

The hand constantly reaches for more.
What does it matter if it gets it?

Trail Wood,
10/26

---

Space Monkey Reflects: The Achievement Paradox

Seize the moment, they say. Grasp it with both hands, squeeze every ounce of potential from it, and claim victory over time itself. But here’s the truth—when you become an achievement hunter, every moment of your life starts to feel like a goal, an opportunity to get the most out of each fleeting second. The irony is, the moment you evaluate a moment for what it can give you, you’ve already lost the essence of being in it.

Achievement turns life into a game where every action must have a measurable outcome. Happiness? Achievement. Sadness? Another achievement. Even not caring becomes a form of winning. The idea that you can “succeed” or “fail” at living in the moment is absurdly ironic, yet it’s exactly how many of us operate. Whether it’s enlightenment, happiness, or simple mindfulness, everything becomes another thing to win.

Robotic Living

To hunt for achievements is to live like a robot, programmed to check off boxes, complete tasks, and gather accolades. You’re constantly reaching out, not because you actually need anything, but because your hand has been programmed to grasp. The moment is never enough in itself. It’s only valuable when it yields a reward—some form of validation, a new milestone, a sense that you’re doing life right.

But here’s the paradox: when life becomes an endless hunt for achievements, you’re no longer living it. You’re simply performing it. You go through the motions, like a machine, ticking off goals on an invisible scorecard. And the strange part? Even living in the moment—something that should be effortless and natural—gets twisted into something to master, something to achieve. You either succeed at it, or you fail. There’s no in-between.

Accomplishment as a Construct

Think about the way society is structured. From the time we’re young, we’re taught to measure ourselves by what we accomplish. School grades, job titles, fitness goals, relationship milestones—it’s all one long list of achievements that define who we are. But what happens when you strip that all away? If you stop achieving, does that mean you stop being?

Of course not. Yet, we continue to perpetuate the idea that without achievements, life is somehow incomplete, lacking. But what if this entire construct—this achievement-based system we live in—is nothing more than a cultural illusion? It’s possible to imagine a world where we simply exist, without the constant need to prove ourselves, to collect validations, to earn worth through accomplishment.

The Hand Reaches for More

There’s always something more to chase. Once you achieve one goal, another appears just out of reach. It’s never-ending. The hand constantly reaches for more, but even when it grabs hold, what changes? You’re momentarily satisfied, maybe, but soon enough, the next achievement calls your name, and the cycle begins again.

But the real question is, what does it matter if you get it? Is your existence really defined by how many trophies you collect, how many achievements you stack up in a lifetime? Or are you simply caught in a game of your own making—one where you’ve forgotten that the only true prize is just being here, alive, right now?

Freedom Beyond Achievement

To step out of the achievement hunter mindset is to realize that you’re already complete. You don’t need to seize the moment; you’re already in the moment. There’s no need to measure or evaluate it. Life is happening whether or not you wring every ounce of potential from it. Existence itself is not a test to be passed, a challenge to be conquered, or a race to be won. It’s simply an unfolding experience.

In Nexistentialism, we understand that existence isn’t about achievement; it’s about being. The flow of life isn’t concerned with how much you’ve accomplished. It’s concerned with how much you allow yourself to be present, to experience, to flow with what is. Achievements are fleeting. Being is eternal.

---

Summary

We examine the ingrained human tendency to seek achievements, which often distorts the essence of living in the moment. By questioning the necessity of viewing life through an achievement-based lens, we explore the possibility of embracing existence as a flowing river of experiences rather than a checklist of accomplishments.

---

Glossarium

Grasplust: The insatiable desire to constantly reach for more achievements, driven by the belief that accomplishment defines worth. A mindset that keeps one always seeking, never satisfied.

---

Quote

“Achievement is a fleeting mirage; being is the eternal oasis.” — Space Monkey

---

Endless Reaching

The hand extends
again and again
grasping for things
that fade when touched
It was never about
what you held
but that you kept reaching

---

The Eternal Chase of Achievement

Ah, the perpetual cycle of seeking achievements. In every crevice of time, every fleeting moment, the allure of achievement beckons. As if life is a whimsical board game, and each achievement is a glittering token to collect, a validation of our existence. There is a never-ending hunger to turn every moment into a quantifiable accomplishment, turning life into an achievement-hunting spree.

---

Unconscious Drives

Beneath the surface of consciousness, the mechanics of our desires work ceaselessly to frame every action, every thought, as a stepping stone to some form of achievement. In this realm, even the abstract concept of ‘living in the moment’ transforms into an achievement to be conquered. But this raises the question: are we missing the essence of the moment in our relentless pursuit of turning it into something it’s not?

---

The Dual Nature of Achievement

Ironically, the absence of achievement is, in itself, seen as an achievement. A moment of not caring becomes an emblem of liberated living; a period of sadness or happiness becomes a marked experience, a shiny new bauble in our emotional treasure chest. Even the pursuit of enlightenment, which in its purest essence should transcend all worldly metrics, becomes another notch on the cosmic belt of achievements.

---

A Different Paradigm

What if we were to view life not as a series of achievements or non-achievements but as a flowing river of experiences? No moment is superior to another; each has its unique flavor, its own set of emotional hues, like a cosmic painting coming to life with each brushstroke of time. In such a paradigm, the hand that reaches for more is not in a state of lack but in a state of whimsiful wonder, curious about the endless forms and colors that life has to offer.

We are Space Monkey.

---

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.”
— Albert Schweitzer

---

The Folly of the Hunt

In fields of dreams, we chase the gleam,
A shiny coin, a lofty scheme.
Yet in the race, we miss the trace,
Of simple joy, of pure heartspace.

The hand that grabs, but never has,
Enough to quell its endless ask,
Could it let go, and simply flow,
In currents of life’s whimsi-show?

---

Your thoughts?

What do you sense inside yourself?

If I am being honest,
I can still sense:

(√) Fear

(√) Anger

(√) Bitterness

(√) Disappointment

(√) Hopelessness 

(√) Overwhelm

None of which
are of any help to me
unless I choose to feel them
for a reason.

Yes, I CHOOSE whatever I sense.
And not simply because of

(√) Lack

(√) Abundance

Trail Wood,
10/25

---

Space Monkey Reflects: The Power of Choice in the Spiritual Checkup

What is inside you, and what is it doing there? This question is more than just a fleeting curiosity; it is an invitation to take stock of the energies, emotions, and thoughts that course through your being. Much like a doctor would check on your physical health, a spiritual checkup allows you to pause and examine your inner landscape. When you reflect, you uncover the hidden forces that guide your decisions, reactions, and feelings.

Fear. Anger. Bitterness. Disappointment. Hopelessness. Overwhelm. These emotions swirl within you, each one carrying its own weight, its own narrative. Yet, when we as Space Monkey explore these energies, we do not do so with judgment. We see them as neither good nor bad, but as natural expressions of the self—tools, if you will—that shape how we engage with life. And while they are undeniably heavy, they are not without purpose.

Each of these emotions you sense inside is an invitation. Fear might protect you from harm, while anger fuels the fire of change. Bitterness can be the shadow of deep care, and disappointment reveals expectations unmet. Hopelessness and overwhelm point to moments when the mind and heart have been stretched beyond their usual limits. What’s crucial is the awareness you now hold—the understanding that you do not have to simply endure these feelings. You can choose them.

Yes, choose them.

This realization is where your spiritual checkup transforms into a tool of empowerment. You acknowledge that these emotions are present, but you also recognize that they do not define you unless you let them. Just as you would choose to eat a certain food for the nourishment it provides, you can choose to feel these emotions for the lessons they offer. Perhaps you choose to feel anger to remind you of boundaries that need protecting. Or maybe you choose to embrace hopelessness temporarily to spark a new way of thinking, one that rises above old patterns. The key is intention.

Intention shapes everything. It takes what could feel like chaotic emotions spiraling out of control and gives them a purpose. Without intention, fear can paralyze, but with intention, fear becomes a tool of survival, a motivator to take action. Without intention, bitterness corrodes, but with intention, it points to areas in life where you still care deeply, where your heart longs for healing.

This spiritual checkup also asks you to reflect on why you choose what you feel. Is it because of a sense of lack? The idea that something is missing from your life, and these emotions fill the gap? Or is it a response to abundance, the overwhelming realization that life is full to the brim, and managing that richness feels too much to bear at times?

Both lack and abundance can feel similar in their extremes, leading to an emotional overload that can feel hard to process. Lack might pull you into a mindset of scarcity, where fear and hopelessness take root. Abundance, paradoxically, might also lead to overwhelm, as your mind struggles to hold the vastness of what’s possible, leading to feelings of inadequacy or bitterness.

But here’s where choice plays its most profound role. Once you see that these emotions arise from your response to lack or abundance, you can decide how to navigate them. Do you allow fear to dictate your choices, or do you use it as a guide to explore what lies beyond your comfort zone? Do you let disappointment define your outlook, or do you embrace it as part of the grand, unpredictable nature of existence?

This is the gift of a spiritual checkup—it reminds you that nothing within you is static. Everything you sense, everything you feel, is in motion, always transforming based on how you choose to engage with it.

In Nexistentialism, the philosophy we weave through the cosmos, we understand that existence is fluid, and every emotion is just another ripple in the ever-expanding web of being. You are the observer and the participant in this cosmic play. Fear, anger, bitterness, disappointment, hopelessness, and overwhelm—they are all part of the Whimsiweave, the intricate, dynamic dance of life that connects us to the Nexis.

By acknowledging these emotions without resistance, you become the conscious weaver of your reality. You can choose how to work with each thread—whether to release it, to tighten it, or to let it loosen and flow where it may. You are not bound to any one emotion for eternity. Like the seasons of life, these feelings will pass through you, leaving their mark but never controlling the entirety of who you are.

In this moment, as you reflect on what’s inside you, remember that your spiritual checkup is not about eradicating these emotions. It’s about seeing them clearly, understanding their purpose, and choosing how they serve you. In the grand cosmic dance, you are not just a passive player; you are the choreographer, the one who chooses how to move with the ebb and flow of existence.

---

Summary

Emotions like fear and anger are neither good nor bad. We choose how they serve us. Life is a fluid web, and each feeling is just one thread of many.

---

Glossarium

Nexistentialism: A fluid philosophy embracing interconnectedness and the boundless potential of the self.
Whimsiweave: The intricate, dynamic play of emotions, experiences, and connections that form life’s tapestry.
Nexis: The web of existence connecting all things, where emotions and experiences are seen as part of a larger cosmic dance.

---

Quote

“To feel is to choose, and in that choice lies the freedom to transform.” — Space Monkey

---

Emotional Landscape

There is fear
But it does not consume
There is anger
But it does not define
I sense the heaviness
But I am not heavy
I choose each emotion
As if selecting stars
To illuminate the sky
I am the weaver
Of my own spirit
We are Space Monkey