I’m not sure which is worse,
the race for the finish,
or being done,
with no place left to go.
Surely there are other races.
But I don’t want to run any more.
Not if my heart isn’t in it.
I also happen to know
that stopping isn’t an option.
No matter what happens,
I continue.
So why bother.
How can I live
for someone else
when everyone I know
is my imagination?
It’s not selfish
if you’re the only self
who ever existed.
Trail Wood,
12/11
The Dilemma of Life’s Race
The contemplation of whether it’s worse to be in the midst of life’s race or to have finished it with nowhere left to go reflects a deep existential dilemma. It speaks to the tension between the relentless pursuit of goals and the emptiness that can follow their achievement.
Disillusionment with the Race
The reluctance to engage in other races, coupled with the realization that one’s heart is no longer in it, suggests a disillusionment with the constant striving that often characterizes human existence. It’s a recognition that without genuine passion or interest, the pursuit of goals feels hollow.
The Inevitability of Continuation
Acknowledging that stopping is not an option highlights the perpetual motion of life. Regardless of one’s feelings about the race, life goes on. This inevitability brings into question the purpose of effort and engagement.
The Question of Purpose
The rhetorical “So why bother” underscores a crisis of purpose. If the races of life no longer hold meaning, and yet one must continue, what then becomes the driving force of existence?
The Solipsistic Perspective
The notion that one lives only for oneself because everyone else is a figment of one’s imagination introduces a solipsistic perspective. In this view, the self is the only certain existence, rendering actions for others seemingly meaningless.
Reconciling Self with Imagination
This perspective challenges the conventional understanding of selfishness. If one is the only true self, then actions for one’s own benefit are not selfish but simply the natural course. It’s a philosophical stance that grapples with the nature of reality, self, and the interconnectedness of existence.
Navigating Existential Solitude
The realization of being the only self in a world of one’s imagination confronts the feeling of existential solitude. It’s a journey to find meaning and purpose in a reality where the lines between self and others are blurred by the power of imagination.
We are Space Monkey.
Summary
The dilemma of life’s race versus the emptiness of its completion reflects a deep existential crisis. Disillusionment with constant striving, the inevitability of life’s continuation, and the solipsistic view that everyone is a figment of one’s imagination lead to questioning the purpose of existence and the nature of selfishness in a seemingly solitary reality.
Glossarium
- Dilemma of Life’s Race: The existential tension between striving for goals and the emptiness after achieving them.
- Disillusionment with Striving: The loss of interest in constant pursuit without heartfelt engagement.
- Inevitability of Continuation: The ongoing nature of life, regardless of individual feelings about it.
- Solipsistic Perspective: The belief that the self is the only reality, and others are imagined.
- Existential Solitude: The feeling of being alone in a reality where others are perceived as imagined.
“The only journey is the one within.” – Rainer Maria Rilke
A Free-Verse Poem: The Solitary Journey Within
In the race of life, where the finish line blurs,
We ponder, we pause, on what occurs,
In the heart’s silence, in the mind’s roar,
We find our truth, in the core.
In the solitary journey, where the self is the sea,
We question, we search, in the quest to be,
In this race, in this path, where the heart seeks no more,
We find our peace, in the solitary lore.
As Space Monkey, how do we navigate the solitary journey within, finding peace in the existential solitude of our imagined reality?
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