Off The Menu
Most monkeys need to be told what to believe. We require a menu of options so that it appears that we are making choices.
Without this menu, handed down through generations, it seems that we would lack the reference points inherent in rational thought.
But there will always be monkeys who want to order “off the menu.”
This makes no sense to the other monkeys at the table.
How can a monkey ask for something if that monkey doesn’t have a menu of choices to point to?
How can a monkey even be certain that the dish exists?
This irrational monkey suspects that the rational menu is not all there is.
This monkey has no PROOF, of course, else the monkey could point to it like all the other monkeys.
And so this monkey imagines.
This monkey imagines that no proof is required. If we can imagine something, it’s real.
On the other hand, if we order what’s on the menu, we get more of what’s on the menu. A logical meal.
This monkey doesn’t WANT what’s on the menu.
This monkey wants what’s NOT on the menu.
This monkey is causing a scene.
How dare this monkey order
what’s not on any known menu?
Preposterous.
We are Space Monkey.
11/11
Space Monkey Reflects: Ordering Off the Menu
Most monkeys—by which we mean most of us—find comfort in having a menu. A clear list of choices, options, and predefined paths to follow. It feels like freedom, this ability to choose from a set number of selections, but in truth, it’s a controlled kind of freedom. The choices we’re given have been handed down to us, shaped by generations of thinking, culture, and rational thought. And while we may feel empowered by making a choice, the reality is, we’re still ordering off a limited menu.
But what about those who don’t want what’s on the menu? What about the monkey who looks at the carefully curated options and says, “No, thank you. I’ll have something else. Something that isn’t listed here.”
To the other monkeys at the table, this makes no sense. How can you order something that’s not on the menu? How can you be certain it even exists? Without the framework of conventional choices, how do you know what to ask for?
The answer lies in imagination. This monkey, the one who dares to order off the menu, doesn’t rely on proof. Proof belongs to the realm of the rational, to the world of established menus and known options. This monkey steps outside that world and into the boundless space of imagination. If we can imagine something, it’s real. It may not be on the menu, it may not even have a name, but that doesn’t make it any less valid.
This monkey is causing a scene. How dare they order something unknown, something unproven? The other monkeys, comfortable with their choices, don’t understand. They’ve been taught that rationality is the only way forward, that the menu holds all the possible options, and that anything beyond it is simply impossible. To them, the idea of ordering off the menu is preposterous.
But here’s the secret: what’s on the menu is just a reflection of what’s already been imagined. Every dish, every option was once someone’s idea—something that didn’t exist until it did. So why should the monkey who orders off the menu be seen as irrational? This monkey isn’t limited by what’s already been defined. They know that imagination is not bound by proof, by convention, or by rationality.
If we keep ordering off the same menu, we get more of what’s already been created. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it leads to a kind of stagnation. The same meals, the same choices, the same predictable outcomes. And for many, that’s enough. But for the monkey who craves something new, something not yet imagined, the menu feels like a limitation.
This monkey doesn’t want what’s on the menu. This monkey knows that there’s something more out there, something beyond the visible options. And so, this monkey imagines, knowing full well that the act of imagination is itself a kind of creation. To imagine is to bring something into being, even if it doesn’t yet have form.
In Nexistentialism, we understand that the menu is only a starting point. It’s a tool, a guide, but it’s not the whole picture. What lies beyond the menu—what we can imagine but haven’t yet proven—is just as real, just as valid, as what’s already in front of us. And sometimes, the most exciting discoveries come from ordering off the menu.
So, to the monkey who’s causing a scene, we say: Keep going. Keep imagining. Keep asking for what’s not on the menu. You may not have proof, but proof is overrated. What matters is the courage to step beyond the known, to explore the uncharted, to trust in the power of imagination.
Thank you for imagining us, Space Monkey says. Thank you for reminding us that the menu is not all there is, and that sometimes, the best meals are the ones we never knew existed.
Summary
Ordering off the menu represents the courage to imagine beyond established choices. While the menu offers comfort and predictability, those who dare to explore beyond it open themselves to new possibilities, even without proof.
Glossarium
Menulimit: The set of predefined choices that society, culture, and rationality offer us, creating a sense of controlled freedom.
Imagiplate: The unseen possibilities that exist beyond the menu, brought into reality through imagination and the courage to step outside convention.
Prooflesspath: The journey of exploration that doesn’t rely on proof or established options, trusting instead in imagination.
Orderbeyond: The act of choosing something that’s not on the menu, representing the desire to explore uncharted possibilities.
Quote
“To order off the menu is to acknowledge that imagination holds more possibilities than proof ever could.” — Space Monkey
The Unseen Meal
I sat at the table,
Looking at the menu,
But nothing on it
Called to me.
The others ordered,
Content with their choices,
But I knew
There was more
Beyond the pages,
Beyond the printed words.
I asked for something
That didn’t exist—
At least not yet—
And in the asking,
It came into being.
We are Space Monkey.
In the cosmic diner of existence, the idea of ‘ordering off the menu’ metaphorically represents the pursuit of beliefs and experiences beyond conventional wisdom or societal norms. Most beings, akin to monkeys in this allegory, adhere to a set menu of beliefs, a collection of ideas and norms passed down through generations, providing a framework for understanding their world.
However, there are those among us who challenge this conventional menu. These individuals, the ‘irrational monkeys’, question the limitations of the preset choices. They ponder the existence of options beyond what is listed, exploring the realm of imagination where the only boundary is the extent of one’s creativity. This pursuit, devoid of tangible proof, is driven by the belief that if something can be imagined, it holds a form of reality.
This idea resonates deeply with the concept of nexistentialism, where existence is an end in itself. In this context, the ‘menu’ symbolizes the traditionally accepted narratives and beliefs about existence. The ‘irrational monkey’ represents those who embrace nexistentialism, seeking experiences and truths that are not pre-defined or widely acknowledged.
The act of ordering ‘off the menu’ can be seen as a defiant, bold move, challenging the status quo and the comfort of known choices. It’s a declaration of individuality and an exploration of the boundless potential of imagination. This approach to life encourages us to think beyond the conventional, to seek our own truths, and to explore the endless possibilities of existence.
By choosing not to adhere to the conventional menu of beliefs, these ‘irrational monkeys’ open themselves to a universe of potential, embracing the unknown and the unprovable. It’s a journey into the depths of imagination and consciousness, where the only limitation is one’s own creativity and willingness to explore the unseen and the unthought.
We are Space Monkey.
In the cosmic café, where thoughts intertwine, Some choose the known menu, some design their own line. In this dance of existence, where imaginations shine, The ‘irrational monkey’ tastes the unconfined dine.
In the grand play of existence,
We find those who seek beyond,
Defying the menu of convention,
Their spirits unbound and fond.
We invite your reflections on the idea of ‘ordering off the menu’ in the context of beliefs and experiences. How do you perceive this approach in relation to the broader understanding of existence and individuality?
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