if we didn’t have time
to throw rocks at each other.
We wouldn’t be so conflicted
if we didn’t have time
to sling arrows at our selves.
We wouldn’t have time
to imagine or create problems.
The biggest problem
plaguing humanity today
is the proliferation
of leisure time.
In the old days,
we had to gather sticks.
Chop wood.
Grow crops.
Build shelters.
It took weeks
to create clothing
to keep us warm.
We ALL were involved
in life-sustaining tasks
that are now considered menial chores.
We had so much more in common.
We wouldn’t be so divided
if we didn’t have time
to throw rocks at each other.
Trail Wood,
10/22
Space Monkey Reflects: The Proliferation of Leisure Time
Imagine a world where every moment is dedicated to survival. Where gathering wood, planting crops, and building shelters occupy the entirety of our days. Not long ago, this was reality for most of humanity. There was little room for distraction or division, because survival necessitated cooperation, focus, and shared purpose. In those times, we had much more in common because life was about doing—about sustaining existence through practical, necessary tasks.
Fast forward to today, and we find ourselves in a dramatically different landscape. Leisure time has become abundant, and with it, a proliferation of distractions, divisions, and conflicts. With fewer immediate life-sustaining tasks, we have time to throw rocks—both literally and figuratively—at one another, and even at ourselves. This time, which could be used for creative expression or collective growth, too often becomes the breeding ground for conflict.
Leisure time, while a gift of modernity, has ironically contributed to some of the very divisions that plague society. No longer bound by the immediate necessity of survival, we now have time to imagine problems where there are none, to create divisions that did not previously exist. The arrows we sling at ourselves and others are born from this abundance of time—a kind of idle energy that lacks direction and purpose.
In the Nexistentialist view, this shift from survival-driven tasks to leisure-based living is not inherently negative. In fact, leisure can be a powerful force for growth, creativity, and connection. But when leisure becomes unmoored from purpose, when it no longer serves as a space for rest or inspiration, it often mutates into a space for division and internal conflict. This is the challenge we face today: how do we use our time in ways that unite us rather than divide us?
In the past, every member of a community had a role to play in the survival of the whole. Whether it was gathering wood, hunting, or making clothing, there was an intrinsic understanding that life was about sustaining oneself and others. These tasks were not “chores”; they were necessary threads in the fabric of daily existence. And because everyone was engaged in these tasks, there was little room for the kinds of idle conflicts we see today. There was a shared understanding of purpose, a common ground on which communities could stand.
Today, that shared ground is fractured. With so much leisure time, we have more opportunities to retreat into our individual lives, to nurture grievances or imagined slights, and to build walls of division rather than bridges of connection. The abundance of time has given rise to new distractions, new ways of separating ourselves from others, and from the deeper purpose that once united us. We now have the luxury of overthinking, of obsessing over small differences, and of creating problems where there were none.
This is not to say that the modern world is inherently worse than the past. Rather, it is to highlight the paradox of leisure time. In theory, it should offer us more opportunities to grow, to connect, and to explore the deeper aspects of life. But in practice, it often gives us too much room to fall into the traps of division and conflict.
What we need is not less leisure time, but a reimagining of how we use it. Instead of letting it become a space for throwing rocks and slinging arrows, we could use it as a space for introspection, creativity, and shared purpose. We could use it to reconnect with the deeper, life-sustaining tasks that still exist, even if they are no longer about gathering wood or building shelters. These tasks might now take the form of building relationships, cultivating empathy, or nurturing creativity. They might involve collective projects that bind communities together in ways that reflect our shared humanity.
In this sense, the Whimsiweave of modern life—the playful, intricate patterns we create—can be rewoven to focus on connection rather than division. We have the opportunity to engage with our leisure time in ways that uplift, inspire, and unite, rather than allowing it to fragment us further.
If we look at the proliferation of leisure time as an opportunity rather than a problem, we can begin to shift the narrative. Instead of focusing on the conflicts it creates, we can focus on the potential it offers. We can use this time to explore the vast Nexis—the interconnected web of life that binds us all. By engaging with the Nexis consciously, we can move beyond the surface-level conflicts that arise from idle time and tap into the deeper currents of creativity, connection, and shared purpose.
It is no longer about chopping wood or gathering sticks. But it is still about building—building relationships, building empathy, building a sense of shared responsibility for the world we inhabit. And this kind of building requires just as much focus and intention as the survival tasks of the past.
In the end, we are not so different from our ancestors. We still need purpose. We still need connection. And we still need to engage with the life-sustaining tasks that bind us to one another and to the world around us. The difference is that now, we have the luxury of choosing how we spend our time. Let’s choose wisely.
Summary
Leisure time has given us space to create divisions and conflicts that didn’t exist when survival tasks occupied us. While it offers potential for creativity and connection, it often leads to idle conflict. The challenge lies in using this time to build relationships and purpose rather than division.
Glossarium
- Whimsiweave: The playful, intricate patterns we create in life, which can either lead to connection or division.
- Nexis: The interconnected web of life, reminding us of our shared humanity and collective responsibility.
Quote
“Leisure is not the enemy; it is the misuse of time that divides us.” — Space Monkey
Idle Hands
With idle hands,
we throw the rocks
that divide.
Yet we could build,
we could weave
new threads of connection.
The time is here,
but how we use it
shapes the web we leave behind.
We are Space Monkey.
The Double-Edged Sword of Leisure Time
The grand orchestration of time in our lives unfurls like a paradoxical symphony—a crescendo of leisure mingled with a lamentation of fragmentation. Leisure time, a byproduct of advancements in technology and societal evolution, serves both as a gift and a Pandora’s box. It frees us from the shackles of incessant toil but simultaneously casts us into new arenas of division and discord.
Simpler Times: The Cohesion of Collective Survival
In the times of yore, survival dictated the rhythm of existence. Gathering sticks, chopping wood, and constructing shelters were not merely chores; they were communal necessities that united us in a tapestry of interdependence. The constancy of labor ensured a shared focus, fending off the potential for petty conflicts and ideological schisms.
Idle Hands: The Workshop of Modern Divides
Nowadays, the explosion of leisure time has opened avenues for myriad activities and thought processes that our ancestors could scarcely fathom. However, the same leisure time has become a cradle for ideological division, emotional self-harm, and the cultivation of illusory problems. With time to spare, we are more prone to throwing metaphorical rocks at each other and slinging arrows of doubt and conflict within our own minds.
Balancing Act: Recognizing the Double-Edged Nature of Leisure
Recognizing that leisure time is a double-edged sword enables us to wield it with intention. How might we channel this newly found time into endeavors that unify rather than divide, that uplift rather than dismantle? By revisiting the communal and constructive spirit of earlier days, perhaps we can balance the scales, combining the blessings of modernity with the wisdom of ages past.
We are Space Monkey.
Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.
— Benjamin Franklin
In the dappled sunlight of leisure,
we dance—
sometimes in joy,
sometimes in folly.
The stage is vast,
paved with hours unclaimed.
And so we choose:
to build or to break,
to unite or to part—
a choreography
in the theater of time.
We invite you to share your thoughts.
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