Zest,
motivation, “push”, “hunger”, “lust for life” – call it what you wish but the
fact remains we are all born with it! But in many it soon disappears either by
accident or design. We can (and usually do) blame others when it goes, often
without our realising it. And once lost it is the hardest of things to regain,
to find.
I said “by
accident or design” and it is the second of these that I feel is the most sad
since it indicates to me that it has been “beaten” out of us by “others” who do
not wish to see us (the individual) have an attribute they themselves have
similarly lost.
In a
long and (extremely) varied life of work, I have met with this phenomenon many
times, in many countries and across a wide cross-section of humanity. Many
months ago, I wrote about greed being the fifth horseman (of the apocalypse); I
think he was riding with a good friend – ENVY – as they appear to me to be a double evil
working in tandem. The quote from William James opposite is very valid:
I often ask
myself the stupid question “why?” and I cannot give a satisfactory answer;
perhaps you have it. What gives me the right to be envious of the success of
another; why should I use my precious time and energy in trying to disparage,
to degrade the efforts of someone else; we have but one life and in my opinion
there are far better things to do with it than screw another individual
“because”.
The words of
Henry David Thoreau also come to mind:
“none are so old as those who have lived without
enthusiasm”
If you are one
of those for whom envy is a close companion, I pity you – you are wasting your
time. However, if like me, you still have a zest and hunger – a burning bright
enthusiasm – you’re my kind of person and I wish you every success, from the
bottom of my heart!
Until next time
(and fully switched-on),
Peripatetic
Scribe
This is YOU speaking, P.S. I can tell by now what comes from deep inside and this is a good one. Good for everyone - young, middle-aged (especially) and the old (like you!!!). A great topic for discussion in class, over a few beers or with friends (better than television). Keep going !!!
ReplyDeleteTo promote enthusiasm in these difficult times is a tough ask, but I am in full agreement since I can see throughout the UK that the will to live (zest or whatever) has been eaten away partly through politics but even more so by the fact that it is easier to "live of the state" rather than "live by your own efforts". Good blog that deserves a wide public. Thank you (and I am 72 years young!)
ReplyDeleteThanks Anonymous in NZ - ok you can "read" me but what I propose IS for all irrespective of age, education or whatever. Once the motivation goes, so are we as individuals and become nothing more than semi-civilised sheep!
ReplyDeleteThanks, UK. You make some good points - many are actively encouraged NOT to work vis state handouts and if I remember well there was a scheme proposed several years ago called "WORKFARE" which was basically "if you want money, work for it". I never knew what happened to it as it was based on the Nordic model, I believe.
ReplyDeleteFrom India - you make a good point for me: "who gives me the right to criticise those who do well"...envy of the success of others is a problem the world over, and when you have so many different tribes, castes and religions (as we do) the whole problems grows bigger. A very interesting article to discuss with friends. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant!
ReplyDelete“none are so old as those who have lived without enthusiasm”
Beautiful! Sadly I know many such old people. "by accident or design" - true, but sometimes it's a matter of choice. Sometimes it is more difficult to follow one's wishes and live with enthusiasm and, unfortunately, people deliberately choose the "road more commonly travelled" and I find this even more sad. I also believe that such people find it easier to envy/hate others for having the courage to live their dreams.
Passion or lust for life/work/hobbies or anything we do is fundamental and once it has been taken away everything becomes meaningless.
Thank you.
Lucana
Thank you from India. You make a very valid point in your circumstances. Having worked in your country (amongst many others) I have the feeling that in situations where you have so many varied "themes" within a population, each feels that the only way to "enhance" their well-being is through the negation of the efforts of all the other "themes" - the "I win, you lose" approach.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lucana- I am of the "use it or lose it" view; we have "it" and it's our responsibility how we use "it". If we decide not to then that is our decision and we cannot blame others for our personal decisions.
ReplyDelete