“At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: “I have to go to work — as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for — the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was created for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?”
~ Marcus Aurelius
Ananya Bhat – Sojugada Sooju Mallige
I clearly remember teaching grade 9 students, a physics lesson on Work. The postulated formula:
Work = Force X Distance
vs
Work = Force X Displacement
I wish I was more creative and thoughtful to understand — that we were not actually solving 10’s and 100’s of science numerical for mere 2 marks, but rather dealing with life’s one of the most profound lessons.
I’m sure you know what I want to put on the table.
A piece of unsolicited advice — Work! And persevere!
When I was perhaps in my mid 10’s, computers fascinated me, although we didn’t have one in our house. The few that were available in our computer lab back at school, the one that my friend owned — were sort of my crush(es).
I vividly remember: I had my first desktop PC of my own during the 1st year of my undergraduate degree and there — I was hooked to this beautiful work of art. You see, it’s the same computer from which I opened my first Blogspot.
Likewise, I had my first laptop after I completed my 2nd year. Again, I fell more and more in love with her. You see, there’s this sweet reminiscent of Manish and I bringing this baby home the first time on that evening and unpacking her with pure delight.
God!
I can only wish if I can forever have that beautiful Aha! feeling — every single day of my life!
“With internet porn, a guy can see more hot babes in 10 minutes than his ancestors could see in several lifetimes.” ~ Gary Wilson
Laree Choote – Call The Band
Our generation unlike the ones before us: We already have a crazy mountain of ‘social media addiction ‘ that we are to manage, climb and conquer.
What about the not-so-new, not un-known elephant in the room — Porn!
What about, once a thriving relationship now turned tasteless; Malnourished on togetherness, care, and intimacy?
What about, ones a seemingly bright ‘future’ of relationship but now convoluted by compulsive, manipulated, uncontrollable, enslaved — pornified ‘present’?
What about porn and our journey with it?
I can’t say it any other way:
Porn —isdestroying us.
Sure, it’s evident that the world is darn confused and divided on Pornography. There’s no doubt about that.
NoFap Movement. Anti-NoFap Movement.
Circus!
One side says that it’s cool and natural and harmless and healthy (if done ‘enough‘, I mean really WTFridge!). Contrarily, the other side has its reservations, especially because of its chronic addictive nature fueled by its limitless and unprecedented ease of access to just about anyone who has figured out the www.
Porn?
Porn!
No Porn?
No Porn!
Dilemma.
Reasonably, it’s a choice. Whence, take it with a grain of salt and — do wisely pick your side.
Because, for those on the ‘yea’ spectrum (meaning, ‘yes’ for porn), rest assured — it comes with a price. Likewise, for those on the ‘nay’ side of the matter (meaning, ‘no’ for porn), have patience — it will pay off in the long run.
That’s a fact!
To add more: Understand that never like anytime before — porn has gotten more and more advance and powerful year after year and at the same time making us more and more powerless. Or precisely, the slaves per se! Hungry for the ever-draining dopamine and serotonin pump.
Understand that porn is probably the worst companion to your boon of boredom. And, that this instantaneously gratifyingmasturbation, fapping, jerking-off, or whatever you like to call it — is making you more lonely, intrinsically lustful, and in short an expensive waste!
Understand that — Intentionality. Real & profound relationships. Deliberate thinking. Perpetual learning. Growing. Bearing responsibility. Harnessing boredom — these … these are few key life’s muscles we all ought to build up and must work upon to merely throwing ourselves into mindless, pathological, wishful, lustful, and wasteful porn-infested life.
For a clear perspective on Porn, I present to you a few priceless gems (by some of the people I look up to) — which otherwise would’ve been easily ignored on the internet :
Joe Rogan | Modern Struggle is Fighting Media Addiction w/Naval Ravikat
Think Different ~ Advertisement slogan of Apple Computer Inc 1997-2002
Tanmaya Bhatnagar – I Can’t Go Back To Sleep
18+ Content. So, if you’re under-aged ….
It doesn’t matter.
I’ve never watched Nicki Minaj’s Anaconda video before [Link here] . But today I definitely took some time and gave it a shot from beginning through to the end, seconds-by-seconds, and frame-by-frame.
It was deliberate!
I didn’t watch it the second time though.
It was also deliberate.
The Why?
Thanks to an hour long, thought provoking and a brilliant conversation between Chris Williamson and Douglas Murray in Chris’s own podcast named ‘Modern Wisdom’ on a topic — ‘The Price Of Thinking Out Loud’ [Link here].
Here’s a short video snippet on ‘Anaconda’ from the podcast (video-form).
Well, a wise man once said, “You cannot un-see what you’ve seen.”
and likely so, Anaconda will never be the same for me again.
Namaste.
p.s.
Douglas Murray — an author of ‘The Madness of Crowds: Gender, Race and Identity’ among many other best selling books — to me, is one of the world-class, prominent thinkers of our generation.
“Just that you do the right thing. The rest doesn’t matter.
Cold or warm. Tired or well-rested. Despised or honored. Dying … or busy with other assignments.
Because dying, too, is one of our assignments in life. There as well: “to do what needs doing.” ~ Marcus Aurelius (Meditation)
BOB DYLAN – Mr Tambourine Man
‘Memento Mori’ medallion by Ryan Holiday lays on my work desk as I start my Work From Home Office day.
Plus, every night before I go to bed, I bring the coin with me. Play with her for a while and finally, finally tuck her underneath my pillow just before I pass out.
To me, doing this has become like a weird ritual.
To me, it’s one of the most important discovery of my life!
Sure, I’ve written in length about this Latin phrase — quite a lot really [see this]; Which simply meant,
“Remember, you will die!“
Well, here’s the cookie in the jar; this mere $26.00 metal or say my metaphorical friend at the moment with ‘Memento Mori’ etched on it — clearly, rightfully, and bravely demands;
