Titia
Titia
Jul 23, 2017 · 1 min read

I agree with Niki Marinis that philosophy becomes more important as our lives become more comfortable, leaving us significantly more time, which can be a burden as much as a blessing. The more choices available to us, the more room for confusion, disorientation, and distraction.

To dwell deeper, to go below the surface can add to our confusion and that is most certainly not always beneficial. I believe our time calls for simple truths. However, the line between simple truths and banal buzz phrases is rather fine and moreover, undoubtedly varies from person to person.

A few years ago, I read The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt. Somewhere in the book, it said:

Analects of Confucius:

Zigong asked: “ Is there any single word that could guide one’s entire life”?

When the sages pick a single word or principle to elevate above all others, the winner is almost always either “love” or “reciprocity.” The bond that ties us together.

Reciprocity is a deep instinct; it is the basic currency of social life.

It made me think of the one word that guides my life. That word is embrace. Love can be a rather complex or at least confusing, whereas reciprocity for me feels too much like “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”

I would love seven billion people to feel embraced. Enough to feel deep inside that their lives matter.

To me, the real Art of Philosophy isn’t trying to understand how to live, but rather ensuring we all give one another a reason to be.

    Titia

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    Titia

    Words can make feelings and thoughts dance together. My favorite word of all words = Embrace