Loved your “drizzle deities” metaphor. I sort of think that the cult of individual identity is also a form of fragmented demi-god worship—fuelled by excessive individualism and a manifestation of our attention being drawn downward, from a wide-angle outward gaze to the myopic focus of our phone screens.
A fundamental problem with freedom—and not just for young people, but for people my age too—is that it’s often mistaken for hedonism. The great philosopher Jocko Willink once said, “Discipline equals freedom,” and I know from my own experience that I’m at my best when I’ve reined in my impulsive nature and worked hard at something.
That’s why I adore your petting zoo/farm idea on campuses. It would do so much—not just for mental health, but also to reduce tribalism and foster a builder’s mindset.
Thank you so much, Cheryl. I think the discipline equals freedom thing is very astute. It’s also true in art. It’s the constraints that allow us to construct the meaning. I remember with the first baby the feeling, for the first time in my life, that I didn’t have a choice, that my wife and a little baby depended on me - this felt like an exhilarating freedom, freedom from myself, from having to make choices -basically the freedom that comes from knowing there is only one right thing to do. Anyway, thank you. Much appreciated. I will correct all the typos later on today.
Loved your “drizzle deities” metaphor. I sort of think that the cult of individual identity is also a form of fragmented demi-god worship—fuelled by excessive individualism and a manifestation of our attention being drawn downward, from a wide-angle outward gaze to the myopic focus of our phone screens.
A fundamental problem with freedom—and not just for young people, but for people my age too—is that it’s often mistaken for hedonism. The great philosopher Jocko Willink once said, “Discipline equals freedom,” and I know from my own experience that I’m at my best when I’ve reined in my impulsive nature and worked hard at something.
That’s why I adore your petting zoo/farm idea on campuses. It would do so much—not just for mental health, but also to reduce tribalism and foster a builder’s mindset.
Thanks for this.
Thank you so much, Cheryl. I think the discipline equals freedom thing is very astute. It’s also true in art. It’s the constraints that allow us to construct the meaning. I remember with the first baby the feeling, for the first time in my life, that I didn’t have a choice, that my wife and a little baby depended on me - this felt like an exhilarating freedom, freedom from myself, from having to make choices -basically the freedom that comes from knowing there is only one right thing to do. Anyway, thank you. Much appreciated. I will correct all the typos later on today.