So, for a week, I did my best to acquaint myself with all those within an accessible circle of influence. This ended in several results...
Results: I met several people, including Tad, Laura, Natalie, and Courtney. As I had suspected, the short time I spent talking to them created for me a connection with them, which led to an heightened awareness of their presence, a deeper desire to get to know them, and an increased attentiveness to their well-being. It made me happy to know that they knew who I was, and even happier when we met again, and in some cases, when they showed a genuine desire for my company. However, I didn't meet quite as many people as I had originally hoped; I found that I know almost everyone in my classes, where I work, and among my friends' friends (that I come into even distant contact with). This made it difficult to even find anyone with whom to begin acquaintance.
Conclusion 1: I like people. Knowing them makes me happy, and them knowing me makes me even happier.
Conclusion 2: I could have been a little braver in my efforts to get to know people.
Conclusion 3: It really isn't awkward to talk to people you don't know; most people are completely fine with a casual conversation, as long as it's done in a laid-back, courteous fashion.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Friday, January 9, 2009
Ideology 1
A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.
-Albert Einstein
Today, as I walked by hundreds of my fellow students, I thought about what keeps them outside my realm of acquaintance. What would it be like to talk to them? To know them? Our circle of connaisance is so small, especially in terms of our fellow human beings. Apparently, Einstein agrees with me. What is the real difference between those we would die for and those we would feel awkward talking to on the bus? Could it be little more than the frequency and quality of experiences we have shared? Of course there are different levels of compatability, especially at the fore end of relationships, but could it be that we might one day find ourselves loving that classmate as much as our oldest friend?
Mental Experiment: Take the girl who smiled at me embarrassedly when I saw her slip on the ice. I don't know her at all. I have never thought about her, and definitely have never felt any sort of loyalty or friendly affection for her. However, because of that one moment of interaction, I felt like I knew her a little more. She suddenly was human, and not just another face passing me by. She now had feelings and ambitions and thoughts. And they suddenly meant something to me because I had been a part of them for a moment.
Ok, now put us both on a plane that crashes. We are the only two survivors and live on an island for thirty days. We will remember eachother for the rest of our lives. It's possible that we could end up driving each other crazy, but there will always be that connection between us, even after we leave the island.
Conclusion: It is not an individual's attributes that defines our level of consciousness of their selves, but the level of intimacy achieved, and the nature of the part we believe we have played in their lives. We are more likely to remember someone if we believe we are important to them.
Outside Experiment: For a week, I will attempt to make as many new acquaintances/friends as I can, and report on the results, both direct and indirect.
-Albert Einstein
Today, as I walked by hundreds of my fellow students, I thought about what keeps them outside my realm of acquaintance. What would it be like to talk to them? To know them? Our circle of connaisance is so small, especially in terms of our fellow human beings. Apparently, Einstein agrees with me. What is the real difference between those we would die for and those we would feel awkward talking to on the bus? Could it be little more than the frequency and quality of experiences we have shared? Of course there are different levels of compatability, especially at the fore end of relationships, but could it be that we might one day find ourselves loving that classmate as much as our oldest friend?
Mental Experiment: Take the girl who smiled at me embarrassedly when I saw her slip on the ice. I don't know her at all. I have never thought about her, and definitely have never felt any sort of loyalty or friendly affection for her. However, because of that one moment of interaction, I felt like I knew her a little more. She suddenly was human, and not just another face passing me by. She now had feelings and ambitions and thoughts. And they suddenly meant something to me because I had been a part of them for a moment.
Ok, now put us both on a plane that crashes. We are the only two survivors and live on an island for thirty days. We will remember eachother for the rest of our lives. It's possible that we could end up driving each other crazy, but there will always be that connection between us, even after we leave the island.
Conclusion: It is not an individual's attributes that defines our level of consciousness of their selves, but the level of intimacy achieved, and the nature of the part we believe we have played in their lives. We are more likely to remember someone if we believe we are important to them.
Outside Experiment: For a week, I will attempt to make as many new acquaintances/friends as I can, and report on the results, both direct and indirect.
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