Saturday, March 29, 2014

I'm Wondering & Specialization of Labor

While some of you may have assumed my previous post meant I was done writing on this blog, that's obviously not true.  I just don't think I have much more to say that is groundbreaking for the Moho readership I have.  I suppose I could just resume the initial direction this blog was taking in a very tell-all-blunt-spewing-of-everything-in-my-brain type of style.  However, that only worked because I was 100% anonymous.  Now, quite a few people know who Graham really is.  And thus, whether I like it or not, to one degree or another I hold back on the complete ridiculous honesty with which this all began.

None of what I was just writing about is important, but I felt some explanation was necessary.

Today I'm here because it's my blog and I've got to write.  I think writing is to me what sex apparently was to Elaine on Seinfeld.*  If I don't do it, the bags just start piling up in my head. Evidently it doesn't really matter whether it's just me spewing my opinions on life here, or whether I write some love poem for the latest man causing me pining, warmth, or agony, or whether I write some stupid life advice that everyone can ignore on my Facebook page.  I just NEED to write.

So today, I'm here writing about how I'm wondering how connected humanity is.  Not just connected, but connected to the point that we opt to interact, reach out, intercede, withdraw, or communicate at a certain impactful time. These are the instances that make us think, "Wow, how did they know to do that at just that time?" I've had my own reasons for pondering this of late, but I was also reading this post from a fellow Moho blogger and it got me thinking all the more about this stuff.  There are so many names and conceptions for this facet of the human race (or for why we act in such ways) which has me pondering.  A few with which I'm quite familiar (meaning I have heard references to these throughout my life) include:

  • A mother's intuition.  
  • The Holy Spirit.  
  • Fate.  
  • Intuition. (Just in the character trait sense.)
  • Gut-feelings.

I know there are likely many, many others.†

The point is, that I don't know what I believe exactly about this, but I do feel that there is some level of ability for humans to have sudden, unreasoned intuitions about other humans with whom they are close, and to act in time to intercede with danger, harm, or maybe even good things. (However, I suppose my only experience with someone having a sort of intuition for knowing when to intercede negatively in my life was a roommate with an uncanny ability to get in the shower (at completely different times of day) just as I went to grab my towel.)  I tend to think that something about us has the ability to maintain some connection despite physical distance, time, and maybe even life.  (I mentioned once that I felt at one time in my life as though I was in some way interacting with my grandpa who had passed.) However, it doesn't present itself often, so I'm still pretty open to the idea that it's all just coincidence.  There are such limited experiences in any one person's life of feeling this concept that I think it's not at all improbable that coincidences happened each time.  On my mission, I largely only told three stories about how I'd gained a testimony of prayer.  Each of them involved an interaction with one other person. I can look at each and tell you exactly how completely absent any supposed communion with God, the exact same thing would have happened.  (Save one of them where the time I spent praying may have actually changed events if I hadn't used the time that way.) And I can look at each of them and point out the absolute triviality of the "blessing" that occurred. (They really weren't miracles.)  Honestly, I look at each story now, and I see coincidences.

Despite all of this talk, I had an experience recently that made me seriously ponder whether people can be intuitive to the point that they know just when to intercede.

Wow... I just realized I'm not going anywhere with this.  So, I am actually just writing for the sake of hearing myself write.

I will say this much... I think people who think enough about others and often enough, just stand a very good chance of getting their timing just right.  I think this explains my most recent experience.  Sometimes it's just that a person cares enough about the goings on in the life of the other person, that they get it just right.  To the point that we're stunned.  Even if there is nothing environmental or magical about this, it's still a pretty beautiful concept.  The idea that one of us cares enough for another of us to act in such ways is pretty powerful in and of itself. Add in impeccable timing, and it's something we really take note of--we even come up with varying theological, physiological, or mystical concepts to explain it.

Yep.


I've also been thinking lately about specialization of labor.  Humanity's agreement that we would all start doing specific things.  WHY DID WE DO THIS?!  I can't seem to find my specialization that's going to contribute to the rest of you.  I'm too damn interested in doing too damn many things that I can't muster the energy to stick with any one damn thing!  I think I need to actually practice my writing, fix it up (a lot), and make it my living.  I mean... if I just HAVE to write to clear away the cobwebs... doesn't that mean it's something I'm pretty passionate about?  Somebody just use your intuition and call me right now to offer me an incredible full-time position where I just get to write about whatever shit is in my brain.... right........ NOW!


(It didn't happen. None of you care enough about me.)



*"To a woman, sex is like the garbage man. You just take for granted the fact that any time you put some trash out on the street, a guy in a jumpsuit's gonna come along and pick it up. But now, it's like a garbage strike. The bags are piling up in your head. The sidewalk is blocked. Nothing's getting through. You're stupid."
- Jerry, to Elaine, in "The Abstinence"

 In fact, my research into some concepts that I thought might be similar were fruitless, but I'm sure there are more out there.  For instance, qi (we pronounce it "chee"), traditionally from Chinese culture, has more to do with your life energy interacting with the environment and what you take into your body. Also, karma is more about acts themselves (of all varieties, not just well-timed intercessory actions) rather than the reasoning behind them.

5 comments:

  1. First of all....welcome back (yay!!!).

    Second of all, I don't know what it is, but there sure have been a lot of "right place, right time, right person" experiences in my life lately. I don't get it...but it's definitely been helpful. One of those times was when you knew the right minute to intercede in my life. So...yeah. Call it qi, call it karma, call it whatever you want...I really think there's something there, even if it is, like you said, the innate power of people who care.

    That's my two cents anyway...

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    1. First, thanks!
      Second, yeah... I think it really is just that when we care we have a sense of knowing what other people need, and sometimes the timing is just right to the point that it seems miraculous, but is really just how we take care of each other. Pretty sure you've done the same for me, too.

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  2. 1. I got referenced on someone else's blog! This is definitely one for my personal record book. Thanks, man!

    2. As you already know, this concept of interconnectedness has been floating around in my head for the past week. I still don't know what it is, but it sure is crazy, isn't it?

    3. Are you familiar with the term "Scanner," as in one who has many interests and can't nail down just one? I am the same way (if I'm understanding your words correctly), and I was always so frustrated that I would start things and not finish them, that I liked so many different things, that I was a jack of all trades and master of none. Then I found out that some people are just wired that way. We're not freaks! Check out this book if you're interested: http://www.amazon.com/Refuse-Choose-Interests-Passions-Hobbies/dp/1594866260

    4. Keep writing on here, even if it's just whatever you're thinking or feeling at the moment. I'm trying to do the same. Have a great weekend.

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    Replies
    1. 1. You write a fine blog, so it's merited! (Surprised it doesn't happen a lot more frequently, actually.)
      2. Yeah, but I don't know that it's inexplicable. I think you must just have a particularly large number of people that care enough about you that they think about you a lot.
      3. No, I've never heard of a scanner, but that sounds exactly like what I am. I can never stay motivated in any one thing because I always see some other shiny occupation. I just may look into that book... but confession... I rarely read books. (Read: I'm too damn impatient.)
      4. I want to do so. I think I probably shouldn't cut off this outlet too soon, even though I feel like I'm squared away and don't need the same kind of therapeutic releases that got me through my worst couple years of my life.

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  3. Ha! That makes me think about that same Seinfeld and how abstinence made George a genius. If only celibacy really worked that way; I might have considered it more as a legitimate option.

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Say whatever you want.