DE Weekly: George Bailey, Sacrifice, & Meaning
“Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?”
This quote was said by Clarence Odbody, the guardian angel from the film It’s a Wonderful Life.
DE Weekly: Aristotle, Existence, & Essence
I’ve written in the past how existentialism is an all-encompassing philosophy–even though it was born of twentieth century thinking, its ideas are timeless ones.
What I haven’t written much about before is why existentialism is so unique, and such a novel view of things…
DE Weekly: Choices, Freedom, & Authenticity
“You will never be able to experience everything. So, please, do poetical justice to your soul and simply experience yourself.”
This is a quote from Albert Camus. Like much of what Camus writes, I like it because of its simplicity. Its meaning is also twofold.
DE Weekly: Negativity, Uncertainty, & Hope
Fear and negativity are in abundance today. Uncertainty is everywhere. It seems like it’s just one thing after another. Right? That’s what we’re led to believe, at least.
Take one minute to scroll through social media, flip on the news, pick up the local paper at the newsstand (do they still have those?), and, yes, you’d think the sky is going to come crashing down tomorrow.
DE Weekly: Dylan Thomas, Interstellar, & Death
”Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.” These lines from Dylan Thomas are instantly recognizable.
They’re the final lines to his poem “Do not go gentle into that good night”, a poem Thomas wrote about his father, who was dying.
DE Weekly: Augustine, Knowledge, & Faith
“I know that I know nothing” is a quote attributed to Socrates, the ancient Greek philosopher from whom much of modern wisdom can be traced back to. This quote can be credited to Plato’s Apology, and many variations of the quote exist.
DE Weekly: Bukowski, Sisyphus, & the Human Condition
It’s difficult to wake up every day and be grateful for what you have. It’s difficult to remain in the present moment and remind yourself how good you have things. I’m guilty of this myself, usually when I’m in the middle of some necessary drudgery, like running certain errands or–God forbid–when I find myself somewhere as unholy as the DMV.
DE Weekly: Cynicism, Nihilism, & Rick and Morty
Cynicism and nihilism are two of the most pervasive ideologies of our time. That’s a bad thing. Don’t get me wrong–I’ve thought a lot about both, and I totally get it. I get how the state of the world could entice people to think this way. But these ideologies are pernicious ones–they eat away at you over time and corrode your soul and your spirit.
DE Weekly: Life, Perspective, & Midnight in Paris
Right now is the best time in human history to be alive. I know, with all the troubles of the world today, this seems like a tone-deaf statement. But I’m not being facetious–I really do believe this.
DE Weekly: Inspiration, Service, & Transcendence
Throughout history, a certain kind of person has transcended their own lifetime and remained an inspiration for generations of people to come. To achieve that feat, that person likely performed some great service for humanity.