The Limits of Reflection, Part Two
I have been concentrating for many days now on this blog. I enjoy it very much. I like the reflection that I think I see here of myself and my interactions with the world. But it is limited. It may be limited in its effect by the fact that it is words digitally transmitted. Granted, it has some effect, but certainly there is more to life.
It’s just that I find myself becoming lost in this world of the internet. It has great potential as a medium. And I think that the effect is generally quite positive. But, again, here I sit in my chair at the screen typing. Some of this is procrastination. I find this easier somehow than more material obligations that I have. Some of what I am doing here has real substantive positive intent. This process of blogging has, I guess, many of the benefits of journaling and may also benefit others as well, at least that is my hope.
But face-to-face interactions with other people are more powerful. You can read something on the internet and it only goes through you so far. But you meet a person and that can envelop you. At least this is my experience. I love this blog, and I will continue it, but I am convincing myself that the work in my community, through friendship and through livelihood, must be more basic to me.
As I already indicated, some of my attention to this medium is pure and real, some of it is avoidance of that which is difficult to me. It seems to follow the same pattern as many other things in my life. It may have to do with the integration of the abstract with the organic in my life. As I said before, I need to bring the love and attention to my lower chakras. To earth, home, money, emotion, whatever else is involved. But integration suggests the bringing together of disparate parts. I am not giving up on this blog, but maybe this will reflect a shift in my thinking further down from ethereal and abstract to the material.
Perhaps my readers will learn as I learn. This is a process that I don’t understand. I guess I will not try to understand it, but I will try to convey it as accurately and honestly as I can in the hopes that it will propel the process for myself and others.
tagged: Livelihood, Material, Reflection
March 14th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Yes, face to face is good. But not everyone you want to meet is nearby. A simple fact.
Also, not everyone who will like and maybe someday buy your music is nearby. Also a simple fact.
Websites are a way for us to widen our circle. They can also, eventually, allow us to make a bit of dough doing something we love to do.
So, it all comes down to balance. As it always does.
March 14th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Hi BJ.
Good to read you again friend. Yes, balance is a good thing.
March 20th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
I’m happy that you’re able to find pleasure in face-to-face interaction. I tend to avoid it, so I rely perhaps too heavily on the Internet for my socialization. One of the facets of the Internet that I enjoy most is that I am able to easily find people who share the same interests that I have. I’ve also found that at times, certain email discussions have so much emotional power to them, that they transcend the physical realm. For me, it is easier to spill my emotions online. I couldn’t dream of it in the physical realm. I guess I would say that the Internet is a spiritual place.
March 24th, 2008 at 7:41 am
Actually, I agree with you both, Sophia and BJ. It is often easier for me also to let out what’s inside of me in this realm and there is no doubt that I find other people who share my interests. I would never have been able to share thoughts with you, Sophia, if it weren’t for the internet. And I guess, it is really important that new ideas and impressions be shared not only between individuals at this point, but also between cultures. And I believe that there has already been that kind of an impact from the internet. How else would so many marginalized people of the world be discovering each other? And with the incredible control over mainstream media, this may be the best way for us to find out what is really happening in the world.
I guess I was really venting about my tendency to avoid the physical work and the physical interactions that I am going to have to face. And a lot of the realization that has happened to prepare me for that has come from ideas and thoughts shared through the internet.