As said by John Cleese of Monty Python fame.
I still think I am 35 (right!) but as I get older, I find my thoughts turning more to life's journey...my journey. And, in turn, wondering about the journeys under taken by my amazing grandchildren - Love Monster, Smirker, Spiderman and Batman (LM, S, S and B) - as their journeys are just beginning.
Coincidentally, I was reading about the so-called Human Condition. While there are many definitions or descriptions of this philosophy, the common theme seems to be simply that it encompasses all of the experiences of being human - the on-going way we react to or cope with events in our lives. It describes the range of emotions we experience associated with our existence. Humans, more than any other creature, are aware of the passage of time, remember the past, imagine a future and have a deep seeded awareness of our mortality. We alone ask ourselves questions like: What is the meaning of existence? What was I born? Why am I here? Where will we go when we die? We struggle with the answers to these questions and the simple fact that we conceive of them, defines the human condition.
While the universally accepted ideals are to be cooperative, loving and selfless, humans are also competitive, aggressive and selfish. We are capable of immense love and sensitivity and yet we are also capable of greed, hatred, brutality and war. In many ways, that is our burden.
One article I read (Godel's Proof and the Human Condition) struck me in particular. He states:
"...we are literally born in ignorance and raised in a world of people likewise born and raised - which means then, that there is a very nearly overwhelming amount of misinformation, opinion, predisposition, etc, regarding what we 'know' about ourselves and how we 'should' deal with each other - or there wouldn't be the mass of troubles there is in the world today."
While this initially sounds very troubling (What's the use?), Godel goes on to say that individually the more we learn about ourselves and our fellow human beings, the more we can learn from our mistakes and our assumptions and strive for those universally accepted ideals.
Much for all to ponder, but particularly for those of us now known as Papa, Napa, Grandad, Pops, Da or whatever moniker the grandchildren have bestowed upon us. This goes for all the Nanas and Namas, etc. as well.
And then I think of LM, S, S and B and I am revitalized. There is such innocence (born of ignorance) in these young souls. Everything they encounter is new. (As a part-time care giver, I must remind myself of this daily - yes, the patience thing again!) They are learning what life is all about every moment of every day. At first everything seems to be black and white but slowly they see the many shades of gray muddling things up. It's in these shades of gray where they begin to understand life.
Each will experience joy, sadness, anxiety, wanting, caring, hope and love just like all of us "older folks". Only LM, S, S and B (and many other's their age) handle these emotions with less baggage. They look at new situations or new faces for the first time and react with such wonder and curiosity that those of us paying attention are truly blessed. Yes, there is a naivete as well which can be daunting for parents and grandparents to get through but it is these moments that help us look at the human condition with a more positive perspective.
Jose Ortega y Gassett, a Spanish philosopher, said "Living is a constant process of deciding what we are going to do."
That's our journey.
My journey?
I am still working on that with a little help from LM, S, S and B. Quite a ride. Stay tuned.
