The Unbearable Lightness of Being (Thanksgiving Post)

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Originally uploaded by michaelwrice@gmail.com.

Fellow Turkey Lovers and Vegetarians Alike,

What with the clamorous Hollywood hoopla surrounding (the new film) Alexander the Great, I thought I’d resist the temptation to editorialize on his allegedly risqué sexuality, and rather talk about the idea of decisions. Young Alexander was ambitious and lived in a time when prophecies enjoyed a staggeringly high success rate. So when the young King heard an oracle had proclaimed that whoever could manage to untie the intricate knot tied by Gordius would be the next ruler of Asia, his interest was piqued. Upon seeing this fabled knot, a tangle of dizzying loops forming a protuberant mass, could not be undone, Alexander drew his sword and in one graceful stroke split it down the middle.
Hence, a Gordian knot is an inextricable difficulty; and to cut the Gordian knot is to remove a difficulty by bold and energetic measures.

Since Alexander made that decision, then I assume he had a choice. It seems easy enough to recognize the idea of decisions when dealing with external things, but I wonder to what degree we are responsible for internal choices about how we feel. Saying that we have a choice to make a left turn or a right turn is easy enough (assuming that we don’t delve deeply into the philosophic freedom problem… and assuming we aren’t determinists, but rather libertarians) but how responsible are we for our feelings?

Deciding to stop dwelling on something upsetting is infinitely more difficult than say, eating a turkey rather than ham sandwich. Perhaps this is because there is a finality that comes from external actions, since the choice to make the left turn or eat the turkey sandwich is done with more decisiveness, meaning it is more similar to the falling of Alexander’s sword onto the knot.

But in our minds, and in our hearts, the sword seems to be suspended in mid air as we struggle with the inescapable questions of could it be or have been different. Physically, our body must move on and indeed does, but emotionally, I find myself at times immobile, trapped under the weight of regret and mental paralysis. Like Atlas pinned beneath the weight of the world, I am beneath the weight of the past.

Well, let me say this post grew a mind of it’s own as I was typing it. I meant to write about the choice of thankfulness, ultimately accomplishing a sentimental Thanksgiving post. But instead I fear the normal confusion that accompanies my blog will reach an all time high. If it is any excuse, I am reading Kundera’s The Unbearable Lightness of Being, which certainly (and obviously) doesn’t help matters much. Also, my brothers are running about the room like little maniacs which is not exactly conducive to coherent, cohesive thought. (George Costanza voice: Michael’s getting upset!)

Enough now. I hope that everyone has a good Thanksgiving. All kidding aside, I have so much to be thankful for and just hope that one day I can give something back to the world. So, Happy Thanksgiving!

Until next time, I remain, thankfully,
MW Rice
Quote of the Day:
We can never know what to want, for living only one life, we can neither compare it with a previous life nor perfect it in our lives to come.
-The Unbearable Lightness of Being