Today marks the seventh and last day of the living experiment. Am I going to become a vegetarian? I don't think so. Am I going to read the newspaper daily? Well honestly, I can't stand it! Will I give in to a couple of elevator rides? If the opportunity presents itself.
These resolutions don't concern me though, and I hope they don't concern you. I'm not a big ol' quitter. For one thing, six significant changes is a lot to make at once. Ever heard of baby steps? They're actually necessary, as I've found out. Another thing is, choosing not to adhere to any of the goals of the experiment doesn't directly point to a failure or a lack of morality or motivation. In fact, I think the insight and awareness that I gained about my current way of life is much more advantageous to both myself and society as a whole than a vow to read the newspaper, for example.
Like I had mentioned in my last post, I realized that I am "living unconsciously." From sheer shock, this realization has no chance of leaving my brain. It's going to be a like a little weight on my shoulders, reminding me to back up for a second and take a breath. I need to keep in mind that, despite all the pressures of finding a job and providing for oneself in our country's dire situation, there is more to life than being a machine. There is spontaneity, letting loose, and socialization to add color and vigor to our structured days.
In addition to an awareness of my human consciousness, I have gained a greater awareness of how the modern world works in not only my college writing class, but also a class on the Third World and a global health class. Discussions and studies in these subjects have enlightened me about the issues of factory farming, mega-corporations, aid to developing countries, structural violence, and environmental destruction. Thus, I feel like I am a better informed being, and therefore I am better equipped to make ethical and morally sound decisions and judgements in and about the world. Basically, I feel like the combination of this experiment and what I've learned in my college classes makes my existence more of an advantage to the world as a whole. This is beyond important--I think we could all agree that there are many people who weigh down the progress and cooperation of man rather than contribute to it.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not putting myself on a some all-righteous pedestal; I'm just glad that I am at least moving in a more positive direction rather than remaining stagnant or being seduced by the intriguing lifestyle of ignorance.
I wouldn't say I am the epitome of a "deliberal," but now I have the capacity to make deliberate life choices. This could mean that I become a vegetarian. It could not. Drawing from the ideologies of the great writer and thinker Ayn Rand, as long my life choices and actions are making me feel like a good being and citizen, I am doing what's right. If the world was made up of morally coherent and content individuals, the world would be a great place, wouldn't it?
I think that you have a very valid point. To change overnight is not impossible, but improbable. I also will try to make the baby steps because changing all six categories at ones is absurd. Maybe we both can relate to Walden, he did not succeed on his first day trying to become "No Impact Man". He failed and then learned from his failures, and made the "baby steps" changing his lifestyle, eventually completely changing his way of life. I think also what is important to remember is that we all will not become "No Impact Man", but if we try to make our own changes, we can have some kind of impact in this world. Weiner proposes a theory of what if nothing that we did mattered. The fact is that no matter what we do DOES matter, and it's up to us to decide what we do in our lives, or the way we live our lives. You do not have to become Walden or Thoreau, but if you can make even the smallest change, it can go a long way. Also as long as you know that you're trying to change, no matter how small or large that change is, you're still doing something which is far more than what most people can say. I hope you're experiment wasn't too bad, and that maybe at least you took away something from it, whether it is a change of life style, or you learned something about yourself. Good job on the experiment. :)
ReplyDeleteI could not agree more with the beginning of your post! Just because we agree to give something up like the elevator, meat, facebook, etc. doesn't mean we can't indulge now and then. Just with like this experiment, we can set rules but if we break them it's not the end of the world. I think, like you were saying, is that we make a conscious effort. The fact that you're open to giving in at times shows you comfortable you are with your choices. Great job!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, failing or "cheating" in any aspect of the experiment does not make one a failure. Isn't life about making mistakes and failing, to learn from those instances. Also, I agree that baby steps is an excellent way to gradually change your lifestyle, doing it all at once is sometimes too abrupt and causes people to obsess with what they gave up. Instead, changes should be done gradually and based on goals and rising awareness.
ReplyDeleteMaggie,
ReplyDeleteI loved the way you started your post. Especially in the second paragraph when you discuss that "baby steps" is the way to go. I feel like if I was able to slowly adjust to my new ways, they would have been much easier and pleasant to maintain. This really brought a new point of view for, and I appreciate that. Good job with your experiment!
-Carly