‘How to live’ is a personal journey through these extraordinary times that are forcing us to reassess our values, our relationships, and our way of life. The enforced isolation is creating crowded spaces for some, acute loneliness for others, and high levels of anxiety for all. Since it is also providing time for reflection, what better than to observe and learn from others what to do and not to do in the face of an invisible and dangerous enemy, the coronavirus.
I am inspired Montaigne, a French philosopher who died over 400 years ago. Some say that he was the first blogger because he wrote hundreds of essays about both serious and trivial matters, and published them. There were no computers back then, but what he did was what bloggers do today. We write about everything and anything that comes to mind, we share our thoughts in the hope that there are people out there who may be interested in what we have to say.
However, Montaigne had another important purpose for writing. He claimed that he needed to write so he could better understand who he was, and what was his purpose in life. He wrote because he was looking for answers about lots of little problems that seemed insignificant and yet caused him a lot of anxiety. He hoped that by putting words on paper, he would reach a clearer understanding of who he was, why he lived, and how he should live.
Some of the topics that Montaigne discussed in his essays are relevant to our present situation, namely, fear, friendship, idleness, solitude, sorrow … He raised matters such as how to reconcile himself to failure, and how to avoid pointless arguments (which brings to mind the fights over toilet paper in supermarkets). He also addressed seemingly mundane problems such as how to cope with a dog who wants to go out and play when you want to stay inside and read or write. A trivial problem, but one which may well acerbate already high levels of anxiety in these times of imposed isolation.
Montaigne believed that everyone, no matter how happy and optimistic they are, will at some point in their life feel uncared for, unwanted, and worse still, of no use to anyone. In order to cope with such feelings of dejection, he invites us to look inwards, to reflect on our thoughts, but he warns us against becoming so narcissistic as to believe that we are the most important person in the world and that everyone is going to be interested in what we say and do.
The point of looking inwards is to seek an understanding of our feelings towards ourselves and towards those around us. He encouraged us to look outwards so as to increase our awareness of all living creatures, to focus on small things, such as a bee dancing on a flower, and drops of rain on a leaf. Montaigne wrote about the beauty of plants and animals, believing that Nature can teach us a lot about ourselves. Most of all, he was concerned about making the most of every moment so that life would not be wasted.
Inspired by his philosophy of a simple and meaningful life, I have sought to rediscover the beauty of plants and the soothing power of birdsong. I have more than ever before appreciated the warmth of the sun on my skin, noticed the imperceptible sound of the breeze through the trees, and rejoiced in the smell of hot wet earth after a tropical downpour. As I dream of holding my loved ones again, I turn to words to exteriorise my thoughts and feelings so as to make better sense of what really matters in my life. I seek to better understand the value of friends, hugs, pets, walks, and the simple pleasure of sharing chicken soup with my elderly neighbour. If it takes Covid-19 to teach me how to live a better life, so be it.
‘These are unprecedented times, I have never seen anything like it’ are words that we hear everyday. ‘We’re all in this together’. We are all alone together. ‘How to live’ is a means of sharing thoughts and activities that I have found to be uplifting in this difficult time, it is not intended as an authority on any topic. Since it is also a means of looking outwards, a search for answers, I invite you to share your thoughts about what is keeping you motivated in a climate of uncertainty.
My place
I live between a range of mountains and the sea in idyllic Fingal Head, NSW, Australia. The photo on my homepage was taken in the Wollumbin (Mount Warning) National Park soon after the heavy rains that broke a severe drought. The creek, which had been dry for months, feeds one of the tributaries of the magnificent Tweed River. Wollumbin is situated in the Gondwana rainforest, and has been heritage listed by UNESCO. It is a sacred place of the Aboriginal Bundjalung people.
The photo below is of Dreamtime beach, which is of significance to the Minjungbal people. Its name ‘Dreamtime’ is borrowed from Aboriginal tradition and culture, where it signifies the time of creation, when all life began.
I feel privileged to live between a sacred mountain and a beach whose name and beauty can inspire one’s own dreaming of better reality in these uncertain times.
Staying sane in a pandemic
This blog is a personal journey through these extraordinary times that are forcing us to reassess our values, our relationships, and our way of life. The enforced isolation during the coronavirus pandemic is creating crowded spaces for some, acute loneliness for others, and high levels of anxiety for all. Since it is also providing time for reflection, what better than to observe and learn from others what to do and not to do in the face of an invisible and dangerous enemy.
I am inspired Montaigne, a French philosopher who died over 400 years ago. Some say that he was the first blogger because he wrote hundreds of essays about both serious and trivial matters, and published them. There were no computers back then, but what he did was what bloggers do today. We write about everything and anything that comes to mind, we share our thoughts in the hope that there are people out there who may be interested in what we have to say.
However, Montaigne had another important purpose for writing. He sought to better understand who he was, and what was his purpose in life. He wrote because he was looking for answers about lots of little problems that seemed insignificant and yet caused him a lot of anxiety. He hoped that by putting words on paper, he would reach a clearer understanding of who he was, why he lived, and how he should live.
Things that matter
Some of the topics that Montaigne discussed in his essays are relevant to our present situation, namely, fear, friendship, idleness, solitude, sorrow … He raised matters such as how to reconcile himself to failure, and how to avoid pointless arguments (which brings to mind the fights over toilet paper in supermarkets). He also addressed seemingly mundane problems such as how to cope with a dog who wants to go out and play when you want to stay inside and read or write. A trivial problem, but one which may well acerbate already high levels of anxiety in these times of imposed isolation.
Montaigne believed that everyone, no matter how happy and optimistic they are, will at some point in their life feel uncared for, unwanted, and worse still, of no use to anyone. In order to cope with such feelings of dejection, he invites us to look inwards, to reflect on our thoughts, but he warns us against becoming so narcissistic as to believe that we are the most important person in the world and that everyone is going to be interested in what we say and do.
The point of looking inwards is to seek an understanding of our feelings towards ourselves and towards those around us. He encouraged us to look outwards so as to increase our awareness of all living creatures, to focus on small things, such as a bee dancing on a flower, and drops of rain on a leaf.
After the drought
Montaigne wrote about the beauty of plants and animals, believing that Nature can teach us a lot about ourselves. Most of all, he was concerned about making the most of every moment so that life would not be wasted.
Inspired by his philosophy of a simple and meaningful life, I seek to rediscover the beauty of plants and the soothing power of birdsong. I am more than ever before appreciating the warmth of the sun on my skin, noticing the imperceptible sound of the breeze through the trees, and rejoicing in the smell of hot wet earth after a tropical downpour. As I dream of holding my loved ones again, I turn to words to exteriorise my thoughts and feelings so as to make better sense of what really matters in my life. I seek to better understand the value of friends, hugs, pets, walks, and the simple pleasure of sharing chicken soup with my elderly neighbour. If it takes a virus to teach me how to live a better life, so be it.
Alone together
‘These are unprecedented times, I have never seen anything like it’ are words that we hear everyday. ‘We’re all in this together’. We are all alone together. This blog is a means of sharing thoughts and activities that I have found to be uplifting in this difficult time, it is not intended as an authority on any topic. Since it is also a means of looking outwards, a search for answers, I invite you to share your thoughts about what is keeping others motivated in this climate of uncertainty.
Between the mountain and the sea
I live between a range of mountains and the sea in idyllic Fingal Head, NSW, Australia. The above photo of Wollumbin (Mount Warning) National Park was taken soon after the heavy rains that broke a severe drought. The creek, which had been dry for months, feeds one of the tributaries of the magnificent Tweed River. Wollumbin is situated in the Gondwana rainforest, and has been heritage listed by UNESCO. It is a sacred place of the Aboriginal Bundjalung people.
The photo below is of Dreamtime beach, which is of significance to the Minjungbal people. Its name ‘Dreamtime’ is borrowed from Aboriginal tradition and culture, where it signifies the time of creation, when all life began.
I feel privileged to live between a sacred mountain and a beach whose name and beauty can inspire one’s own dreaming of better reality in these uncertain times. 