Do you ever just stop...and think?

[VeggieBoy]

I'm sure most of you do, but do you ever just stop and wonder how everything "is"?

I woke up [after only two hours of sleep, grrr] at 2:30 this morning. As I was lying there I put my hand over my chest and felt my heart beat. This may seem weird, but its just fascinating. I love feeling the "thump, thump, thump" contained within my person. The body is such an intricate thing. There are thousands of things your body is doing that you never really think about.

Well then this led to me thinking about how we became...how we evolved into what we are now. I mean, isn't it kind of weird how all of sudden we were "just here" one day? I mean of course there was probably some evolution along the way, but still.

I try to put myself into place of a primordial human beings. My day would drastically be different. I wouldn't wake up, turn on a light, walk into my bathroom, turn on another light and use the restroom. If I were alive back then I wouldn't probably be too upset about a newly discovered pimple in an extremely obvious place. I wouldn't be walking down to my kitchen to grab a snack, then go work out, then take a shower, get dressed in manufactured clothes, eat breakfast, hop in my car, and drive to school. I would basically wake up, pee in a bush, go hunt for food, and whatever else they did.

Then this led to like our advances as humans (medical, technological, etc.). Isn't it fascinating that pretty much in the past century, even the past decade, that we have pretty much advanced farther than humans over the past few thousand years?

Lastly, I thought about life as a whole, but mostly death. I kind of fear this inevitable part to the process. Its just a scary thought to know that you just "cease to exist". Over. Done. Eternal darkness. Human functioning stops. I try to hope that there is more to life afterward, but I don't really believe it. I'm just terrified of... like... the nothingness of it. Like what does it feel like to bed? Is it just over? I don't want to just end, you know?

Sorry for my trippy ranting-

[Jorlen]

All the time.

I think about how everything has to come together perfectly at the right time and the right place for us to exist. All the variables and conditions; it's quite mind boggling.

I don't have to see someone with a disability to feel grateful for what I have. My senses, my sanity, my friends and family, all of my material things. I try not to take things for granted, even though sometimes it feels almost human to do so, and to always want more. The flip side of that coin is that if it weren't for this innate power inside us to want to better our lives, to improve, and to teach others, I'm fairly certain our world would be very different right now.

Concerning death, well it's supposed to be natural, but as sentient beings we are aware of it, unlike most other species on this planet and that changes things. I'm not talking about survival instinct, I'm talking about being fully aware that we are, and one day, we will not be. Is knowing this a privilege, or a curse? How would you live your life if you weren't aware it will one day end?

As strange as it may sound, I find comfort in the fact that things existed before I did, and that the timeless oblivion that I cannot recall before my first memories seems like a good place to be, once I leave this mortal coil.

[OneEyeRed]

I think too much and that's a problem....

[Rhis]

Last time I did this Medierra canceled my lunch break!

[ASYLUM101]

Then this led to like our advances as humans (medical, technological, etc.). Isn't it fascinating that pretty much in the past century, even the past decade, that we have pretty much advanced farther than humans over the past few thousand years?

It's because we discovered alien ships and are reverse engineering all their tech, duh! Next thing on the list is either the anti-grav propulsion systems made from supercooled liquidmetal, or that metal that reshapes itself to it's original form.(whatever the designer chooses, like the chassis of a car)


Lastly, I thought about life as a whole, but mostly death. I kind of fear this inevitable part to the process. Its just a scary thought to know that you just "cease to exist". Over. Done. Eternal darkness. Human functioning stops. I try to hope that there is more to life afterward, but I don't really believe it. I'm just terrified of... like... the nothingness of it. Like what does it feel like to bed? Is it just over? I don't want to just end, you know?

Sorry for my trippy ranting-

Interesting, I always pictured you as a Christian, but if you were, you'd be eager to die to come home to heaven with the beloved Lord and Savior.

But yeah, I do some thinking sometimes, and it usually leads to me feeling pissed or confused.

[Malpheas]

Hmm, "is".

I wonder, but mostly in a nihilistic fashion. Personally, I think we take being the dominant species a little too liberally. Kind of like soiling your crib as a child.

As far as advances go, techologically, I wondered what the break point would be. Where would it start, what was the main rosetta stone for advances? And why was there such a disconnect between Roman / Greek techology and finding our own path? As far as that's concerned, though, it just "is"

Death? More nihilism and coincidence. It just is and we've no more right to be dominant than any other evolution. We just happened to finish first. But, since were always looking for the future and answers in the form of "what if?", we're not going to be satsified until a balance is reached for some hypothetical equilibrium that never quite gets reached.

Pardon the pessimism, but I don't think it really matters. Just keep on trucking along and try to learn from harmony, preservation and discovery.

Cheers,

Malph

[Boneflesh]

Yeah, I often "stop" and think about stuff. It's usually in the morning, right when I wake up, in bed before falling asleep or when I'm driving to school. I often end up writing down those thoughts in some of my notebooks. Not like I ever collected those notes, or saved them, I usually just discard them.

What do I usually think about? All sorts of things that hit my mind at that moment. :D
Latelly, I've been thinking about death too. About my death actually. Like, what would happen if I died, would I be missed, who would come to my funeral and such stuff. Sounds emo, I know lol. :D Kind of wondering if there is something after death, aftrelife of some sort and would everything would be revealed to me once I died. Would all my questions be answered? Could I hear the thoughts of people, hear what they think etc.

[shawnmck]

Can't think ...
Video games have bamaged my drain.
:p

[eisprinzessin]

I woke up [after only two hours of sleep, grrr] at 2:30 this morning. As I was lying there I put my hand over my chest and felt my heart beat. This may seem weird, but its just fascinating. I love feeling the "thump, thump, thump" contained within my person. The body is such an intricate thing. There are thousands of things your body is doing that you never really think about.I like this part of your rant most. Once in a while - when I'm really relaxed - I can feel my pulse in my body (without using my hands). Feels very good. :) On the other hand my elaborate thoughts are usually quite pointless - proven hundreds of times in this forum. :p

[VeggieBoy]

Interesting, I always pictured you as a Christian, but if you were, you'd be eager to die to come home to heaven with the beloved Lord and Savior.

But yeah, I do some thinking sometimes, and it usually leads to me feeling pissed or confused.
I am not a Christian. I was raised one, but the lifestyle was not for me to put it kindly. I do respect Christianity and its followers; it's just not for me. In my opinion most (if not all) organized religions are too extreme, which is a turn off for me. They're too structured (lol, organized religions are too structured!) and the way they expect you to live. It's just bluh.

However, I do believe we have souls. I just don't know if that they cease to exist when its corporeal cage does, or if it escapes?! If it does "escape", are we reincarnated? Do we float around in some faraway land in another dimension?


I think about how everything has to come together perfectly at the right time and the right place for us to exist. All the variables and conditions; it's quite mind boggling.

In regards to this: It is mind boggling. I've often stared at my hand, wiggled my fingers, and think how amazing it is that I exist. I also sometimes get this weird feeling where I wonder if everything is real, which I know is completely insane.

I don't have to see someone with a disability to feel grateful for what I have. My senses, my sanity, my friends and family, all of my material things. I try not to take things for granted, even though sometimes it feels almost human to do so, and to always want more. The flip side of that coin is that if it weren't for this innate power inside us to want to better our lives, to improve, and to teach others, I'm fairly certain our world would be very different right now.

Its both a weakness and a strength as humans to continually want more and more although most of the time we already have satisfactory livelihoods. I guess there just needs to be a balance, something most people struggle with.

My father once asked me if I were grateful for what I have. I said, "Of course I am. I know I've very fortunate to live in a financially stable situation and fortunate to have things. I just can't help to want more."

Concerning death, well it's supposed to be natural, but as sentient beings we are aware of it, unlike most other species on this planet and that changes things. I'm not talking about survival instinct, I'm talking about being fully aware that we are, and one day, we will not be. Is knowing this a privilege, or a curse? How would you live your life if you weren't aware it will one day end?

Once again you offer the whole "is it good or bad outlook", lol. I do feel it to be a privilege to know that I one day, I will not be. Yet, it would be hard to look at the whole thing so completely optimistically. Sometimes I get so wrapped up my thoughts that I feel almost sick, especially concerning death. This is where it could be a curse.

Hmm, "is".

I wonder, but mostly in a nihilistic fashion. Personally, I think we take being the dominant species a little too liberally. Kind of like soiling your crib as a child.

As far as advances go, techologically, I wondered what the break point would be. Where would it start, what was the main rosetta stone for advances? And why was there such a disconnect between Roman / Greek techology and finding our own path? As far as that's concerned, though, it just "is"

Death? More nihilism and coincidence. It just is and we've no more right to be dominant than any other evolution. We just happened to finish first. But, since were always looking for the future and answers in the form of "what if?", we're not going to be satsified until a balance is reached for some hypothetical equilibrium that never quite gets reached.

Pardon the pessimism, but I don't think it really matters. Just keep on trucking along and try to learn from harmony, preservation and discovery.


Its hard to argue that we as humans are not dominant over other creatures.

We just go about our dominance in an ill mannered way. We asininely flaunt our superiority and continue to push. Some time long ago we crossed a line, and sadly we're too far past the boundaries to go back.



For now I'll end with quoting a previous poster:
As strange as it may sound, I find comfort in the fact that things existed before I did, and that the timeless oblivion that I cannot recall before my first memories seems like a good place to be, once I leave this mortal coil.

[Coridan]

I thought about life and death last night before sleep. That's when it always seems to hit me (and others it seems). I get a small burst of adrenaline when I think that my life will eventually end, as if my body feels the need to furthermore prove it is indeed alive and functioning. When thinking of the worst case, that there is only a void awaiting us in death, I think of sleep. After all, aside from dreams, we lose all sense of consciousness and enter into a sort of void when sleeping. I, for one, love sleeping, so could the worst case really be that bad ;).

If you really want a mind job, try thinking about how all existence as we know it came to be. How does time and matter come to be, or was it always going? As finite beings, it's hard to fathom something always existing. We want a logical start and stop to everything, because that's the rule that everything we do follows. Whether you're a Christian or non-believer, this is not an easy thing to contemplate. Those are my thoughts.

[Malpheas]

If you really want a mind job, try thinking about how all existence as we know it came to be. How does time and matter come to be, or was it always going? As finite beings, it's hard to fathom something always existing. We want a logical start and stop to everything, because that's the rule that everything we do follows. Whether you're a Christian or non-believer, this is not an easy thing to contemplate. Those are my thoughts.

Here's what I don't get: Why must that be understood? Not as a "Why would you possibly think of that?" More of a "What purpose would that serve?" And not pessimistic. Personally I think if that's understood then one can develop ideas about where to go from "there".

I stand by my previous comment that all starts in this universe are coincidence. No divine plan, no clever scheming or contrived destiny, just coincidence. The chance of certain things, like death, are near inevitable.

Here's something else, what if God's divine plan was for man to die? What if it was miscommunicated? I don't want to discuss that because it's just an idle thought, but it's interesting.

OffTopic: Veg, didn't you post almost an EXACT copy of this over at TQ.net?

Anyhow,

Cheers,

Malph