Are We All Red-Light Existentialists?
Opinion Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the author/producer’s interpretation of facts and data.
“Life can only be understood backwards; But must be lived forward.”
–Soren Kierkegaard
By Dr. Richard Cirulli
We all agree how frustrating it is being stuck at a red light when we find ourselves rushed or running late. Finding ourselves agitated and alone wasting precious time as we are held captive in the moment.
It is also a time when we fall into a silent dialogue with ourselves as we attempt to formulate how we plan to navigate our challenging times. We are truly in an era of challenging times. The “new normal” is living with COVID-19 along with its variants, political division, inflation, daily acts of random violence, a war in Ukraine, just to name some of the challenges.
It’s a new world we are now forced to navigate. That oftentimes makes us feel helpless and confused, along with the resulting anxiety, making us feel at times that life itself is absurd.
It is also an opportunity for us to sit back and take a few moments to have an intimate conversation with ourselves to try to bring some essence into our existence. So, we can take this life micro-moment, take a deep breath and use this time as an opportunity to ponder our intimate thoughts and feelings we tend to fear and share with friends, loved ones, family and even our partners.
It’s in these thoughts that we find ourselves being unconscious of our existential nature. The philosophy and psychology of existentialism, a term first used in the mid-20th century, was basically an academic response to how we think and view life naturally and seek to find meaning. It may be fair to state we are all existentialists to some degree. At times we feel tormented and arrested in life. In these quiet and reflective moments, one should formulate on how to develop the courage to find the meaning of life.
Take for example, President Theodore Roosevelt, who led the Rough Riders on a suicide charge, conquered child illness and depression. A man known for his physical courage, though his greater act of courage was formulated in his private existential moments.
He defied all sense of convention and bigotry of his times by being the first American President to invite a black man, Booker T. Washington, to dine as his guest at the White House, knowing full well he would be abandoned by the Southern voters and scorned in the newspapers.
Our thoughts are private, though the actions of our thoughts are public and have influence upon those we have a social intercourse. With this said, we should mark our time well and turn these annoying moments into opportunities to find our meaning and purpose in life.
The light is turning green and horns are honking. I’m glad I caught the long red light to afford me the time and inspiration for this article, and to be able to meet my deadline. Now this is essence.
Be well. Be safe. Be happy. Be nice! Amor fati!
Dr. Richard Cirulli is a published author, playwright and retired professor. His body of works can be viewed at www.demitasseplayers.com. He looks forward to your comments and can be reached at profcirulli@optonline.net.
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