I read an interesting article in the New Yorker today. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/12/21/what-if-you-could-do-it-all-over
I wonder if back in the day, we truly had less options, fewer choices... if the advent of communication technologies, from the telegraph to the text. From knowing only your neighborhood, to connecting to the world, really is the breeding force for our worldview of options in life. Or is it that the options back then were just of different sorts. It must really be the more we know, the more we don't know, the more we don't have, the more we hope, the more we might despair.
Simply, if you live in a very snowy part of the world, and do not have access to the rest of the world, and never have - you would never know what tropical means and maybe you wouldn't long for it. I guess the opposite could also be true.
The whole idea of ignorance is bliss... it is interesting that I don't really resonate with this idea... I have always been curious. I have always wanted to know all. Be the omniscient. Though, I am humbled to realize I may not be able to handle or process all the information. In some ways, though, I think actually I could. Is it the thrill of intrigue? I assume curiousity is innate in all animals, hmm... might be worth researching.
One thing I can say that has attenuated my despair for the unattainable, is this concept of humbly being excited to learn new things. Not expecting to achieve anything, but just enjoying what new information comes. Being open to that information, questioning it and not necessarily setting hopes too high or dreams too far to reach.
The more we know the more we dont know, means we have so much left to learn!!! Some may not live a life that finds this concept so fun. But I certainly do. And for one, it teaches you that the extent of your potential is limitless, but to be ok and happy with your current situation all at the same time.
I wonder how much that exact imbalance of what you hope for knowing that it exists, and the despair of not having it is the actual self-deprication that breeds depression and anxiety... and maybe lack of focus.
Folks, we all just gotta chill. And appreciate the abilities we have learned as a human race to even know the beauty of white powdery snow and the comfort of the warm tropical sun at the same exact time of the year. Because, the more we know the more we dont know, means we have so much left to learn MEANS we will continue to progress - and we have to have our mindset right to take it all in and adapt without despair.
I wonder what else exists out there we have yet to discover.