Andrés RM Velarde
A Letter to Students of Life.
Dear, student of life,
Education is life, an endless unfurling.
Education is the process by which we come to know ourselves more deeply, clearly, wholly. Or rather, it is the process by which we observe and act, recursively, to gain the tools necessary for greater self-reflection.
It’s important to realize that you don’t “achieve” self-awareness. It’s not some end destination, whereupon you unlock self-awareness. Nor is it a thing that grows gradually, increasing in quantity over time. Self-awareness, for students of life, is an endless process. A ceaseless unfurling. We are in flux.
“Becoming” self-aware, that is educated, is an infinite game. The point is to keep playing. You play by consistently keeping your awareness in the present, observing events around you as they are, not as you expect them to be or wish that they were. Observe, then act, then observe some more. You may influence the unfurling of events around you, these are the consequences of your actions. But you cannot control this unfurling. So refrain from judging consequences and assigning them value, but aim to understand them and act once more. Refrain from making snap judgements, don’t be so quick to make up your mind. This is good, that is bad. I like this thing, I don’t like that thing.
The only practice you ought to concern yourself with is reflection.
The paradox of life is such that this cycle of observing and acting creates what we call purpose. We must choose to be intentional about observing and acting. We must accept that both are completely beyond our influence and control and intention and consciousness. Self awareness is as much spontaneously generated as it is learned through reflective practice, intentional practice — fueled by free will or otherwise.
The meaning of life is to give life meaning through our actions and decisions. Life has no meaning.
If you can accept both of the above statements, simultaneously — then you will have radical acceptance of the ineffable absurdity and beauty of life.
We exist in superposition — dreaming, loving, hating, harming, yearning, fighting, hoping, helping, roaming, wanting, striving, failing, and everything. Everything else a human may endeavor to put into puny little words. All the things. All the time. All at once.
This is life. This is education.
It’s all around. Pay attention, sense closely. Remember what you observe, and don’t let memory blind and bias you. Notice things. Don’t judge them. Notice them. Then observe what happens within yourself.
If your curiosity is piqued, maybe go towards the subject of your curiosity. Perhaps you do the same for joy. Also observe your own curiosity and joy. From where or whom are they derived? Are they true, or consequences of your societal conditioning? Or both?
Adulting is a myth. Do you.
Being an adult means accepting greater responsibility for the consequences of your actions.
Being an adult DOES NOT mean:
- You have life all figured out.
- You’re unafraid.
- You never act childish.
- You become calcified, complacent, boring.
Do things. If you want. Or don’t do things at all. It doesn’t really matter. And it’s the only thing that matters.
To exist is to be enough.
If you’re tired, rest.
If you’re energized, create.
If you want.
So whatever you do, do it now, do it well, and do it scared. Do it because you can and choose to. Do it because that’s what you do. Do you, and you may find joy in the process. And if you struggle to, remember that all there is is the process. And it continues to unfurl before our very own eyes.
By the people, for the people.
Prioritize people and relationships with all life. Within life is contained the paradox of infinite striving and infinite randomness.
Be kind to other humans, for they are you and you are them. Observe them and refrain from judgement, as you may when observing yourself. Humans are a gift to experience. We are entire oceans in a drop. Entire galaxies in a single granule of pollen. If you think you have someone else figured out, you don’t. If you think you have yourself figured out, you don’t.
There is no certainty in life, except that uncertainty will persist and then we’ll die.
Until then, the point of the game is to keep playing.
With gratitude,
Andres
A student of life