Eventually everything connects – people, ideas, objects. ~ Charles Eames
Finding myself still struggling to work my way up from the depts of the recent election, I realized recently how jealous I was of one of my favorite writers now gone. Ursula K. Le Guin wrote in a 2008 essay in Harper’s Magazine titled, Staying Awake, about feeling ‘amused contempt’ for ‘the delusion of tyrants’. The essay, subtitled, notes on the alleged decline of reading celebrates the power of the meeting of minds made possible by art’s connections. Oh, how I wish I had the strength and confidence to feel ‘amused contempt’ instead of desperate despair for the tyrants in our lives right now. Le Guin’s essay gave me that electric jolt, a reminder that relying on the arts, and specifically writing and writers in difficult times can be our salvation. How others deal with difficulties helps us all to live with our demons. The outreach of one mind to another is why art matters.
But that wonderful phrase of Le Guin’s, the delusion of tyrants, took me to such an interesting place in my own mind, realizing that so many other people on this planet have lived continuously in a world run by the despots of destruction and never known a morning where they woke without it in a free world. This feeling of butterflies in one’s stomach and knowing one must live in a country no longer living up to what many of us thought was its original promise of freedom is the dominant one around the world today. We are joining everybody else, instead of having the pride of knowing we live in a unique country, well, to be proud of. How odd to be this old and only just fully realize how spoiled we’ve been.
And yet, as Le Guin said, we still know who we are and can continue to view what’s going on around us with ‘amused contempt’ while we forge ahead in a way that makes sense to us, our friends and our families. We connect with the thoughts of people who read our writing, or see our paintings, or hear our music (my second most favored method of connecting), and there is no way to legislate that miraculous connection of humanity. The new world of publishing makes everything possible. What can be written can be read, and yes, one would need to be delusional to think that reading can be stopped, especially in our new world. Take this blog, for example. It’s just another way for us all to share ideas, and no delusional tyrants can take those connections away from us.
I wish you all a New Year filled with vibrant possibilities and piles of wonderful books, essays and articles to expand your thoughts. Don’t stop reading or sharing with others, and don’t forget to listen. Ever.
Your friend, The Unblocked! Writer
Thank you for close to two decades of provocative blogs, which enhanced our connections to the values that are singular for freedom and universal well being.
Paul
I know it’s something we can’t take for granted. We just need to keep making our connections. Thanks, Paul. It’s a pleasure communicating with you.
Thank you, this is exactly what I’ve been feeling. It’s very hard to revive creativity in the face of this despair so many of us are feeling. Friendships and connections are sustaining, and finding new levels of trust and love, we’ve grown closer as we’ve tried to comprehend and prepare for what lies ahead. THANKYOU for your writing and bringing another way into focus. Please keep bringing your thoughts and words forward, it’s music for the soul.
Thanks so much, Lynn. Our connections, many of which span a lifetime, are too strong to be shaken apart by current events. Hang in creating what you can with your beautiful paintings. We are all so blessed to have them and you in our world.
Thanks for commenting, and please, do it again!!