Craving paradise

[vaneramos]

Eramosa River


I awoke with preternatural matters in mind, and the eternal question: why?

I believe we exist for no particular reason. Not the prettiest answer, but most graceful. So if the answer is simple, why must life be complicated and painful?

Because we arise from a natural process that reproduces and elaborates itself. Survival requires struggle. We mustn't surrender to death too easily. Many organisms flourish without pain, anxiety or even thought, but possess other strategies. Humans happen to be endowed with dissatisfaction.

Study mammals and you'll realize we aren't unique in this, nor in our capacity for curiosity and make-believe. We are, however, especially equipped. The brain is our most peculiar feature. Imagination helps us rehearse and respond resourcefully to complexity.

Modern security obviates the struggle, providing us time to entertain ourselves with unanswerable, perhaps useless questions. Rather than fighting nature, I embrace my unique creativity by stringing words and ideas together, imagine somehow breaking through reality's dark wall into some ineffable beyond. Paradise is really a symbol for what we crave: success, abundance, to live without unpleasant surprises.

But in playing, I accept moments of transcendence and joy. Life can't all be good, but maybe some days will be.

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Two more photos are posted in texture.