A Choice of Reality

Musings with Old Friends : VII

It is ironic that in a musing with old friends, a person would speak of one friend in particular, unless of course it was no ordinary friend. This was such a friend I used to know at the age of 14. At a later age I turned over the pages of the world's reality to understand better who he is. For he is not defined by our scientific conventions of physical reality.

Is he real? That question occupied me my entire pre-adult life. They say about Athena in the legends that she was born fully grown. Such is my memory of my friend's beginnings. He may have substituted for my father and mother at a time in my infancy when I didn't yet fully understand the vital importance of my relations and their part in my survival.

But he did by my passion's painted vision, grow into many different individuals that I came to identify as friend, colleagues, boss, the political leadership and eventually parts of the personality of the people of the world. Sociology refers to the world as an extension of the self.

That which came to consume me as madness on the occasions that it did had a large part to do with this issue. It created a self-possession of ideals, people, society, family and world that was obviously irrational in my experience and yet it insisted on the nature of its attachment and persuaded me that it came from my heart.

In effect it tutored me into understanding that in growing into a greater intelligence a person does not dismiss or disregard their quaint experience of passions. It persuaded me that it is a greater intelligence to be able to understand and relate to its contents.

At certain points it felt like going over the falls in a barrel. But it gets better. I'm old enough today to look at anyone in the eye and inquire into what he insists is physical reality. I have my own views on that. Neither am I saying that there is only one experience of reality. This compares in some way with what is referred to as a playful nature. In play a person comes to a broad spectrum of issues that creates a general familiarity with the world.

When I speak to old friends today, they are not actually physically present in my company. They are all representations of my friend the way it was at 14. But that does not detract from the fact that the issues that we engage are timeless. They may be from the past, sometimes present and quite often the future. My personal obligation is to be coherent about what I'm doing. It is in the words of Freud each person's account and right of choice as reality and that which he considers is illusion.

Reviews

[FJ Davis]

Indeed, Dayran. Quite frequently, friends and family--especially those we haven't seen in a while-- will practically insist (by their manner) that we play certain "previously ordained" roles while in their company--and we, them. Roles, as you say, usually stemming from adolescence.
I suppose, we want them to be what they need; how we've always seen them.
Those whom we love must, apparently, fully remain--and constantly manifest--the image we hold of them.
"A Choice of Reality" is uniquely perceptive work, Dayran.
Intriguing to consider.

[CRAIG A. THOMSON]

Wow! If only everybody could see things this way. Surely then, we would all be less critical of other people and of ourselves. Should this be so, in only one day the World would become a better place, and I for one would become a better person (still child like for a man of my years, but a better person by far) Isn't it peculiar that the frivolous, nonsence verse that I wrote this morning, purely for fun, should lead me to discover your fine work? Thank you.

[Redboy]

WOW, that was awesome. I especially liked the last paragraph. I could be a little bit longer though, other than that it's perfect : )

[Cole Hayley]

Great work my friend, as always.

[patricia]

That third paragraph was something I knew but needed to hear voiced, and this is one of the great things a writer can do for people. They say if you are in a group long enough, each person will take on the identity of ...your mother, brother, father etc. You have become a father figure along my writers cafe journey because he talked good sense too.
The fifth paragraph is something to ponder, I have to work hard to search the coded words of intellectuals to get their meaning, it is probably touching a nerve or something.
The last paragraph, I have never liked Freud, the way he reduced everything down to sexual motives. I was lucky enough to follow Jung along the way and had the experiential happenings to deepen my convictions.
Your work is great and this piece's shortness was just the right length for me not to skip over important stuff in an effort to read the whole.