I've been listening to Burkeman's book recently as well. His book came as a relief for me. The fact that there are countless things and places I can experience and I can never ever experience them all in my life time makes me enjoy and focus on the things I am and I can get to experience!
Oh, that's great you're listening to the book. Borges realized he couldn't write all of the novels he'd like to, so he came up with different strategies for writing them. E.g., he'd write a book review of a novel instead of writing the novel. But you're right: focusing on focus is a great benefit of this book.
This strikes a nerve. I think about this endlessly (until it ends, of course). I was prone to it already, but when my mom died unexpectedly, it brought home the reality of THE END. And as my mother had an unfinished novel, unfinished paintings, and unfinished needed conversations, I know I will too. But also, Don't Panic. There's that line between being aware that you have (maybe) 4,000 weeks, but also, take time to rest, to enjoy a full moon, and do nothing.
Well, I guess I'll stop commenting on the internet and work on my novel-in-progress!
A parent's death can really alter one's perceptions of life. I know it did for me, when my dad died. I suppose we realize our own ends more acutely through their ends. I agree with your "don't panic" message. It's more about using mortality as a tool, or prioritization, of motivation. And ... luxuriating in time, getting lost in time, doing nothing with time--enjoying a full moon--seems like a good way to use it to me.
I love this contemplation about time. Also, your use of the words “wheedle” and “nested finitudes”. It’s not so much that you used these little-used words, as the way you used them. It’s cool to know a lot of words, but masterful to have them at your command at the right moment.
I've been listening to Burkeman's book recently as well. His book came as a relief for me. The fact that there are countless things and places I can experience and I can never ever experience them all in my life time makes me enjoy and focus on the things I am and I can get to experience!
Oh, that's great you're listening to the book. Borges realized he couldn't write all of the novels he'd like to, so he came up with different strategies for writing them. E.g., he'd write a book review of a novel instead of writing the novel. But you're right: focusing on focus is a great benefit of this book.
This strikes a nerve. I think about this endlessly (until it ends, of course). I was prone to it already, but when my mom died unexpectedly, it brought home the reality of THE END. And as my mother had an unfinished novel, unfinished paintings, and unfinished needed conversations, I know I will too. But also, Don't Panic. There's that line between being aware that you have (maybe) 4,000 weeks, but also, take time to rest, to enjoy a full moon, and do nothing.
Well, I guess I'll stop commenting on the internet and work on my novel-in-progress!
A parent's death can really alter one's perceptions of life. I know it did for me, when my dad died. I suppose we realize our own ends more acutely through their ends. I agree with your "don't panic" message. It's more about using mortality as a tool, or prioritization, of motivation. And ... luxuriating in time, getting lost in time, doing nothing with time--enjoying a full moon--seems like a good way to use it to me.
I love this contemplation about time. Also, your use of the words “wheedle” and “nested finitudes”. It’s not so much that you used these little-used words, as the way you used them. It’s cool to know a lot of words, but masterful to have them at your command at the right moment.
Thanks so much, Jean. My dog is wheedling for a walk right now, despite the finitudes I'm obviously involved in.
Are these particular finitudes nested, or non-nested, though?