The Meaning
Reflecting On The Straws We Pull In Life
Introduction
It’s been a while. For keen readers of Something Greater, I apologise for the hiatus. Unfortunately, I had nothing jumping out at me that I wished to write about. But alas, here is my triumphant return.
If you arrived here at Something Greater from my other newsletter, Geopolitics Explained, you may have seen that I’m currently travelling through Europe. I find myself on the Croatian coast in Dubrovnik for New Year’s Eve. I’ve got a beer in hand, my feet dipped in the ocean, and the sun is shining down. Typically, this weather is unexpected in the UK in December, so I greatly appreciated the change in scenery.
I bring up the fortunate conditions of my New Year’s Eve because it was one of these situations that immediately led me towards a natural state of reflection. Supported by the fact that we were about to enter a new year and that I was now on my second beer, the urge to self-reflect only grew stronger. I set myself the small and easily achievable goal of reflecting on the meaning of life.
The Meaning of Life
I don’t highlight this story of my travelling to brag. Quite the opposite in fact. A motivation behind this trip was to see more of the world. We can read books, and watch YouTube videos walking around quaint Swiss towns, but until we’ve lived and experienced these places firsthand, I’d argue we know very little. Even though I am living in them, I still know so little.
I sit here, and the world is still. I’m so incredibly blessed. For others, the world is moving constantly. There is no rest. They fight every single day for survival. Over 1 billion people in the world live in poverty. How can we even begin to ponder that? Many of us have never lived in such conditions. Of course, we all have problems, and I’d never try to take away from the problems any of us live through in our day-to-day lives. But if your basic needs are fulfilled, we’re beyond lucky that survival isn’t one of the problems we have to face.
As is often the case, what is just outside noise to people in the developed world, is a deafening, constant scream to those who fight to survive every day.
As we enter the New Year, I hope it’s a wonderful and prosperous year for you all. In the noise of life, I guess it’s nice sometimes to just be, but if you’re in a position to enjoy life without worrying about survival, you should reflect on the straw you pulled in life. Of course, it’s all luck, who knows why or how we’re here at all. But the reality is others don’t possess this same level of luck. As we enter 2025 and beyond, let’s work to make the world a luckier place for everyone, in any way we can. Let’s work to find the meaning together.