Just read The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter (https://amzn.to/3bWjmoN) and it hit on similar themes. Not a must-read by any means, but sharing in case anyone wants to explore this topic a bit more.
What I'm reflecting on is the difference between artificial/manufactured challenges and real challenges thrown at you by life (or the Masai elders).
An illness or death of a loved one forces you to confront the challenge and inevitably grow as a result. The Masai boy 'must' succeed in his quest -- there is no alternative or backup plan.
On the other hand, can we get as much from manufacturing challenges with growth as the intended outcome? Training for and running a marathon would teach most people to their physical limits, but in the end isn't life or death.
Going off the misogi concept, a marathon doesn't quite tick that box. In this article (which I think is the first time the misogi concept was formally written about), it's described as “a personal quest designed by you. And it’s really fucking hard. You have a 50 percent chance of success, at best.”: https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/one-day-year-fitness-plan/
Even more succinctly, I think the idea is that this "challenge" specifically *can't* be something you can train for. Like killing a lion. You can practice the techniques, you can sharpen your spear, you can get stronger -- but at the end of the day, you can either face down a lion or a lion faces down you.
Awesome. An old friend asked if I liked my marriage and children and I said of course. It's the hardest thing I've done, but so worth it. I had been thinking of that all morning and I see it reminded in your post. Things that are hard are where 'it' is at. Thanks for the share!
Humanity seeks comfort, but as you mentioned, we don't truly enjoy it. I was talking to somebody the other week who I'd not seen in about 10 years. He's a similar age to me, early 30s.
When I last spoke to him he was a bright young prospect. Now, 10 years later, he plays video games all day whilst living off his parents who pick up his underwear for him. Everything paid for him. He has a little job working for his dad who pays him well, but doesn't push him. His dad has become resigned to the fact that he'll never do anything with his life.
Sounds amazing, but I could see behind his eyes he wasn't happy. Quite the opposite. Being slowly killed by comfort.
I stayed with the Maasai for a week in 2018. Many of the men still go through the lion initiation rite, every man I met had. They just keep it DL for obvious reasons. Lovely essay
I'd say that we are natural learners from a young age, always reaching for the new. Yet it's the modern culture -- people who have made choices that came before us -- that made things easier for us. I for one am grateful for the dishwasher, washing machine, and microwave. My ancestors had to spend way too much of their precious lives supporting others with back breaking labor. Yet, the quest for more understanding and the desire to stand at the end of one abilities and reach -- that is still there, no matter the age. And can be encouraged by our schools instead of beating down everyone into conformity. The age of the Artist -- baby -- has arrived!
Just read The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter (https://amzn.to/3bWjmoN) and it hit on similar themes. Not a must-read by any means, but sharing in case anyone wants to explore this topic a bit more.
What I'm reflecting on is the difference between artificial/manufactured challenges and real challenges thrown at you by life (or the Masai elders).
An illness or death of a loved one forces you to confront the challenge and inevitably grow as a result. The Masai boy 'must' succeed in his quest -- there is no alternative or backup plan.
On the other hand, can we get as much from manufacturing challenges with growth as the intended outcome? Training for and running a marathon would teach most people to their physical limits, but in the end isn't life or death.
Going off the misogi concept, a marathon doesn't quite tick that box. In this article (which I think is the first time the misogi concept was formally written about), it's described as “a personal quest designed by you. And it’s really fucking hard. You have a 50 percent chance of success, at best.”: https://www.outsideonline.com/health/training-performance/one-day-year-fitness-plan/
Even more succinctly, I think the idea is that this "challenge" specifically *can't* be something you can train for. Like killing a lion. You can practice the techniques, you can sharpen your spear, you can get stronger -- but at the end of the day, you can either face down a lion or a lion faces down you.
I recommend Robert Bly's "Iron John". Read the first 28 pages, decide if it's worth your time.
Awesome. An old friend asked if I liked my marriage and children and I said of course. It's the hardest thing I've done, but so worth it. I had been thinking of that all morning and I see it reminded in your post. Things that are hard are where 'it' is at. Thanks for the share!
Humanity seeks comfort, but as you mentioned, we don't truly enjoy it. I was talking to somebody the other week who I'd not seen in about 10 years. He's a similar age to me, early 30s.
When I last spoke to him he was a bright young prospect. Now, 10 years later, he plays video games all day whilst living off his parents who pick up his underwear for him. Everything paid for him. He has a little job working for his dad who pays him well, but doesn't push him. His dad has become resigned to the fact that he'll never do anything with his life.
Sounds amazing, but I could see behind his eyes he wasn't happy. Quite the opposite. Being slowly killed by comfort.
I stayed with the Maasai for a week in 2018. Many of the men still go through the lion initiation rite, every man I met had. They just keep it DL for obvious reasons. Lovely essay
I'd say that we are natural learners from a young age, always reaching for the new. Yet it's the modern culture -- people who have made choices that came before us -- that made things easier for us. I for one am grateful for the dishwasher, washing machine, and microwave. My ancestors had to spend way too much of their precious lives supporting others with back breaking labor. Yet, the quest for more understanding and the desire to stand at the end of one abilities and reach -- that is still there, no matter the age. And can be encouraged by our schools instead of beating down everyone into conformity. The age of the Artist -- baby -- has arrived!