Tackling my fears has always been something I’ve felt apt
at. When I was in fourth grade, I started doing martial arts. I was deeply
afraid of, not only what my friends would think, but I was also terrified to
spar the students I was training beside. Yet, as time went on and as I advanced
to the adult classes, I was forced to face this fear and ended up winning two
large tournaments in sparring. Another thing I feared was breaking boards. The
boards were so small and injury seemed to be unavoidable. As time went on, I
learned the importance of precision and was able to create my own unique
breaks, upholding one of the highest break records at my school. These two
things acted as catalysts to my hunger for overcoming those things which evoked
an anxious feeling within me, leading to my love for hiking, repelling, testing
my boundaries, and occasionally breaking some rules to defy our overly
structured society.
I began to yearn for new challenges whether they be
physical, tactical, or mental. Hence, our conversation with Chancellor Struppa
left me mildly stumped as to whether or not having selfish intentions in feats
we crave to accomplish in life should be enveloped with a negative or positive
connotation.
Struppa had mentioned the seven deadly sins and referenced
that his climbing was simply the product of his prideful nature. And as I began to listen think more about the
concept as the class continued to discuss his endeavors, I realized that many
times the conversation reverted back to the idea that Struppa had posed:
climbing was more selfish than something like playing tennis, painting,
drawing, or another hobby which compels the individual. And as I looked at all
these examples, it was easy to see that this had to do with the concept of up.
Lackoff and Johnson discussed the concept of “up” as denoting the idea of
power, pride, and the unknown which made sense in relation to his argument that
climbing was more selfish than something done on the ground. Is this because of
the direct correlation to pride and power? Or is it because he has a drive to
conquer the unknown?
Yet despite this fact, I began to delve further into the
concept, and I couldn’t help but only see the positives in his actions.
For my height challenge, I climbed a small cliff in Laguna. It was mildly flat so we had to find various
crevices and jutting rocks in order to propel ourselves to the top. Each time I
found a new spot to place my hand or foot, I felt a small releases of
adrenaline and serotonin through my body. I was aware of the fact that I was
simply climbing this wall with my friends for the pleasure of the task but also
the ability to conquer my fear of staying in the known. I enjoy soaring up and
discovering that which we don’t know. I enjoy exploring the beautiful world
that surrounds us. I enjoy fulfilling my selfish needs because I am living for
me first. Not in a way which hurts or hinders others, but in a way which makes
me happy and gives my life meaning.
In response to Struppa’s argument, I found my own answer.
Yes, we can all be prideful, and selfish, and we all exhibit the seven deadly
sins because they are all born within us and they are tendencies we can only
become conscious of to try and control. But what is life? Why are we here?
Nobody knows! Our existence is so minuscule when compared to the wonders around
us and universe as a whole, so why not indulge in the natural beauty we get the
opportunity to experience?
It is through challenges and indulgences like Struppa’s and
all of ours that we build character and broaden our perspective and
interpretation of the world. And by doing this, we are able to share with
others and take our means and abilities of helping them to new heights (pun
most definitely intended).
The experience is yours and nobody ever said you can’t find
ways to parallel your “selfish” endeavors with a humanistic cause. For I have
decided that we all need to be a little selfish. You only live once, so why even
think to suppress yourself to a mundane lifestyle when you can go out and seek
your own meaning of life and write your own personal definition whether it be
writing, flying, climbing, or diving?
No comments:
Post a Comment