Loved this one, Sam. Mushashi is one of my favorite — and most gifted — novels. So much to take away from it, and there’s always more each time I read it. The quote “think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world” is one I use as a guiding light for how I live my life.
Sam, another morsel for thought you fed us. I was wondering at times that societies sentence “criminals”to solitary confinement. Is it punishment or a reward? To sit quietly or look at oneself in a mirror for any length of time, takes practice. The addiction to social media is nothing more than current technology activity. Any pleasurable activity requires time management. Easier said than done!
It is an extremely interesting question. I’ve wondered it sometimes myself, almost as if I would solitary confinement as a test. I think you’re right - it will require time management to bring social media under control, hopefully sooner rather than later.
Thank you Dee. I wasnt sure about the connection at first, and then I wondered what a society of social media would look like versus a society of Musashis. The similarities between Musashis ideas and stoicism are stunning.
The yearning for connection is so deep and human connection in modern times was hard even before FB, etc. . But the antidote really is the poison, as you note. Connections made on the social media space are so very shallow. Yet they allow people to feel as if they interacted. How much more satisfying is it to have a deep face-to-face conversation with a friend, a fleeting exchange of wit with a stranger, a respectful argument with someone well-informed...just to know someone cares and wants our care too. Is this blog and comment box a kind of social media? Maybe, but the content you put here Sam is so very deep and discussable. I have to read this book you wrote about! Thank you.
You are most welcome, and thank you for expanding on the subtle but significant interactions that make human interaction so much better than virtual. Let me know if you dig into Musashi novel - it is one of the best books I have ever read. Like reading a movie.
Loved this one, Sam. Mushashi is one of my favorite — and most gifted — novels. So much to take away from it, and there’s always more each time I read it. The quote “think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world” is one I use as a guiding light for how I live my life.
Likewise! It is really a life changing work.
Like the processed junk disguised as food.
Like the labor-saving devices that leave us weak.
Like the glass of wine we need to relax
The antidote turns out to be a poison.
1000% we are allowing ourselves to be institutionalized. It is wonderful to see the pendulum swinging back the right direction
Sam, another morsel for thought you fed us. I was wondering at times that societies sentence “criminals”to solitary confinement. Is it punishment or a reward? To sit quietly or look at oneself in a mirror for any length of time, takes practice. The addiction to social media is nothing more than current technology activity. Any pleasurable activity requires time management. Easier said than done!
It is an extremely interesting question. I’ve wondered it sometimes myself, almost as if I would solitary confinement as a test. I think you’re right - it will require time management to bring social media under control, hopefully sooner rather than later.
I’m glad you posted this one as a note as I often suck about going back in time for accounts I really enjoy.
Had to give this post a bit of passive inaction because it was that good.
Musashi’s book Dokkodo is another one I go back to regularly as a quick way frame my mindset on certain matters.
Love getting knowledge from those who have truly walked the path and decide to share their wisdom. He’s up there with some of the best.
I appreciate it Kyle, and I'm on the same page - the Dokkodo is epic.
"The Book of Five Rings" was one of John Boyd's favorites!
I can see why his neurons would fire full bore on that book.
I miss hearing a human voice reading your material instead of Substack’s text to voice feature.
I didn't know anyone was listening. I will get back into it at some point, I appreciate you letting me know.
Un-social media. Keyboards or swords? Not much of a comparison—or is it in today’s world?
Good one Sam..
Thank you Dee. I wasnt sure about the connection at first, and then I wondered what a society of social media would look like versus a society of Musashis. The similarities between Musashis ideas and stoicism are stunning.
The yearning for connection is so deep and human connection in modern times was hard even before FB, etc. . But the antidote really is the poison, as you note. Connections made on the social media space are so very shallow. Yet they allow people to feel as if they interacted. How much more satisfying is it to have a deep face-to-face conversation with a friend, a fleeting exchange of wit with a stranger, a respectful argument with someone well-informed...just to know someone cares and wants our care too. Is this blog and comment box a kind of social media? Maybe, but the content you put here Sam is so very deep and discussable. I have to read this book you wrote about! Thank you.
You are most welcome, and thank you for expanding on the subtle but significant interactions that make human interaction so much better than virtual. Let me know if you dig into Musashi novel - it is one of the best books I have ever read. Like reading a movie.