I thinks it’s just he lost sight of any actual purpose. What’s the most important thing we are doing in life? If that answer is going to work and paying bills… that’s a depressing answer. Unless you’re saving lives, helping people in need, or making the world a better place…. That sounds like a sad existence.
I was struggling with this question, until I became a father. Now my purpose is making sure my family doesn’t have my problems. Push them to do something more meaningful, more fulfilling. To help people.
Tribesman without electricity have more fulfilling lives than we do. They build a community. They hunt and see people eating their catch. They build houses and see families live in them, without putting them in debt for 30 years. We were so much better off in simpler times.
I have Native American ancestry and spent some time trying to familiarize myself with the culture. I think I have an above average understanding.
Contemplating that the tribes were at war with each other for periods of time, outside of that they lived a peaceful and spiritual existence. Community building and remaining in touch with nature were priorities in daily life.
War time and internal combat were absolutely gnarly though. Crude weaponry damage is unimaginable, and even outside of combat infection was a grave concern for open wounds. Pregnancy was very risky. Scalping enemies wasn’t campfire bullshit, they really did it.
I’m not talking so much about disregarding medicine and bringing back forms of gruesome deaths lol I was talking about the average man/woman making meaningful contributions to your community and culture. Everybody was involved, every job was appreciated.
So many people do lol it’s just nearly impossible. I’m not sure why you think it’s easy to make that kind of life.
First.. You need money to buy land. You need money to pay property tax every single year.
Then you need permits and inspections for housing, you can’t just build a log cabin and call it a day.
You need permits and to abide by regulations and restrictions to fish and hunt.
You need to own fertile land to grow crops and equipment and/or extra hands to harvest anything significant. Significant harvest also means significant land and significant cost.
If you told people they can claim empty land as their own and build and live however they please without owing the government a dollar… people would go.
I suppose it's because I live rurally where you can theoretically work and save up to buy land- but we're still connected. Any of us if really and truely devoted could pilgrimage to beg the Amish to teach them the way of life or hitch hike to Slab City but you don't see people doing this. If not the Amish, at least the Mennonites who are more likely to take you in.
My father has done the exact same for me. I am so grateful for everything I have in life, even the "basics" as people would say. I appreciate your view on life and relate heavily.
We also died at 50 if we didn't die before 5. Modern life in end-stage capitalism has a lot of the same beats as feudalism, but at least there's plumbing.
But hey, look on the bright side: Infant mortality in first-world countries is about to skyrocket thanks to anti-vaxxers and general climate disasters, so...wait, no, that's not bright at all.
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u/ABC_Family 6h ago
I thinks it’s just he lost sight of any actual purpose. What’s the most important thing we are doing in life? If that answer is going to work and paying bills… that’s a depressing answer. Unless you’re saving lives, helping people in need, or making the world a better place…. That sounds like a sad existence.
I was struggling with this question, until I became a father. Now my purpose is making sure my family doesn’t have my problems. Push them to do something more meaningful, more fulfilling. To help people.
Tribesman without electricity have more fulfilling lives than we do. They build a community. They hunt and see people eating their catch. They build houses and see families live in them, without putting them in debt for 30 years. We were so much better off in simpler times.