**Trigger warning**
Against eternal injustice, man must assert justice, and to protest against the universe of grief, he must create happiness. - Albert Camus.
One of my favorite philosophers, the French thinker, Albert Camus coined the theory of absurdity which says the search for meaning in this universe is futile because the universe whose very nature is engulfed in misery, will never provide you with one.
The second youngest Nobel laureate also recognizes the truth that knowing the world is meaningless, a man will never stop searching for one. After all, a man has to live; Years and years of life at his disposal, a man needs to figure out how to live and that’s where the choice exists. He talks about three choices - suicide, a leap of faith, or acceptance. While providing these choices, he quickly provides the answer saying ‘Acceptance’ is the only defensible option as suicide is an ‘easy way out’ & leap of faith isn’t sustainable rendering both of these options useless.
Accepting that life doesn’t have a purpose, a meaning, or an answer, paves the way to interpret life on your own terms. We get to create a meaning, a purpose to wake up in the morning; we have to, or living without one isn’t much living. Can you imagine, waking up every day with this very ‘absurd’ thought of how life is meaningless and we spend our entire day struggling to stay alive? Then every day would be a bad day. We, as a species, know we don’t want bad days in spite of the fact that bad days are a part of life. We attempt to define what a good day & a bad day is which makes it clear that we have a will to live and a purpose in life even when that purpose is taking a long time to come to the surface for some. Whatever your purpose is, family, success, health, money, or all of the above, you are the one who gets to define it.
It’s weird that the youth are less afraid of a tomorrow because they assume they just have more of them than the old folks. It gives them a sense of bravado that wouldn’t be present in an old man. It also gives them the ability to get upset over things an old man wouldn’t. I had the perfect day two days ago. I went to watch a movie, went to have a meal afterward with a delicious cup of coffee and I rested after coming back. Everything was great, except that I was missing my friend the whole time. I went alone and I enjoy myself on these solo days out but that day, I wanted my friend’s company who lives in a different city. Nothing can be done about it. There is no solution to it. There are and will always be these moments. So, I stupidly called it a weird bad day.
But I would like to use this philosophy of absurdism and use it as a weapon to move forward. I can dwell on the sadness of the bad day for hours, a day, multiple days. Or, I can sleep on it knowing tomorrow will be different. The “absurdity” here is that both bad days and good days will eventually end. Putting them in extreme categories to call them good or bad would be taking the wonderful moments away from the day. I had amazing food, enjoyed my coffee, loved the movie and I officially say that it was a great day. Just like that.
That being said, it’s easier said than done. Especially when one is struggling mentally. Each emotion gets heightened particularly the negative ones. Even the simplest of tasks becomes heavy. I have personally struggled to brush my teeth, to take a walk, to speak to a friend. It’s not about doing the task that’s difficult; the difficulty lies in starting it. I love taking walks but I have struggled, still struggle to get myself out of the house while knowing if I take one step out the door, I’ll instantly feel ten times better and the other foot will follow.
I have also realized that these tasks are active choices toward better health. For me, this theory of absurdity is kind of like a reset button. If my days have a lot more negative in them and I am feeling down, I pick up this theory, redefine my peace, redefine my goal, and see what changes I can make. It is not easy at all but I guess trying is better than doing nothing.
And, now I’ll leave you with some beautiful quotes of Albert Camus.
“Don’t walk in front of me… I may not follow
Don’t walk behind me… I may not lead
Walk beside me… just be my friend”
“Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous energy merely to be normal.”
“Should I kill myself, or have a cup of coffee?”
“The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.”
“To be happy, we must not be too concerned with others.”