On the Need to Be
“Find meaning. Distinguish melancholy from sadness. Go out for a walk. It doesn’t have to be a romantic walk in the park, spring at its most spectacular moment, flowers and smells and outstanding poetical imagery smoothly transferring you into another world. It doesn’t have to be a walk during which you’ll have multiple life epiphanies and discover meanings no other brain ever managed to encounter. Do not be afraid of spending quality time by yourself. Find meaning or don’t find meaning but 'steal' some time and give it freely and exclusively to your own self. Opt for privacy and solitude. That doesn’t make you antisocial or cause you to reject the rest of the world. But you need to breathe. And you need to be.” -― Albert Camus, Notebooks 1951-1959
4 comments:
Great passage.
I will say that I am not sure if too many folks are burdened the pressure of making every walk a life changing epiphany :)
Maybe the random walk or two will do.
Camus' Notebooks are filled with fascinating and meditative ideas.
Yes, a good passage. Thanks!
-Stephen
Camus has some engaging challenging thoughts that I find worthwhile.
Post a Comment