Wednesday, September 01, 2010

The problem with focusing on "improvement"

The quotation below strikes me as articulating a very important principle. In this culture we've been socialized to be intensely goal oriented, haven't we? I would assert that we would benefit by questioning that in a truly thoughtful way:

No one imagines that a symphony is supposed to improve in quality as it goes along, or that the whole object of playing it is to reach the finale. The point of music is discovered in every moment of playing and listening to it.

It is the same, I feel,with the greater part of our lives, and if we are unduly absorbed in improving them -we may forget altogether to live them.

-- Alan Watts

No comments:

Post a Comment

New policy: Anonymous posts must be signed or they will be deleted. Pick a name, any name (it could be Paperclip or Doorknob), but identify yourself in some way. Thank you.