It is, however, rather nice to have a principle around which to organize
one's life--a luxury denied to most, I gather.
Mark
At 11:15 PM 1/17/2001 -0000, david.bircumshaw wrote:
>> All I know is that
>> every major decision I've made in my life has been dictated by the
>> necessity of facilitating the writing of poetry, because when I've made
>> decisions that don't, I feel absolutely miserable. It's never felt like
>> much of a choice to me. Ionesco talks about a "mental necessity". The
>> why has always escaped me.
>>
>> I've sometimes thought of it as a kind of addiction.
>
>This is an unfortunate happy truth that accords with my experience, and
>'addiction' has the right associations of inner necessity and craving allied
>to an external source, to what is without the self. It is a compulsion, but
>not I think a drive pump-primed by heredity.
>
>If I try to give up writing I give up being me.
>
>The less attractive side to addiction can be pondered endlessly.
>
>david b
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2001 10:54 PM
>Subject: Re: unfashionable thought
>
>
>> Chris wrote:
>>
>> >I've troubled over this. And the "almost" of my post reflects my
>continuing
>> >exploration of what that might mean. I believe that you're almost
>certainly
>> >right. But the implications are considerable. How should we then live?
>And
>> >that continues to be my torment. Does one choose or accept a vocation. In
>my
>> >naughty mechanistic terms I'd say it was genetic and I can't do anything
>> >about the matter, other than comply if I am to have a chance of an
>> >"authentic" life.
>>
>> The idea of vocation is hard to talk about without sounding all mystical
>> and portentous, and that's not in the least accurate. (Although, to be
>> honest, I found quite a lot that was illuminating in reading St John of
>> the Cross, especially when he talks about language.) All I know is that
>> every major decision I've made in my life has been dictated by the
>> necessity of facilitating the writing of poetry, because when I've made
>> decisions that don't, I feel absolutely miserable. It's never felt like
>> much of a choice to me. Ionesco talks about a "mental necessity". The
>> why has always escaped me.
>>
>> I've sometimes thought of it as a kind of addiction.
>>
>> How can you be wickedly mechanistic and yet talk about an "authentic"
>> life?
>> >
>> >What times is it over there, by the way. You must be up very early!
>>
>> I _was_ up early - a small boy over-excited by the tooth fairy dragged me
>> untimely from my sleep. I think there's about 12 hours difference.
>>
>> Best
>>
>> Alison
>
>
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