Leaving the Grace of This World

https://www.outsideonline.com/2419515/leaving-grace-world

by mighty-fine • 6 years ago

54 11 6 years ago

Seems like a really good read, but I only have 30 minutes.

lcall• 6 years ago

Skimming can help sometimes, but this article makes it harder. No summary at beginning/end, no topic sentences at the beginning of paragraphs. Maybe that was intended: long-form narrative to create an emotional point, exploring experience and questions, more than an informational one.

So many problems are solved by having purpose in life. I've written a lot, but one possibility is helping lift humanity, finding joy through growth (learning, improvement) and unselfish service to others. Much revolves around my beliefs which seem like they would solve so many problems.

Somebody famous (Dickens or Tolstoy maybe?) said something like "All happy families are alike, and all miserable families are miserable in their own way". I think there is much to that: multigenerational unselfish service in a widening circle. Seeing what families' and/or cultures' traits allow them to persist over time is also interesting.

soupfordummies• 6 years ago

That's a great quote. Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. Talk about an opening line!

djohnston• 6 years ago

This was a long read but worth it.

“Then my worst call was to your mother, my goodness,” she told me. Irene reminded me that my mother became overwhelmed during that call. Mom then called me and asked me to call Irene. I did. Irene forwarded me the email on the morning of July 10. It’s still in my archived inbox.

One thing I find quite unnerving about the digital world is the immediacy of these things that never really fades. I have a friend's suicide message on gmail. The last messages I sent someone I loved.

These don't get lost, or buried, or fade with time. They are only a few clicks away at any moment.

cgh• 6 years ago

After my mother died, her Yahoo email account was taken over by spammers. For some months, I’d open my spam folder to see an email from “her”. I finally located her password and killed the account.

ian-g2• 6 years ago

I think it can be comfortable.

When my grandma passed in October, my cousin had a saved voicemail she forwarded for us.

It wasn't long, she was always efficient with her time, but it was her from before the worst of her decline. And it's nice to know we still have that

and now I'm crying again. that wasn't my plan for today

codemac• 6 years ago

I had several voicemails from passed friends ~15 years ago and I switched phones and lost them somehow in their system. I cried a lot that day.

abakker• 6 years ago

This was a worthwhile read, and examines the dark side of the oft-lionized wanderlust. It has echoes of "on the road" in its characterizations. Thought provoking to those of us that know people like this.

sharksauce• 6 years ago

A warning to those of you who easily cry: this piece will do it to you.

Leaving the Grace of This World

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