I’ve always been one to keep my blog simple and free of clutter. Heck, until last year, I didn’t even have categories on this blog. Last year, I added four categories: Creativity, Productivity, Simplicity, and Success. Soon after, I added the Super Habits category. Now, I’m introducing the category of Life.
Some Things Can’t Be Categorized
So what will my new category of life include? Everything? Maybe. Or at least everything that defies categorization. I suppose we could categorize just about anything under the sun. But that’s part of the problem. The more we categorize, the more divided we become.
Us and them. Democrats and republicans. Christians and Pagans. Minimalists and consumers. Pro-life and pro-choice. Black and white. Assholes and idiots. Pick your side. Put yourself in a box and fight for your team even when they’re dead-fucking wrong. Be honest with yourself. Isn’t that what most of us do?
Where would I publish a post about self-righteous indignation, whether it comes form an evangelical or a bleeding-heart liberal? Which of my current categories would work for a post about punk-rock music? What if I want to write about pornography? Where do those topics fit? Creativity? Productivity?… or any of the other current categories on this blog? How about the category of Life?
Truth and the Category of Life
As a writer, I seek Truth. Granted, my version of the truth my be a bucketload of bullshit as far as you’re concerned. But it’s my truth. You don’t get to tell me what my truth is. That said, the recent changes I’ve been making to my writing are not simply, “I’m-right-your-wrong-so-go-screw-yourself changes.” There’s something deeper at work here.
Whenever we create labels, we create divisions. This falsely suggests that we have definitive rights and wrongs based on our individual biases. But if you really look at people on both sides of any ideological fence, they’re all doing the same damned thing. Pointing fingers. Self-righteousness is self-righteousness.
I don’t care if you’re the Pope, the president, an atheist, or a Southern Baptist. You’re looking at the world through your lens and judging people based on your perceptions. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m guilty of this. And this is where Life and Universal Truth come in.
Looking for Universal Truth
Part of my journey as a writer has been to dispel labels and myths. Instead of looking for differences among us, I want to find commonalities. Instead of pointing the finger at others’ faults, I’d rather look deeper into my own soul.
I’m not a democrat or a republican. I won’t take sides with either pro-choice or pro-life. I’m not a minimalist, but I don’t consume excessively either. I am who I am. I’ll speak my mind, and sometimes I’ll say something stupid. (Forgive me my debts as I forgive my debtors.) But it’s all in a quest to get closer to some sort of Universal Truth.
Not Christian truth or Buddhist truth or scientific truth, but Universal Truth: things that we can all agree upon. And this my friends is life. And so, I’m adding to my blog, the category of Life. You might find real-life stories, philosophical arguments, or angry rants in this category. My words might make you feel happy, sad, angry, or indifferent. Why? Because that’s life.
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