|
|
|
|
Activity
Humans
engage in three main types of activities: Relaxation, Obligation, and
Production. These three elements combine to give a person character.
Any two without the third lead to people who "have something missing"
and when you know them they never feel well rounded or quite whole.
Examples of incomplete people:
Relaxation + Obligation: This person fulfills their obligations and relaxes, but never creates anything or does anything of value. While they may excel at work or school and have a good social life and hobbies, they fail to do things of everlasting importance.
It is essential to understand that "Production" does not mean writing the Odyssey or Dante's Inferno. Nor does it necessarily have to contain a material component. The main factor in Production is that, whereas Relaxation restores the emotional and metal energy of the self, Production is an activity whose result restores the emotional and mental energy of another, and possibly also the self. For example, writing music counts as Production because it can be passed onto another person, who can enjoy it and be restored by it themselves.
Relaxation + Production: This person enjoys themselves in life, and is generally happy but and creates material which somewhat rejuvenates other people. but his Products are not as universal and wide-reaching as they could be because he lacks Obligations.
As one of the most fundamental human activities, the Obligation is viewed as important in every sociey, and is activity that drains the most mental and emotional energy. As such, Products must somehow address Obligations, or at least show that the Producer is familiar with them so that he can more effectively empathize with those he Produces for.
Obligation + Production: This person fulfilles their duties, and creates material which also could help other people, but it fails to sufficiently restore them. This is because this person is often bereft of emotional and mental energy themselves, and falls into the trap of being a martyr. Such people, lacking their own energy, Produce works that are more draining than restorative because they lack joy.
If someone lacks joy, they cannot often pass it on. Even sad stories can be restorative because the author understands joy, but also suffering, and writes accordingly. But the author who understands only suffering is useless.
Art
If "art" is
not restorative as I have described, it may be Relaxation, but never
"art". "Art" is different for everyone because people are restored by
different things.
School
That is
basically what I think. So what's wrong with school? It fails to
recognize the value of Production and teach it to us. We are given
breaks for recreation and to Relax, but we are not really taught the
value of creating something that can be passed on to another human
being. Far too often, schools pump out young adults who can do their
duty, and get by with enough rest to deal with it, but never aspire to
anything higher because they don't understand the value of Production.
That which restores others.
Without Production, we have no Bible, no Plato, no music, no paintings, no photography, no writing, no movies, no Final Fantasy.
In addition to realizing the value of Production, we must also create things toward that end, I believe, though I may yet be wrong. I haven't thought this part through as much. Something designed only for the self can only be so helpful. Something must be Produced so that it restores other people, not as a byproduct of a creation of selfishness.
Production
I think
the best way to Produce is to understand what restores us and try to
encapsulate a way to pass that restoration onto others. If reading
restores you, examine what about the reading restores you. Figure out
what themes, concepts, and ideas are universal and understand how to
empathize with people. How to write with truth and honesty. Then write
a book.
If people don't appreciate it, don't worry. Someone will. If you are honest in your effort, someone, somewhere wil appreciate it, and that will be enough, because making one persons life easier is worth Herculean effort.
Addendum: A good Production will cause other people to want to Produce themselves. Inspiration and whatnot. I think a Production can be inspiring even if it isn't necessarily "restorative".
bravenet.com