This evening I took a long hot bath with a Lush bath melty bar and Epsom salts. Shaved my legs with the new razor and soaked my poor feet, then rubbed heels with coarse green stuff from a tube, filed them with a flat tool, soaked some more. Got sweaty in the tub for awhile. It’s lovely to finally have a normal bathtub that one can sit in comfortably. After toweling off, I rubbed coconut salve on my feets and donned the flip flops and pajamas. Hot bath with salts makes my body feel massaged.
I think my heels will still be rough, but at least they won’t feature sharp bits of skin like they’ve been rubbed with a cheese grater. You’re welcome.
Today I wondered to myself, which life goal is preferable: (a) passing one’s genes on in the form of a baby and making a “contribution” to sustain the species, (b) leaving something behind to ensure one’s immortality other than a child — fame, in other words, or (c) being happy, living in the moment, and not really worrying about what you leave behind. Wondering who strives for all three, if they can all be had. If they each have merit.
The instinctive compulsion to reproduce oneself is second only to eating, breathing, and sleeping in this life. But we sophisticated, self-aware, super-intelligent creatures have found the will to overcome it.
Human interest in leaving a mark on the world in the long-lasting memories of other people came around the time man figured out that we all die, and never figured out what happens after that.
I am interested in living a happy and fulfilling life, and should the other two goals be reached, I think that my happiness will only serve them better.
Bedtime.
The second half of your entry reminded me of a quote, by whom I’ve forgotten.
“The purpose of life, is life of purpose.”
I don’t think “fame” in an of itself guarantees imortality. There were many very famous people of their time who are forgotten when everyone who could remember them dies. There’s more to it than that.
That may be true, but what I meant was that the basic human desire to be remembered after their death (whether it happens or not) is behind the desire to be famous — or to somehow leave some kind of mark, whether through art, science, or just “making a difference.”
The greatest fear some people have is that when they die, it will be as though they never were. Call it ego, maybe?