Hibiscus Flower
I’d like to begin this post with a short apology. (I was hoping not to have to write an introduction like this, but I am afraid certain things can’t be helped.) At the end of April, I left home for a few weeks of traveling. In terms of the blog, I had planned for it and felt that a few weeks of poetry and collage-related posts would be acceptable while I was gone and spending a lot less time on WordPress. I had every intention of coming home and not only publishing some more substantive, essay-style posts, but also doing a thorough job of catching up on likes and comments, as I had fallen behind.
Instead, I came home and got COVID. And while it was mild and reasonably short-lived, I am afraid the combination of travel and illness very much set me back in terms of, well, everything for the month of May. But, I am back now. And I do apologize if my content has felt a bit flat or stale or one-note lately. I would also like to apologize to anyone whose posts I’ve failed to like or comment on—or if I’ve been untimely in doing so.
But, I digress. I’d like to use this introduction as an opportunity to a segue to a more substantive post. Namely, a short discussion about input and output.
It occurred to me yesterday, as I was formulating the apology above, that one of the main reasons I haven’t published a substantive post in awhile (and by “substantive,” I mean a post about ideas, insights, inner experiences) is that I haven’t been reading properly. And I find it impossible to write well and thoughtfully if I am not also reading well and thoughtfully.
That is, whatever I’m reading has got to make me think. Has got to engage my intellect. For me, that usually means nonfiction—psychology or philosophy-related texts. Like Maslow, for example, C.G. Jung, Rollo May, or Karen Horney. The kind of book that forces the reader to pause every four or five paragraphs in order to reflect, to take notes, to grapple with the full implications of the discussion. I don’t know about you, but I often need books like that in order to think properly—that is, logically, energetically, deeply. They’re a necessary part of good mental hygiene.
But the relationship between input and output as regards reading and writing is not surprising, I don’t think. I imagine at least some of you share this experience. Although, I do think that input-output dynamic also extends to other areas of our lives in very important ways. An idea I touched on in Sensitivity Is a Virtue. Namely, that what we look at and what we listen to, we become.
Hate is not the opposite of love; apathy is.
Rollo May
This is the link between perception and higher values: the process of enculturation (or, becoming “civilized”) desensitizes us to all sorts of things that go against our higher nature—violence, greed, injustice, etc. And it’s our responsibility to actively maintain our sensitivity. To continually seek out sources of beauty, truth, goodness in our environments. Or to use our creativity to uncover them, as painters, photographers, musicians, and poets do.
Indeed, over the years, I’ve noticed that input has become more and more important to me. Vital to my sense of self and survival. What sensory information we feed our brains matters. What books we read, what music we listen to, what works of art we encounter all matter. All influence the quality of our thinking. And also, I believe, the quality of our being.
The Used Life 
15 responses to “Input & Output”
Stunning photos! That dragonfly! 😍 Sorry to read you contracted Covid – glad it was short-lived.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! I love dragonflies! Those little blue dashers are everywhere this time of year, and they always look like they’re smiling. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome! How wonderful to see so many! You capture them so beautifully. Thank you for sharing. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
And thank you for commenting! I always value your feedback, Michele.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantastic pictures! Looking forward to more posts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Bob! I’m looking at this as a kind of fresh start.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fascinating these digressive thoughts and where they lead to! I love your lovely snapshots too, and hope you continue to feel better. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much. This is a topic I hope to explore more deeply going forward. I appreciate the well wishes! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The most important thing is that you are fine now, I hope. I always find your posts interesting and have not felt a difference. Life is a dynamic stage and so is our presence on social networks. I personally like it this way, because it reflects reality. As I said, I hope you are really fine. Thank you:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Olga. Yes, I am feeling well and back to normal. And you’re right–it is OK not to worry about having a constant presence on social networks. I think this post, for me, signals a little bit of a fresh start. While you may not have noticed a difference in my content (and I am happy for that), I haven’t been dedicating nearly as much time to creative and intellectual pursuits as I’d like. And now I feel ready to get back to it and maybe explore some new topics and try some new things. I hope you are well, also, and thank you for commenting!
LikeLike
I like to feel that difference in the course of posting of a person. It means there’s someone there behind the words and the posting. Thank you so much. I’m glad you continue to be there!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Also I wanted to say that I loved this post:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s extremely kind of you to say, Olga. Thank you! Sometimes, I think it’s so easy to get caught up in our own routines that we limit ourselves unintentionally. You’re right, it’s often refreshing to try new things and evolve with our creative projects. Thank you for continuing to be here!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a great entry..we need to be intentional and thoughtful about the things we put into our mind. Just like we care for our physical body through exercise and diet, we need to care for our mind, our soul, our creativity in the same way. We must continually be sensitive, as you stated so perfectly, to the world and what we can give unto it and what we can receive from it. It’s up to us to pursue our highest identity and be bold as well as careful with what we bring into our bodies and minds. Well done, my friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much! I’m happy this post resonated. The issue of what we “feed” our minds is an important one to me.
LikeLike