Elliot Tritto
Central Bureau Chief
Let’s be honest, everything sucks right now. People are either working from home or are out of a job, with bills they can’t pay and a potential risk of catching everyone’s favorite virus. I’m sorry if I sound harsh but this is the world we live in now. Every day, the news tells us how many people are infected or died from complications of Coronavirus. Not to mention, the alarming number of unemployment surging the nation. Quarantine is a great chance for us to limit our screen usage and a moment in time for self-reflection.
Greg Fitzsimmons spoke very vividly and engaging in Joe Rogan’s podcast on April 2, 2020. Greg said “It’s strange but it’s an opportunity. It’s really something you got to look at.” Greg then paraphrased what Joe said about the present state. “You’re just trying to accept. I think that’s the key. If you can accept it, then you can be proactive about it. You can be creative about it. You can just take whatever life force you have, and you can look at what are the possibilities here?”
We need to shut up, stay home, be nice to people but avoid them, and reflect on ourselves in a productive way. How can we do that? Read.
We deserve to be scared, yet it’s not worth living in fear We can use our time effectively by curling up in a blanket, sitting next to a lamp, and grabbing that book you always wanted to read. Aren’t sure what’s a topical book to divulge into during a global pandemic? Take Mark Manson’s first novel, “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck.; A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life.” Mark Manson investigates society’s deepest issues and lays them out for readers to realize what values they should really honor. In your quarantine bible, Manson writes nine chapters that tackle every major issue Americans undergo. Chapters like “Happiness is a Problem,” “The Value of Suffering,” “Failure is the Way Forward,” and “The Importance of Saying No,” have made readers sit back and ponder how this can establish a good life.
Americans misconception of how to be happy. If people say to themselves, I have to be happy, you’re going to be sad. You can’t force yourself to switch emotions quickly. People, it’s ok to be in touch with your emotions however it’s important to realize how you want to remain happy. Manson preaches the truth in the second chapter entitled “Happiness is a problem, where he says, “Whatever makes us happy today will no longer makes us happy tomorrow, because our biology always needs something more.” Reevaluating our problems and how we’re going to solve them will lessen our stress and anxiety, especially nowadays.
Another topic Manson faces is the “Value of Suffering.” Everyday all walks of life suffer in different levels to achieve their goals or maintain their responsibilities. Parents sacrifice their lives by going to work, raising their children and literally putting food on the table so they can survive. Today we hear stories of medical workers deciding who gets to live or die from the Coronavirus. It’s so messed up but that’s life right now. Anyway, we strive to find the perfect life yet struggle along the way. “When we force ourselves to stay positive at all times, we deny the existence of our life’s problems. And when we deny our problems, we rob ourselves of the chance to solve them and generate happiness. Problems add a sense of meaning and importance to our life,” said Manson.
Honestly, we need to suffer. It’s how we appreciate art, friendships, relationships and our time on this Earth.
Reading this book three times from different stages of my young life, brought many pondering moments of what my and our future is yet to come. I find many unique quotes, history lessons and anecdotes that rethink my existence. To sum up this book in a few sentences, it’s about how to not be so sensitive all the time. It’s about how to not fear life but how to cope with it. It’s about we need to stretch our imagination while realistically thinking what’s best for us. During this time of confusion, look to this book as it can redefine how you can save and redefine yourself.
trite1@mail.broward.edu
