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"I feel all thin, sort of stretched . . ."

1/1/2021

6 Comments

 
Picture
Looking toward Baochu Pagoda over Hangzhou's West Lake

​"Why, I feel all thin, sort of stretched, if you know what I mean: like butter that has been scraped over too much bread." -- Bilbo Baggins, The Fellowship of the Ring

If there's a quote that's been in my mind of late, it's that one. How deep in my heart do I feel that same stretched quality that Bilbo spoke of after too many decades of comfort in the Shire — and of his need to "see mountains, again, Gandalf, mountains . . . ." To an extent, all humans likely feel this way at certain times and in certain moods; and this has indeed been one of my prevailing moods for the past few months. I feel involved in nearly everything from work to coaching to relationships to personal projects, and, due to the nature of my own mind, my involvement must always be meaningful. I fear a life not well-lived, not fully-experienced, not fully-understood, and a life in which I do not live deeply. In fact, this is likely my greatest fear. So when I commit to something, I like to truly engage with it. Inexorably, then, I'm stretched very thin in terms of mental resources. As we say in English, I've got my fingers in too many pies. Part of this stems from my generalist's temperament and lifestyle: I'm interested in so very many things, and want to try my hand, at least while "young", at most of them. Of course, this is a young person's folly, but it leads, ultimately, to Bilbo's plight. It's a very simple equation, really: more activity, fewer resources; fewer resources, lower drive. So, if I know this, why do I persist? Well, first, it's not easy to part a fool from his folly. Secondly, I like to tell myself that, once I've tried these things, I'll eventually focus on those few that outlast all others. And this is to some extent true: I've jettisoned a lot from my life, heeding Lin Yutang's advice. [1] But, sometimes I also pick up activities in the process, like poetry or meditation. And some things that I know I would love I've already written off: calligraphy, music composition, and the Japanese tea ceremony among others. Unless I suddenly inherit great wealth, time, and energy, these things are likely phenomena I'll always simply have to admire from afar, yet knowing that I could have easily fallen head-over-heels for any of them. That, then, is my dilemma: with such varied interests and skills to be developed, how does one live? I'm afraid I don't know; or, rather, I'm afraid that I do. 

New years should be born in intention, or at least a vague hope towards change or its continuation. And while I've no particular resolution, per se, I do hope to stay the course I've already laid out for myself. I hope you're all equally resolved towards something positive.


Happy New Year, everyone.

— Talbot

[1] "Besides the noble art of getting things done, there is the noble art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials." — The Importance of Living
6 Comments
Katja
1/2/2021 05:53:52 am

Thank you for this post. I think you described in very clear and beautiful words the feeling I am also struggling with from time to time. How to choose what to spend your time on, how to accept the things you have to sacrifice and how to in the process not spread yourself too thin. This is perhaps just the burden you have to bear when you are a curious person. However, a curious mind takes you more places, and I think that is something to be grateful for. And as long as one avoids rushing, I try to look at it as a strength.

Especially now as another year has passed, I find myself reflecting on these things more, which is why I feel very fortunate I happened to stumble upon your website on this day, and read your post that resonated with me so strongly. I've loved Zelda games since I was a little kid, and I'm looking forward to reading the articles you've written.

I hope you have a great year in 2021!

Reply
Talbot
1/4/2021 02:43:55 pm

Hey, Katja,

Thanks for the kind praise. I'm glad you found your way here. I wholly agree that a curious mind is a blessing, provided, as you say, you don't just rush through things and flit from one activity to another mindlessly. Curiosity is one of the more enduring contributors to well-being, and we do well to use it prudently!

Happy reading, and thanks for reaching out.

Reply
Isaac Masterpiece
1/24/2021 01:34:20 am

I think I understand your anxiety, and I imagine I understand how you feel. The Legend of Zelda series holds so much nostalgia and emotional meaning for me, that finding this website has genuinely and honestly been an honest-to-Hylia source of happiness for me. To know that someone else has put as much thought and care into this silly video game series as I have-- and brought their own knowledge and expertise-- brings me a lot of joy.

I can understand that this isn't your "life's purpose", and I imagine that, like me, it's mostly just something you do as a side hobby, but I wanted to let you know it's not being posted out into the nothingness for no reason. You have contributed to someone else's happiness in your own small way!
Hope the year has begun looking up for you, or will soon!

Reply
Talbot
1/26/2021 05:03:04 pm

Dear Isaac,

Thanks so very much for your kind words. It's good to know my hobby is reaching people in a beneficial way. (And, "Honest-to-Hylia" made me smile.) What about the series have you taken upon yourself to study?

Be well!

Reply
Celeste
2/21/2021 08:44:14 pm

Thank you for the excellent content over the years. This post speaks to me so tenderly, and I appreciate your humility in sharing your fears and human limitations (which we all have).

I fell off our email correspondence from a few years ago, but I wanted to drop in and wish you a great 2021.

Reply
Talbot
2/22/2021 08:54:43 pm

Dear Celeste,

Long time, no hear! Thanks for the kind sentiments; whenever you'd like to pick the correspondence back up, please feel free!

Warmly,

- T

Reply



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    The universe of The Legend of Zelda is replete with multifarious architectural oddities, beautiful and resonating structures, and ineffably-mysterious temples hidden in the remote corners of the world. It is my hope to explore said places, shedding light upon some of their salient features, and fulfilling the goals laid out by the introduction, the main goal of which is to help people understand and appreciate the unspoken, yet deeply-felt, allure of these locations and structures.

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