Perhaps a touch maudlin at times, but quite inspiring.
And I do think it's true, that "God" or "Source" or "The Universe" notices absolutely everything. Every action and every thought has effects.
(I must say, for an invisible woman she is remarkably beautiful.)
Eolake said...
ReplyDelete"Perhaps a touch maudlin at times..."
It's a woman...talking to a roomful of women. That's what we do...as women. :-)
What if he/she/it doesn't...? That's the question nobody ever asks.
ReplyDeleteJust sayin...
Oh, I don't know, it seems to me that this is the default idea/feeling that humans have.
ReplyDeleteJust look at the idea that Earth is the only planet in the whole universe with civilised life. It's patently absurd. It can only come from this deep *feeling* we have of being cut off, of nothing/nobody noticing.
What a wonderful message. Thanks EO.
ReplyDeletePerhaps a touch maudlin at times, but quite inspiring.
ReplyDeleteAnd I do think it's true, that "God" or "Source" or "The Universe" notices absolutely everything. Every action and every thought has effects.
Wow. You are the Danish Forrest Gump.
Just look at the idea that Earth is the only planet in the whole universe with civilised life. It's patently absurd.
How so? We have no reason to think intelligent life exists elsewhere. We can talk about probabilities but until it's discovered it's just as likely that we are alone.
It can only come from this deep *feeling* we have of being cut off, of nothing/nobody noticing.
Or from a lack of proof. That seems more likely.
Anonymous
ReplyDeletethe fact that you haven't been invited doesn't mean there isn't a party somewhere :-)
Oh, the irony: mounting a theatrically lit dais, wearing a radio mike, before an audience that has come to hear about one's latest published work, and saying, 'Today I want to talk about humility.'
ReplyDeleteInvisible people don't get to do that: they get to wear overalls and clean the aisles in the mall; they get to be greeters at the door (don't bother to try engaging them in conversation, they have become institutionalized from being invisible); and sometimes, when elevated to a position of responsibility by force of circumstance, they get to hand out business cards inscribed with other people's names.
pectry said...
ReplyDelete"...an audience that has come to hear about one's latest published work, and saying, 'Today I want to talk about humility.'"
Actually, the audience wasn't there to just hear her speak nor was she there to promote her "latest published work." She is one of several women talking to this audience of women...giving them encouragement. For her illustration, she chose something from a personal experience: a gift book, that had been given to her, filled w/churches.
If you actually watch the clip, rather than come off as "all-knowing," you might enjoy what she has to say (I'll leave you w/that "cliff hanger.") :-)
"If you actually watch the clip..."
ReplyDeleteI did actually watch the clip. Attentively. The book was 'Churches' by Judith Dupre. Really invisible people don't receive $100 books as gifts from world traveling friends, but I will not labor the point.
I do not mention this to seem 'all-knowing' (where did you get that from? a random insult generator?) but as evidence that your directive to me was misdirected. Surely you are not suggesting commenters to this blog dumb it down just to avoid any appearance that there might be differences of opinion among the readership?
I have watched the video again: if you don't see the irony, perhaps your sense of the ironic is not as well developed as mine.
Actually, the audience wasn't there to just hear her speak nor was she there to promote her "latest published work." On what evidence do you base your denial of my statement?
The video starts and ends with popups giving details of where to buy (freshbrewedlife.com) Nicole Johnson's book and DVD. The video is part of her YouTube channel. Is this a book tour (a commercial activity) or a women's support group (a social activity)? How blatant does commercial promotion (Gesellschaft) have to be before it stops being the kind of social interaction (Gemeinschaft) you see in that video? How compatible are those two spheres?
I have no negative issues with Nicole Johnson or her self promotion and money making enterprise, but I can see it for what it is when stripped of the wrapping.
As a genuinely invisible person, a member of a pariah group, a successful underachiever, and a person marginalized by my own economic failure (for which I accept total responsibility) I am proud to be represented by someone as visible and economically successful as Nicole Johnson.
Oh, I have never experienced motherhood, so perhaps that excludes me from the target demographic.
pectry said...
ReplyDelete"I did actually watch the clip. Attentively." and "I have watched the video again."
"Good on you" and commendable for taking the time to name the book. Cool! :-)
"if you don't see the irony, perhaps your sense of the ironic is not as well developed as mine."
I only find it sad that...after 2 times of watching the video, you don't understand the intent of her message. I guess that's what happens when a person comes to something w/a preconceived notion.
"Actually, the audience wasn't there to just hear her speak nor was she there to promote her "latest published work." On what evidence do you base your denial of my statement?"
I pointed to a link, in my initial comment, referencing to an occasion; hence, why I had written "all-knowing." It seemed that you had missed discovering that, before you commented.
But...just for you, I'll dig even deeper to show you what the occasion is...so you might better understand; and...I have been to such an occasion, myself; hence...I speak from experience.
I cannot speak for the pop-ups, etc. of the author's uboob channel. I think any savvy businesswoman/speaker/author would want to promote the works that they toiled over, no? But...again...that is not the entire intent of the conference; it encompasses something much bigger and more important than that.
"As a genuinely invisible person, a member of a pariah group, a successful underachiever, and a person marginalized by my own economic failure (for which I accept total responsibility)..."
There is no need for self-deprecation, pectry (Lord knows that our society does that well enough for the entire planet!); this is a "come-as-you-are" kind of event. No judgments handed out, here!
"I am proud to be represented by someone as visible and economically successful as Nicole Johnson."
Very nice. She seems like a very genuine person w/a wonderful message. :-)
"Oh, I have never experienced motherhood, so perhaps that excludes me from the target demographic."
Not at all! There is NO EXCLUSIVITY at these events; only that you are a woman (sorry guys...although there might be some men that go; I don't know!). If you are near any of the events, listed here, then I warmly recommend you attend one and let me know what you thought. I can be reached, offline, if you prefer that. :-)
Women are fond of maudlin. And men are fond of gratuitous violence. I'd say in average, our species is balanced.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't think too long about Margaret Thatcher or Angela Merkel... ;-)
I think Stephen Hawking, very recently, made a highly interesting comment about life in the Universe: "Aliens most likely do exist, and if we're smart, we'll try to lay as low as possible so they DON'T meet us." He makes some very good points in that documentary.
"Wow. You are the Danish Forrest Gump."
Wow! Josie, you're a fan of Forrest Gump too? Put it there, pal!
Tom Hanks seems to have an attraction for good films. Just saw The Green Mile a few days ago. By Stephen King, without the "hawk". ;-P
"We have no reason to think intelligent life exists elsewhere."
Right. Like we had no reason to think the Americas were there. Oh, wait... (^_^)
Absence of proof is never proof of absence. This is why courts are bound by the presumtion of innocence. Because otherwise, everybody would go to jail!!!
Or what GG said.
GG, you just reminded me of the boys band we had formed when I was 17: The Wild Virgins. We had to disband after groupies in every religious shool we performed in rioted to get at us. ;-)
Pectry,
Nice perspective on invisibility there. You a fan of mystery Men too? Put it there, pal!
I'll have to watch that clip myself... It's nice to comment about everything in the thread, but maybe KNOWING what the actual discussion was about might teach me a thing or two. ;-)
But still, social interaction needs in no way to be conflictual with commercial promotion. See the impressively blooming market of self-help books. And the few well-chosen ones I've read so far were quite good.
(OK, so actually MY MOM read most of them, and told me they were very good. :-)
It all depends on what you "sell".
Or would you also say that Doctors should heal people for free? One HAS to make a living when they dedicate much of their time to a task. Mother Teresa didn't have a job, so she counted on donations. But... the WHOLE world cannot function that way.
As much as the utopic idea would sound nicely hippie.
"There is no need for self-deprecation, pectry (Lord knows that our society does that well enough for the entire planet!)"
Stating the painfully obvious here... :-(
"A certain type" of christiannism also does that pretty well: "I'm so good at belittling myself, surely now I understand God better than anybody else. My humility is bigger that yours!!!"
I speak from personal experience...
That was kind of pathetic. It was a drudge trying to come to terms with the fact that no one gives a shit about all the crap she does.
ReplyDeleteJust look at the idea that Earth is the only planet in the whole universe with civilised life. It's patently absurd.
Why is it absurd? I've heard the odds, and you know - until we find another planet with life, and then one with intelligent life - it's just as plausible that we are alone. And I'm not really sure why that is such a terrible idea. It may be that the conditions for life need to be so perfect that everything came together only once in the universe so far.
I see you. You are not invisible to me.
I've got to say, I laughed at that. I couldn't help myself. It's amazing the capacity of humanity to delude itself. I guess it must bring her some comfort and help her go on being someone's slave.
Reading the other comments I realize I agree with Anonymous. Oh well. He's bound to be right once in a while.
ReplyDelete