Life holds no greater meaning than what we give it.
Even if you haven’t read Homer’s Iliad, you’ve probably heard of Sisyphus. Originally a tyrannical king who incurred the wrath of the gods by killing his visitors, he was condemned to eternally push a boulder up a mountain, only to have it roll back down again. This myth has given rise to the term “Sisyphean”, which has been used in different periods and literary works to describe futile tasks.
The apparent aimlessness of his work is a form of the absurdity of human life. On the other hand, Camus, as an absurdist, said after reflecting on this myth: “One must imagine Sisyphus happy”. Camus spoke of the happiness of the heart brought about by seemingly pointless effort because he saw it as giving man a sense of purpose through struggle. At first glance, the situation seems contradictory, doesn’t it? Perhaps, despite the illogicality of inactivity, it is more ideal to act in pursuit of a goal that is conducive to repetition.
Given the nature of the essay, there may be a discrepancy between when I write it and when I share it. During this process, I’ll be busy selecting and editing articles from my deleted account. So while I intend to share what I’ve written recently, I’m essentially writing for myself at the moment. Only when everything is sorted can I start sharing. Although it seems aimless, writing and sharing feels like a responsibility to me. Through this repeated process I am promoting my own happiness.
That’s why I found an opportunity to revisit past days. But I’m also aware that I’m making an extra effort. The uncertainty of life weighs heavily on me and others like me, because we fear that our efforts will be in vain.
We naturally compare our past endeavours, remembering those we eagerly started but never finished. There are points where we say, “That didn’t go the way I wanted it to” or “I started it but couldn’t finish it, so it remains unfinished”. Maybe one day we’ll want to revisit them. But will that day ever come?
Repeating tasks isn’t always enjoyable. Whether it is work, addiction or entertainment, repetition lacks the same pleasure and quality. What does the cyclical nature of our lives depend on? Blaming the game seems right to me, but isn’t the player who keeps playing also to blame? Sometimes it seems that we have no choice, true. But if Sisyphus had let go of the rock, what would have been the point?
What remains for us is to keep pushing the rock forward and, moreover, to embrace this effort. In situations where we cannot create an alternative, we must either manifest our own existence or adapt the existing order to suit us. If we can give it meaning, hardships become more bearable, responsibilities more lovable, and challenges more surmountable. Yes, this may not always be true, but we have spoken of the uncertainty of life; who knows, perhaps with this awareness we can smile in the face of it.
In essence, this essay is both a reminder to myself and an outstretched hand to you. If you’re feeling weighed down by burdens and obligations, remember that these times will pass and be replaced by new challenges. That doesn’t sound very reassuring, does it? But it is. These struggles give us purpose, identity and meaning. Let’s keep rolling the boulder and writing the words.
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