In a Tom Robbins novel, Another Roadside Attraction, I found something along the lines of: nothing has meaning, everything has value. That stuck with me. The first part says that what an experience means to you comes from whatever you decide to assign to it. The second part says that value doesn’t come from meaning. It implies that everything should be treated with respect and care regardless of its utility to you or to others. It means engaging with the world in a way that you consider the impact of your actions outside of yourself, on other people and on the environment.
If nothing is inherently good or bad and there are only actions and consequences, exploration is the goal. If life is one big experiment then curiosity will be one’s greatest asset. Curiosity, playfulness, and reverence for the fleeting beauty of existence. And because of the part about actions and consequences, altruism is the way to open the most doors for exploration.
While all the topics you cover are consistently engaging, this piece truly stands out. It goes beyond surface-level insight, digging into deeper questions that linger long after reading.
What’s most compelling is how it invites the reader to sit with the idea that most things in life are not good or bad—they simply are. It’s a rare kind of writing that doesn’t push answers but instead opens space for contemplation. An exceptional and thought-provoking read
Tanner, this is beautifully written and thoughtful.
Two things come to mind...
Joseph Campbell - and his essay "In the Field" speaks directly to your statement about how we "assign the meaning to everything." If you have not seen this, let me know - I'll send it to you.
The other is this...
Taoist Story: Chinese Farmer "Maybe"
Maybe (Taoist story)
There is a Taoist story of an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit. "Such bad luck," they said sympathetically.
"Maybe," the farmer replied. The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. "How wonderful," the neighbors exclaimed.
"Maybe," replied the old man. The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune. "Maybe," answered the farmer. The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son's leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out. "Maybe," said the farmer.
I think this is artful dialogue and contributes to more thoughtful leaders in the world.
David
Note - I pinged you about Ultra Running on your instagram. You might take a look.
This is your best article yet! It such a key idea to examining how we can change things and drop emotions that get in the way. Changing conditions so that better outcomes can exist is a key idea in everything. It's also how we got here.
For me, the most pressing concerns are overuse of natural resources and energy in our linear consumption system of manufacturing, construction, and agriculture. That leads to: soil depletion, freshwater depletion, toxic pollution, natural habitat loss, and biodiversity loss.
And of course, there's a lack of understanding of how one thing affects another and what the consequences can be. That's why I write this. I want to help life on Earth thrive through education and action.
In a Tom Robbins novel, Another Roadside Attraction, I found something along the lines of: nothing has meaning, everything has value. That stuck with me. The first part says that what an experience means to you comes from whatever you decide to assign to it. The second part says that value doesn’t come from meaning. It implies that everything should be treated with respect and care regardless of its utility to you or to others. It means engaging with the world in a way that you consider the impact of your actions outside of yourself, on other people and on the environment.
If nothing is inherently good or bad and there are only actions and consequences, exploration is the goal. If life is one big experiment then curiosity will be one’s greatest asset. Curiosity, playfulness, and reverence for the fleeting beauty of existence. And because of the part about actions and consequences, altruism is the way to open the most doors for exploration.
Beautiful Heather!
Love that idea Heather! Thanks for sharing
Holy smokes—this may be the best article yet.
While all the topics you cover are consistently engaging, this piece truly stands out. It goes beyond surface-level insight, digging into deeper questions that linger long after reading.
What’s most compelling is how it invites the reader to sit with the idea that most things in life are not good or bad—they simply are. It’s a rare kind of writing that doesn’t push answers but instead opens space for contemplation. An exceptional and thought-provoking read
Well Done T👍
Tanner, this is beautifully written and thoughtful.
Two things come to mind...
Joseph Campbell - and his essay "In the Field" speaks directly to your statement about how we "assign the meaning to everything." If you have not seen this, let me know - I'll send it to you.
The other is this...
Taoist Story: Chinese Farmer "Maybe"
Maybe (Taoist story)
There is a Taoist story of an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years. One day his horse ran away. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors came to visit. "Such bad luck," they said sympathetically.
"Maybe," the farmer replied. The next morning the horse returned, bringing with it three other wild horses. "How wonderful," the neighbors exclaimed.
"Maybe," replied the old man. The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown, and broke his leg. The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy on his misfortune. "Maybe," answered the farmer. The day after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son's leg was broken, they passed him by. The neighbors congratulated the farmer on how well things had turned out. "Maybe," said the farmer.
I think this is artful dialogue and contributes to more thoughtful leaders in the world.
David
Note - I pinged you about Ultra Running on your instagram. You might take a look.
This is your best article yet! It such a key idea to examining how we can change things and drop emotions that get in the way. Changing conditions so that better outcomes can exist is a key idea in everything. It's also how we got here.
Great job son! I am very proud of you! - Dad
Tanner, this my favourite article of yours yet! Love the poetic style.
I love the balance between refraining judgement of good vs bad but also understanding the influence we have to change a complex system.
For me the most harmful dynamics are accelerating concentration of wealth and government lobbying. Curious for yours!
Thanks for the feedback Tim!
For me, the most pressing concerns are overuse of natural resources and energy in our linear consumption system of manufacturing, construction, and agriculture. That leads to: soil depletion, freshwater depletion, toxic pollution, natural habitat loss, and biodiversity loss.
And of course, there's a lack of understanding of how one thing affects another and what the consequences can be. That's why I write this. I want to help life on Earth thrive through education and action.