Very interesting Heidi. It is something to enjoy an experience directly, as that experience. Hah, I am so much more present for that!
Nothing wrong with meeting Nelson Mandela (meeting of course, when he was still alive, now it would just be weird). What can diminish the experience for me is the context I bring to it. My insecure obsessing, my exhausting need to be validated by the kinds of experiences I've had. Everyone can see my elevatedness, right? Well not me, I am MIA, adjusting my hair, looking for a mirror, scanning for a crowd reaction.
Why can't I have elevated experiences of secondary involvement in my life? Hmm.
I so appreciate these considered comments, Paul! Wow- “my exhausting need to be validated by the kinds of experiences I've had. Everyone can see my elevatedness, right?” So clearly delineates the secondary involvement and how painful it can be.
I find it tiring to sort through the spaghetti of someone relating an experience and the dog whistle of ‘look at me’ that attaches to the narration.
Heidi, thank you for this article! I couldn’t agree more. The latest buzzword—“experiences”—has been marketed as an alternative to material pursuits. However, it’s just as bad, if not worse. It promotes running away from the here and now, disconnecting from what truly matters, and avoiding what needs to be faced. Ultimately, it’s about escape—and since “you can never get enough of what you don’t really need,” it becomes an endless chase, conveniently transformed into one of the biggest industries: the rush for experiences. Thank you for bringing our attention to it!
Thank you, Natalia. The Industrial Experience Complex. You are so right. It is an ever-changing, yet staying the same, way of keeping us running towards a supposedly better future while ignoring what is happening right in front of us. The first step is awareness. I appreciate your pointing to it so clearly!
Very interesting Heidi. It is something to enjoy an experience directly, as that experience. Hah, I am so much more present for that!
Nothing wrong with meeting Nelson Mandela (meeting of course, when he was still alive, now it would just be weird). What can diminish the experience for me is the context I bring to it. My insecure obsessing, my exhausting need to be validated by the kinds of experiences I've had. Everyone can see my elevatedness, right? Well not me, I am MIA, adjusting my hair, looking for a mirror, scanning for a crowd reaction.
Why can't I have elevated experiences of secondary involvement in my life? Hmm.
I so appreciate these considered comments, Paul! Wow- “my exhausting need to be validated by the kinds of experiences I've had. Everyone can see my elevatedness, right?” So clearly delineates the secondary involvement and how painful it can be.
I find it tiring to sort through the spaghetti of someone relating an experience and the dog whistle of ‘look at me’ that attaches to the narration.
Think this is why I often prefer being a hermit 😬
Thank you!
Heidi, thank you for this article! I couldn’t agree more. The latest buzzword—“experiences”—has been marketed as an alternative to material pursuits. However, it’s just as bad, if not worse. It promotes running away from the here and now, disconnecting from what truly matters, and avoiding what needs to be faced. Ultimately, it’s about escape—and since “you can never get enough of what you don’t really need,” it becomes an endless chase, conveniently transformed into one of the biggest industries: the rush for experiences. Thank you for bringing our attention to it!
Thank you, Natalia. The Industrial Experience Complex. You are so right. It is an ever-changing, yet staying the same, way of keeping us running towards a supposedly better future while ignoring what is happening right in front of us. The first step is awareness. I appreciate your pointing to it so clearly!