Exposed!

Have you ever wondered what you’d look like stripped naked? I’m not referring only to your clothing. What would you look like when stripped of your wealth, profession, possessions, your friends and even your family? That really leaves the naked essence of you. That’s your unique imprint that’s left upon this earthly substrate long after you’ve departed this brief sojourn. Sure, we may have contributed to the gene pool and converted substrate into waste. But let's face it, beyond the third generation that follows us there'll be barely a memory of our existence apart from the tombstone, some fading photographs and the odd artefact. Well, before you descend the slippery slopes into that dark abyss of an existential crisis, let’s take a look at our naked selves.

When stripped bare I would propose that we are mere subjective points of unique awareness - naming things and giving subjective meaning to our respective worlds. And that’s really the start and the end of it. No more and no less.

But naming and thereby revealing a smidgeon of reality extends along a continuum – from a mere observation, thought and feeling to the expression of it. The expression in itself may be in the form of the spoken or the written word or in some physical, artistic or musical artefact. Perhaps the naming and the expression encourages others to contribute their own naming and expression of meaning as I hope I just did.

And so with one eye on that last feeling that you’ll experience just prior to the lights going out for the last time, perhaps it’s worthwhile and even pleasing to remember to smell the roses ... for a little longer - feeling, reflecting and sharing your little piece of subjectivity. For who knows, this may well be your last bit of feeling and awareness before you pop off!