Musings about personal attention and acknowledgment of one’s continued existence. What do you need the most in 2021?
We’re back to the bottom of Maslow’s pyramid; once more we increasingly focus on our own survival. And with our lives taking place much more invisible than ever it helps if others acknowledge our existence. Moreover, it would help if they acknowledge the fact that we continue to exist, that we don’t slowly die out like a candle on a birthday cake or the end of a story.
The hashtag #StayAtHome gets showered with love by a huge amount of people who want to show (with sarcasm) that they are still living awesome lives even if they have to do so at home. The restrictions are different in every country, but in essence, it all comes down to being a bit less free than you used to be. But what counts as freedom?
When you wake up in the morning, you can decide what you are going to do that day. Admittingly, for most people, the most obvious choice is to go to work or take care of the family. Theoretically, you have the freedom not to do that as you can switch careers or even switch families. In this case, you have the same freedom as before. You can suddenly decide to learn a new language or to get fitter than ever. You can replace your museum-going habit with a new hobby, surprise yourself. So what changed? People have been using SNS for acknowledgment of their endeavors and existence for a long time, and they will also do so in the future. #StayOnEarth versus #yolo so let’s go to Mars, no #fomo for me!
How free did you feel in 2019? There were borders, shops that close their doors at night, countries that are hard to enter, concerts that sell out before you can buy a ticket, things that you want to buy but don’t have enough money for, and so on. The solution for that was watching virtual replicas, like concerts on YouTube, videos of other people living a life of luxury, or buying online from shops in the middle of the night. Does this sound familiar?
I – and I think the same goes for you – need money for living expenses, but is that what I need the most in 2021? A more enlightened version of me would move to the top of Maslow’s pyramid and aim for self-actualization. If I have a great vision and achieve my full potential, then I am bound to receive recognition for it, right? And through that my continued existence is acknowledged. A little personal attention will get me a long way, to be more specific, from the top to the lower parts of the pyramid.
When my free will leads me to leave my invisibility behind, I become visible to you, to everyone. Or do I?
My SNS resembles my success as I shout every single thing I achieve from the rooftops. My world is confined to my phone through which the world and I share our experiences. Virtually. Together we win this game of personal survival. If I follow you, will you follow me too? Maybe we can hang out someday, let’s meet each other for real, and team up before zooming out while the bills get paid. Somehow.
