You're into suffering. Stop it.

April 28, 2010

You're into suffering the way some people are into cricket or knitting. It's a hobby. A pastime.

Knock it off.

Seriously, it's remarkable how many people can seemingly sustain themselves with suffering.

By asserting that being into suffering has no value I don't wish to deny the very real presence of suffering of all kinds; there are far too many people who experience very genuine suffering. We all experience plenty of this at various moments in our lives. Being into suffering, however, involves a glorification of suffering. People have suffering competitions (see who can suffer/ express their suffering more) or use suffering as a way of punishing others in their lives ("I'll show mom just how much she hurt me--I'll suffer!"). For others, after years of tremendous pain, suffering can become an oddly comforting place to retreat and hide out from creating their lives. For still others, showing off their suffering can be an attempt at hiding guilt of having more than others.

What a drag.