As
you get older, things start to repeat themselves and you realise that human
existence is basically a collection of patterns and spirals that swirl and
swoosh in the currents of life before regularly rising to the surface. If you
have your wits about you and have even an average level of intelligence, you’ll
see that the same things come around again and again. Political stances,
musical tastes, fashion; but also natural processes too – weather, cloud
shapes, migrations.
I
notice this and mention it because it was my birthday at the weekend, and it
struck me that everyone around me always reacts to me in exactly the same way.
I’m not sure why. It could be that we have a pre-programmed ‘Someone’s Birthday
Gene’ that makes us respond that way, it could be that it’s a learned behaviour
pattern based on our experiences on other anniversaries, or it could even be an
example of kindness – people have spent time with me on birthdays before,
remembered what made me happy, and then sought to repeat it the following year.
That would be a nice thing, even if it’s happening subconsciously.
Anyway
– my feeling is that it makes it harder and harder for me to be surprised, and
harder and harder for me to find the buzz from things that used to give me
enjoyment. An example would be my low-level interest in sports. I avoid the
frequently-played, crack-for-the-masses games like football, cricket and rugby,
but I do like to dip my nose in the trough for events like world championships,
tennis Grand Slams and golf Majors. And this is normally a good time of year
for me, because there’s a slew of biggies going on at a time when it’s too damn
dark and too damn cold to go cycling or sit in the garden.
However….
The
darts tournaments this year were won by Van Gerwen (again) and Durrant (again),
the Australian Open tennis is almost certain to be won by Rafael Nadal or Novak
Djokovic (again), and now the New England Patriots will be contesting the Super
Bowl (again). I’m finding it all a bit uninspiring and boring.
Maybe
“Logan’s Run” had the right idea – kill everyone off before their lives become
too repetitive.
RC 22-1-19
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