The Intangible

by C.J. Washington

When the world is inexplicable, our explanations are apt to be creative. Amanda wouldn’t have been so generous

Inexplicable

“I believe that one true objective reality exists. A full understanding of that reality is beyond our reach, however, so we construct narratives, approximations of reality. We collect rules, like ‘Good guys always win,’ and they become the framework for our narratives.

Reality

we’re skilled at adopting new rules to expand our narrative structure. I don’t believe in ghosts. If I see one, I can either add a rule that nullifies my senses, or I can add a rule that permits the supernatural. I may not know which is true, so I have to choose. I think people tend to be self-serving in those choices. We see the world as we want to see it.”

See world aswe want to see it

“The only way to live meaningfully is to forge new connections. As much as we want what we had in our past, we can only experience the present. Rigley was a great dog. I loved him so much. But the only way I can experience the joy he and I shared is to bond with a new dog. New connections don’t erase the past. They allow us to appreciate it. I finally understand that.

Cant have the past

Growing older is a process of accumulating the good and the bad.

Accumulating the god and the bad