I’m in a new phase of my rollercoaster of solitude and loneliness. I failed to see this coming, despite part 6 of this blog series from October 2024. My comforting feeing of solitude seems to have vanished into thin air. Feelings of (temporary) loneliness have replaced my solitude. I can hardly remember such feelings. I’m not sure if I ever experienced those...
The statement above is usually (mis)attributed to economist John Maynard Keynes (1883-1946). Many - if not most - facts are time-boxed. A famous example is the 1609 controversy on heliocentrism: does the Earth rotate around the Sun (eg, Galileo Galilei) or vice versa (ie, the Roman Catholic Church)? Not changing your mind when the facts change, reveals the existence...
In a recent facebook remark, I wondered how we can restore togetherness in a society; or in Dutch: hoe krijg je saamhorigheid terug in een "samen"leving? Our Western societies are often characterized by glorifying freedom (eg, sexual expression, speech) and by individualism. I received several replies. A friend of a friend is convinced that global grass roots...
Last Friday, I had an epiphany. In my 2015 blog, I wrote about the 4 ingredients that constitute a relationship. My 2016 blog added another 3. My 2021 blog was a summary. These 7 ingredients define many (or all) types of relationships: communication, forgiveness, intimacy, respect, togetherness, trust and vulnerability. Any type of relationship starts - and ends -...
Recently, a father sent congratulations on his daughter's wedding on Dutch radio. That message also mentioned that this couple is each other's friend. Latter struck a nerve. Despite some exceptions, a lack of friendship is indeed characteristic for my failed relationships. Moreover, the people whom you will miss, are your...
In a recent Dutch language interview with Jean-Claude Juncker, he used a common French expression: "Je m'en fous!" (FD, De Tijd). A polite translation would be: "I don't care" (what others think). The accompanying emotion reveals a more offensive meaning. A recent interview with Swiss philosopher Alain de Botton recommends a similar approach to life...
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