Humanity has a
penchant for exaggeration.
For proof of this
statement, look no farther than our everyday conversation. “Did
you see so and so? It was the best thing ever.” This is
particularly true of internet conversation, and I'd have enough money
to pay off the debt of the United States if I had a dollar every time
it was said in connection to a fandom.
Is it a good
habit? Is it a bad one? Or is it neutral?
Most
people would shrug their shoulders and say it doesn't really matter.
A few might say that it cheapens really good things and makes the
person sound melodramatic and insipid. After all, if a good catch in
a game of football is the best thing ever, what about the things that
really are
the best things ever? How do you describe them?
Both positions have merit. However, I'm going to take a position
opposite to both of them. I believe in “the best thing ever”,
and the reason is simple.
If a small thing is treated like a big thing, then the big things are
not cheapened; in contrast, the big things become so much bigger. As
Chesterton put it so well, “...the grass is an everlasting forest,
with dragons for denizens; the stones of the road are as incredible
mountains piled one upon the other; the dandelions are like gigantic
bonfire illuminating the lands around...These are the visions of him
who, like the child in the fairy tales, is not afraid to become
small.”
To say “that was the best thing ever” is not to make smaller the
big things, but to make bigger the big things. To marvel over the
chilly sea, as I did this morning, is not to make the Arctic seem
warmer, but colder. To admire the soaring height of the weeds across
the road is not to make the mountains smaller, but bigger. This why
crawling under Christmas trees is a seasonal occupation for children;
for a moment, we like to believe that the branches of the tree aren't
branches at all, but cosmic steps for some tiny creature, swinging
from light to light like Tarzan and shaking the heavy needles from
the tree, soaring up this marvelous staircase of branches to touch
the stars.
“The best thing ever” does not degrade the ordinary things. It
celebrates them. “This flatbread is the best thing ever” puts
wonder in the marvelous creation of the bakery. To reserve such
praise for high and mighty things takes the fun out of ordinary
things; after all, why be happy with a little if you can get a lot?
But to say that something is the best thing ever puts enjoyment and
contentment and gratefulness into life.
And gratefulness makes life the best thing ever.
I love this insight; I've never thought of things this way before and yet it's so very true.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. Except, I've never really been able to put it into words.
ReplyDeleteThis came at a really good time for me. I was just wondering the other day if I get too excited about things, little things, things that "don't matter." I get ridiculously excited over fandom things. I squee whenever I see a really beautiful piece of photography. I will have little fangirl moments over things like flowers, food, animals, clouds, stars, pens and notebooks. Completely random things. "Unimportant" things.
And I was just wondering if maybe that was wrong. If maybe I should be less excited about about "little" things, and be more "serious." And now I see that that's wrong.
So thank you very much for posting this. Because now I realize it's the little things in life, the "unimportant" things that make up the big things, that make life exciting.
Thank you.
Philosophy....
ReplyDeleteThis makes so much sense now. The context was sorely needed.
ReplyDelete