I’m not sure if I ever told you, but I have a tattoo. I got it almost a year ago. It’s a circular one that spells ‘Amor Fati’ to form the shape.
Although first coined by Nietzsche, it was Nathaniel Drew who introduced it to me.
‘To be in love with one’s fate’ - that’s what ‘Amor Fati’ means. To accept life enthusiastically as it comes without getting attached to any form of outcome. It’s a good reminder when you think life is letting you down.
June 18, 2022 - the day I got my first tattoo
Although, it does not mean that there is some cosmic reason behind something bad happening to you. That’s where my second operating principle comes into the picture.
You see, I am a hardcore nihilist. I don’t believe we are important enough that the universe gives a damn about what happens to us. I do not believe in fate as something that has already been determined for us. Everything is random - the country we are born in, the friends we make, the music that ends up playing at an important moment of your life - everything is random.
That does not imply that life is meaningless. We can choose to give meaning to the things that feel important to us or bring us joy.
I do succumb to my third OP ‘determinism’ on one front - death. Determinism is believing that your fate is pre-written, and being accident prone as I am, it helps to think that I’ll go only when it is my time. This way I don’t end up living in fear.
Weird combination of principles, but what can I say? They work for me. But why do I even need operating principles?
To make life make sense. It helps to have a few theories that let you process whatever is happening to you.
I think this article can help you understand what school of thought makes the most sense to you. Makes for an interesting read.
P.S I think everyone should get a tattoo. They force you to make a thoughtful decision, considering their permanence. More importantly, they capture an inky snapshot of the person you were at that time.
I have a question for you - should I write longer or shorter newsletters? What would you prefer? Please leave a comment :)
A great newsletter this was, in fact most things were new to me.
As far as the newsletter format is concerned, you can go with a longer one, as I think you tend to express more with more words... :)
I don't know if you should stick to one format, long or short. Some perspectives require more words and time to reach the reader, and others are just a blurb. Why not let the story decide?