Letter #24 Adversity strengthens resilience, Kafkaesque & The meaning of life

No one is so brave that he is not disturbed by something unexpected. ― Julius Caesar

Dear Friend,

The experience of life can often feel like a roller coaster ride, with its ups and downs, its moments of triumph, and moments of defeat. As Franz Kafka's novel, The Trial, illustrates, life can sometimes feel like an unjust, unexplainable, and arbitrary ordeal. But as Nietzsche famously wrote, "What does not kill me, makes me stronger."

In The Trial, Kafka portrays a nightmarish world where the protagonist, Joseph K., is arrested and put on trial for a crime he is never explicitly told of, and from which he can never escape. Despite this, Joseph K. never gives up hope and tries to navigate the Kafkaesque labyrinth of the legal system.

Lately, I've been reflecting on the idea that what we truly have is this moment, the present moment. It's easy to get caught up in thoughts of the future and what we need to do to be happy, but the truth is that the future never arrives. It's always just out of reach, and we find ourselves constantly chasing after it.

I think we all know deep down that an epiphany is coming. We all have a sense that we need to find a way to come back to the present moment and focus on what's really important. And I believe that finding that path is the key to living a truly happy life.

I’ll write again, my friend.

Yours,

Bohemian Dialogue