Dog and Cat. Coffee and Tea. Great Gatsby and Catcher in the Rye. Everyone knows there are two types of people in the world. What are they?
The pessimists and the optimists; the confident and the subservient; the selfish and the selfless are a few examples of how others divide society. But to me, society can be categorized by two types: the Nows and the Laters.
The Nows' obsession with the "now" stems from their desire for immediate gratification. They are the ones who are entranced by the television screen, watching movies or playing video games into the morning of the next day. They are the ones who spend their money without forethought on new clothes, shoes, or tools. Nows immerse themselves in their instincts and emotions rather than following the rational. Following the principles of Dionysus-Greek god of wine, pleasure, and ectasy, the Nows are the modern Dionysians. But does this mean every Now is impulsive? Is a spender or an addict? No. The universal definition of a Now is a person who enjoys the "now" regardless of what the past or the future holds. Enjoying the simplest of moments, the Nows also spend the time to wake up early in the morning, take out a chair, and watch the warm hues of the sun color the sky. As in the Tao of Pooh, they flow along with the river, wherever it leads.
The Laters are to Nows as light is to darkness. While the Nows are bound to the gratification of the present, the Laters are bound by their anxiety over the future. Constantly running, they focus on the horizon. They are the ones who study during breaks with their heads immersed in a textbook. They are the ones who have set goals and plans for the future. Unlike the Nows, the Laters know who they are and what they want to be. Indeed, every moment is a time to achieve or grow. As Nows are to Dionysus, the Laters are to Apollonius: the Greek God of intellect, prophecy, and healing. Focusing on greater heights and advancements, the Laters want to be doctors, lawyers, and scientists. With their hands, they want to change the future. But in doing so, the Laters lose the crucial piece of themselves-they lose the ability to enjoy life. While running to the horizon, they fail to look down at their feet. Responsible of the rush of mainstream American life, they become oblivious to what the Nows can see-the blooming of the first spring flower, the melody of the birds. According to the Tao of Pooh, the Laters are the "Bisy Backson," always busy, flowing against the current.
Which is better? The Now or the Later? The answer is none. Behind the two major types of people is a hidden third. Synthesizing the Now and the Later produces the perfect product, the Ideal. To the philosopher Nietzche, in a play, a true tragedy can only exist when both the Dionysians and Apollonians are present. To truly "live life" in the world, a person must become the Ideal. While having plans and goals for the future, the Ideal enjoys every moment in life. The Ideal is the sublime fusion of both rational and irrational, intellect and creativity. So what two types define society? It is the Now, the Later, and-the underlying Ideal.
I know that this topic is not exactly creative and is to generic, but is it to cliche?
Will Reply
The pessimists and the optimists; the confident and the subservient; the selfish and the selfless are a few examples of how others divide society. But to me, society can be categorized by two types: the Nows and the Laters.
The Nows' obsession with the "now" stems from their desire for immediate gratification. They are the ones who are entranced by the television screen, watching movies or playing video games into the morning of the next day. They are the ones who spend their money without forethought on new clothes, shoes, or tools. Nows immerse themselves in their instincts and emotions rather than following the rational. Following the principles of Dionysus-Greek god of wine, pleasure, and ectasy, the Nows are the modern Dionysians. But does this mean every Now is impulsive? Is a spender or an addict? No. The universal definition of a Now is a person who enjoys the "now" regardless of what the past or the future holds. Enjoying the simplest of moments, the Nows also spend the time to wake up early in the morning, take out a chair, and watch the warm hues of the sun color the sky. As in the Tao of Pooh, they flow along with the river, wherever it leads.
The Laters are to Nows as light is to darkness. While the Nows are bound to the gratification of the present, the Laters are bound by their anxiety over the future. Constantly running, they focus on the horizon. They are the ones who study during breaks with their heads immersed in a textbook. They are the ones who have set goals and plans for the future. Unlike the Nows, the Laters know who they are and what they want to be. Indeed, every moment is a time to achieve or grow. As Nows are to Dionysus, the Laters are to Apollonius: the Greek God of intellect, prophecy, and healing. Focusing on greater heights and advancements, the Laters want to be doctors, lawyers, and scientists. With their hands, they want to change the future. But in doing so, the Laters lose the crucial piece of themselves-they lose the ability to enjoy life. While running to the horizon, they fail to look down at their feet. Responsible of the rush of mainstream American life, they become oblivious to what the Nows can see-the blooming of the first spring flower, the melody of the birds. According to the Tao of Pooh, the Laters are the "Bisy Backson," always busy, flowing against the current.
Which is better? The Now or the Later? The answer is none. Behind the two major types of people is a hidden third. Synthesizing the Now and the Later produces the perfect product, the Ideal. To the philosopher Nietzche, in a play, a true tragedy can only exist when both the Dionysians and Apollonians are present. To truly "live life" in the world, a person must become the Ideal. While having plans and goals for the future, the Ideal enjoys every moment in life. The Ideal is the sublime fusion of both rational and irrational, intellect and creativity. So what two types define society? It is the Now, the Later, and-the underlying Ideal.
I know that this topic is not exactly creative and is to generic, but is it to cliche?
Will Reply
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