Friday Philosophy… Are You Where You Want to be?

”People are where they are because that is exactly where they really want to be”. A quote by E. Nightingale that I was mentioned in on Twitter the other day.

Indeed a provoking thought when you contemplate it. Are you really where you want to be in your life? Am I? If not, why are we here then and not where we deeply desire to be? Perhaps we are too lazy, or afraid of change and all the possibilities and new unexplored grounds and challenges we would have to face if we went in a new direction. Are we lying to ourselves on a daily basis when we sigh and wish we were somewhere else? Do we have complete freedom to be where we want to be? While many sociologists and psychologists would say no, philosopher  Jean Paul Sartre says yes. His existentialism argues that the individual has free will:

”Sartre’s philosophy has a very positive message which is that we have infinite freedom and that this enables us to make authentic choices which escape from the grip of bad faith … Each agent is endowed with unlimited freedom. This statement may seem puzzling given the obvious limitations on every individual’s freedom of choice. Clearly, physical and social constraints cannot be overlooked in the way in which we make choices. This is however a fact which Sartre accepts insofar as the for-itself is facticity. And this does not lead to any contradiction insofar as freedom is not defined by an ability to act. Freedom is rather to be understood as characteristic of the nature of consciousness, i.e. as spontaneity.” Source

 I love Sartre’s positive outlook on life. Freedom is one of the most important values in my life. However, I don’t see the picture 100% clear. I am not sure I ever will. I have learned so far that life is process oriented, which causes frustrations because I have very little patience and often I wish for results. Now. Hands down, at times a little instant gratification would be amazing don’t you think?

But then I look back on 2011 and think ‘Wow! did I do all that and where the hell did the time go?’ Like sand through my fingers the minutes, the days, the months and years are slipping away. But with each sand grain gone I moved something somewhere. I conquered a challenge on my path. I cannot say I enjoyed every part of it because at times it was tougher than nails and this year ain’t over yet. But at other times I smile to myself and feel happy about where I am.

Ok, enough of my Friday night philosophy. I’m off to the gym in morning (yes you heard right. I’m joining a gym tmro. First time in over 1,5 years.) After the workout I’m Tarzana bound to look at the graphics on my book. Exciting. Oh and more about launch party etc. soon 🙂

Enjoy your night and or day where ever you are… xoxo KK

PS – Here are some images I shot last week in Soho, NYC with photographer Victor Medina San Andrès.