breeding is important.

Of all the jobs that I do the pulling out and removal of weeds is my least favourite. It is not the physical discomfort of having to spend hours on my knees or the repetitive menial nature of the task that bothers me. No, it is the feeling of inadequacy, that depending on mood and mindset that I feel of varying intensity. With each weed that is pulled from the soil I am reminded that here is a living object that has succeeded at life, that is more successful than I could ever dream to be right now.

What constitutes success? What constitutes succeeding at life? All of this depends on what the purpose of life is exactly if in fact there is such a thing. That age old question. Because the idea that life is without meaning is something that most people can’t reconcile. The search for purpose, meaning and desire to understand is one of the things that makes us human. If there was no need for a purpose or meaning behind life there would be no need for the belief systems that so many of us build their lives around.

It is my definition of success that causes this feeling of inadequacy. Because in my mind the purpose of life, the reason for being is a simple one. We are alive for one reason and that reason is to ensure that our genes are replicated and passed down, so to speak. Everything else, the stuff that actually happens that is important and gives us enjoyment is unimportant, meaningless. It is nice but it is not what we are here for.

I should probably give up reading books on evolutionary biology.

making noises like a dog

Every time I go a certain way into the centre of the small town I call home I pass an art store called Gallery 500.

Every time I pass this store I wonder if it is named after the band Galaxie 500. It probably isn’t, but it is fun to pretend.