w.m.t.w.y.k
I was gonna say I’m back but I really wasn’t gone I just felt everything I wanted to right was too pedestrian ( lol annoying word use) and just not worth writing. But I realized that was just an excuse/fear holding me back so we back.
On Tuesday I saw a tiktok that was captioned “who maintains the world you know”. I screenshotted the words immediately and have been thinking about them ever since. The tiktok consisted of short clips of the people who keep up the world we exist in everyday. From window washers, sign-makers, doormen, etc. there are so many people that we don’t truly sit and consider. The sentiment has stuck with me and made me think of the hypocrisy that american individualism. While I understand that this country’s basis of individualism is a tool to push nationalism and white american ideals and is clearly hypocritical when you think about slavery and how the the country was literally built on the backs of an entire group of people etc. etc. all that makes it easier to ignore the smaller picture. It is absolutely impossible for any person to say they’ve done anything completely on there own. Every business owner has their first customer who bought their product when they were nothing. Every human being on this earth has had a teacher/mentor/parent who taught them something has directly or indirectly shaped who they are. From the underwater bridge inspectors who travel to the depths of the ocean to repair the cracks of bridges that at least a half a million people cross everyday. To the person who paints the yellow on our roads so there is separation between those coming and going. To the person who sticks a red clearance sticker on every item of produce and clothing we buy. To the person who strummed the first four notes that is the base of your favorite song. Everything in this world has been uniquely touched by someone and their efforts have created the world we enjoy everyday.
Weirdly (for the second time) a movie I’ve recently watched has fit the theme of my newsletter perfectly. This week I watched Air (2023) directed by Ben Affleck. The movie was about the creation of Air Jordans and all the people who played a role in the creation of the iconic sneaker. While I was watching this it dawned on me that everything in this life is made by someone betting on a dream. We all rally behind and play the parts big or small that help fabricate our society. The movies, music, books, art, buildings, and the food we eat is all thanks to a collection of people who were inspired and used the ideas of those who came before us and those who will come after us.
Life can be much more appreciated when you realize you are at the mercy of others. (dark ik) But nothing in life comes for free or without the efforts of someone else. Each of us are greatly indebted to each other for all we have sacrificed and given. We all play parts in setting the stage that is our life. Everyday at least 100 people have contributed to the path your life has taken that day. Which I think is comforting. Everyday we walk with the strength, pain, love, joy and dignity of those who have helped to make the world keep turning. This idea helps unite us and has given me more compassion in a world that works so hard to take it away.
If you take anything from this I hope it’s the five simple words that inspired me this week.
who maintains the world you know
- <3
Smh